- 1). Start by looking online at some design blogs or style websites to get some ideas. Flipping through magazines can also spark some inspiration. Keep a folder with printouts or pages from publications you can use to get started.
- 2). Look at your house at different times of day. See how the colors are seen differently at different times of the day and under different light. If your area is low light, you can counter that by opting for a lighter tone. For intense light such as that of the Southwest, you could go with earth colors to soften the color.
- 3). Grab some swatches from the local paint store and begin to mix and match. Remember, there are different elements of the house that can take different colors. This gives you the opportunity for a broader palette. You can use restraint on the siding for instance, but bring the color in a big way on trim or shutters and still harmonize well.
- 4). Paint some test swatches on the exterior with samples from your local paint store. A 3-by-3-foot square is a good size. The results may surprise you. Colors that seem tame on the swatch can be much more intense on a big area. Leave the samples up so you can see them on both sunny and cloudy days before finalizing your choice.
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