Choosing the right exterior colours can make or break your home’s street appeal. The right palette can highlight architectural features, create harmony with the surrounding environment, and give your home a unique personality. However, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by the endless colour options and make decisions that detract from the overall look rather than enhance it. To help you avoid these pitfalls, let’s explore some of the most common mistakes homeowners make when choosing exterior colours—and how to get it right.
Using Too Many Colours – Less is often more when it comes to choosing exterior colours. Homeowners sometimes get carried away and add multiple colours for trims, windows, and doors, hoping to create contrast and interest. However, using too many colours can make the facade look chaotic and over-complicated. Stick to a maximum of four colours: a dominant colour for the main body, and 2-3 secondary colours for trims, accents and feature elements. This approach maintains simplicity and balance while still providing enough variety to highlight architectural features.
👇Designed by Hotspace👇
Overlooking Undertones – Every colour has an undertone that can influence how it pairs with other colours. For instance, a grey with blue undertones can look cold and stark next to warm-toned brickwork or timber cladding. This mismatch can result in a facade that feels unbalanced. When selecting exterior colours, pay attention to undertones and test them against each other. This will help ensure that all colours within your palette work harmoniously.
Choosing Colours in Isolation – Another common error is selecting colours without considering the fixed elements of the house, such as the roof, driveway, and any existing stone or brickwork. These elements already have a dominant colour or tone that should inform your exterior palette. Ignoring them can lead to a disjointed look that feels mismatched and unplanned. For a cohesive finish, choose colours that complement these features rather than compete with them.
Ignoring Lighting and its Impact – One of the biggest mistakes homeowners make is not considering how natural lighting affects exterior colours. Colours can appear significantly different depending on the time of day and weather conditions. For example, a colour that looks perfect in the morning light may appear too washed out in the harsh midday sun or too dark in the evening. Before committing to a colour, always test swatches on the exterior and observe them at various times throughout the day. This step will ensure that the final colour remains consistent with your vision regardless of lighting.
Choosing Colours Based Solely on Trends – Trends come and go, and what’s in vogue today may look dated in just a few years. Choosing exterior colours based solely on current trends can lead to regret down the road. Instead, focus on timeless colours that reflect the architectural style of your home and suit your personal tastes. You can always incorporate trends in smaller, easy-to-change elements like door colours or garden features, but keep the primary exterior colours classic for longevity.
Not Considering the Neighbourhood Context – Your home doesn’t exist in isolation; it’s part of a broader streetscape. While it’s important to choose colours that reflect your style, going too bold or drastically different from neighbouring homes can make your house stick out for the wrong reasons. Instead, look at the colour palettes used in your neighbourhood and aim to complement them. A coordinated approach will add to the overall appeal of the street and ensure your home stands out in a positive way.
Forgetting to Sample Properly – Finally, not sampling colours properly is a mistake that can lead to major disappointment. Small paint chips or digital renderings don’t provide an accurate representation of how the colour will look on your home. Invest in sample pots, paint large swatches on different parts of your house, and observe them at different times of the day. This will give you a true sense of the colour’s impact on a larger scale.
Choosing the right exterior colours is a blend of art and strategy. By avoiding these common mistakes, you can ensure your home’s facade is beautiful, cohesive, and timeless. Take the time to test, plan, and evaluate your choices, and you’ll be rewarded with a stunning home exterior that you’ll love for years to come.