Two Paint Mistakes that can Make Your House Look Bad
Recently I was driving through a neighborhood and noticed many of the houses had strange (and really bad) paint choices. How was this even possible? They were brand new! I snapped a picture of this one.
I’ve had so many hours of training with paint and color that it is hard for me to NOT notice “opportunities for improvement” on the exterior of many homes. That is not to shame anybody either. It’s just an example of how picking something wrong can be a very costly mistake. Here are two mistakes that can potentially make your house look bad.
1. Some Colors Make Other Colors Look Dirty
Look closely here. The fascia (or some would just say trim at the roof line) looks pretty good. It coordinates with the capstone at the top of the arch and blends pretty nicely with the roof shingles. You may be thinking those shingles should change too, but let’s just concentrate on paint here. However, what is going on with the siding at the dormer window and the garage door? Somehow the paint is making the brick look dirty, or vice versa.
Compare these two shades of green. Do you see how SW Argyle on the left looks cleaner than SW Dill on the right? We say Argyle is clean and Dill is dirty (in comparison). Some people prefer “muted” over “dirty”. Either way…
2. Neutral Colors have Undertones - Some Don’t Get Along
Take this kitchen, for example. The countertop and backsplash are taupe. The floor has an overall read of yellow beige, and the new paint on the walls is a violet gray. This roomy kitchen has a major color undertone problem. Look for future posts about this!
Possible Exterior Paint Solutions for This House
This is the same house from the first picture! Here are my thoughts on a possible paint solution. I generally like when garage doors are painted a similar color as the brick, stone, or siding if it is on the front of the house. That way it doesn’t become the focal point. The same darker color could be repeated on the dormer windows, and then all the fascia and window trim could be a light tone that blends well with the stone and window frames. I played with Sherwin Williams Smokehouse and Alabaster on this one.
Another version, above, is exactly the same with the exception of the dormer windows, which could totally be painted Sherwin Williams Alabaster. I like the first example better, but this is pretty good. No color is fighting against another. (Don’t look to closely at my paint editing - it’s not perfect, I know.)
Here’s a rendering of the garage door painted in Alabaster. It is probably the first thing you noticed on the house, and while it doesn’t conflict, it seems a little too bright for such a big space. The dormers are painted Sherwin Williams Prairie Grass.
This version has Sherwin Williams Prairie Grass on the garage door as well, which helps the front door be the focal point. My two favorites are the versions with the darker garage doors.
Before you decide on a paint color and hire someone to do the work, book a paint consultation with me.
Until next time,
Shana
