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As
in nature, there are basically two ways you
can use color on the outside of your home; to
camouflage, or to attract attention.
By making the right color choices, you can emphasize
attractive details, minimize less appealing
features, and actually change the entire appearance
of your home.
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There are three elements common to the outside
of every home.
Form—the
actual shape the structure takes.
Decoration—trim
and other elements added mainly for appearance’s
sake.
And Color. |
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Form, decoration and color work together and affect each other. But of the three, color is by far the easiest and least expensive to change. |
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Take a tour of the neighborhood.
Look at homes you like, in a similar style to
yours, for color inspiration.
Then look at your house from different angles,
and at different times of the day. Take photos.
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Ask
yourself:
What do I want to hide?
What do I want to draw attention to?
What colors can’t I alter (e.g. roof, brick
and stonework)?
Do I want to blend into the surroundings, or
stand out?
Are there obvious color clues in the setting
(woods vs. a desert vista, urban street vs.
a coastal town)?
Are there any written or unwritten rules I have
to work within (neighbors, local codes or homeowners’
associations)? |
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WHITES
will call attention to the outside of
your home, and play well with almost any
other color, architectural style or setting.
Tip
Use flat
sheens for walls, and add subtle drama
by using BEHR PREMIUM PLUS Hi-Gloss on
doorframes and windows. Deep or vibrant
colors on doorways, shutters and other
decorative elements add interest. |
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LIGHTS
and pastels offer pleasing color
nuances caused by ever-changing
patterns of light and shade. You
can use them to soften and tie together
different architectural forms into
a cohesive whole.
Tip
To minimize
attention, paint vents and gutters in
the same color as the body of your home. |
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MIDTONES,
the most popular choice for home
exteriors, add warmth and visual
depth. Choose contrasting colors
for walls and trim.
Tip
Make trim
and accent decisions only after you’ve
chosen the main body color of your home.
The main entry door should be the focal
point for the front of your home—use an
accent color to draw attention to it. |
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DEEP
colors absorb light and reduce mass,
yet give your home substance. They
also help to integrate your home
visually into its setting. Accentuating
the trim in lighter colors adds
visual interest.
Tip
Test the
colors you’re considering on the actual
surface, and examine them in different
lights. |
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Try the ColorSmart™ by BEHR interactive program to experiment with thousands of different color combinations and see how they look in actual room settings.
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