Choosing the right exterior paint color can be daunting; it’s not just about personal preference but about making a choice that the entire neighborhood sees! Plus, a misstep can be pricey to correct. Why is exterior paint selection so challenging?

First, determine your purpose: are you painting to sell or are you refreshing your home’s look for your own enjoyment? If selling, you’ll likely lean towards universally appealing shades rather than personal favorites. On the other hand, if you’re painting for yourself, choose a hue you’ll adore for years to come.

Next, consider any fixed elements like your roof. If you’re not updating these, your new paint should complement them. Additionally, take a glance at neighboring homes. You don’t need a carbon copy of their colors, but you also don’t want your home to clash or be overly conspicuous.

Lastly, think about the natural surroundings. Will your chosen color vibe with your garden or the broader environment? Decide if you want your home to stand out or seamlessly blend with its surroundings.

When it was time to paint my own house, I knew I planned to stay in my house for a long time. Here was my method for picking my paint colors. It started with determining what options I liked, and what limitations I needed to consider to narrow down some options.

Alaska color consulting with Northern Lights Home Staging and Design — My house before painting. See Part 2 to see the final reveal!

Determine What you Like

During a leisurely drive around my town with a friend, I paid keen attention to house colors, aiming to understand my preferences. Interestingly, it was the combinations I didn’t like that offered the most insight. For instance, there were numerous homes where the colors seemed at odds with the roof. Others had trim or door shades that didn’t harmonize with the primary wall colors. A surprising number opted for neutral hues for their walls, trim, and doors, resulting in a forgettable facade—just a splash on the front door would have made all the difference! Then there were those homes that went the other extreme: they were so vividly colored that they’d be blindingly bright on a sunny day. Such saturation seemed too intense for long-term appeal; I was more inclined towards deep, rich colors.

Among the vast sea of colors, a few schemes did stand out for me: a charcoal/blue home with white trims, a gray/green one also with white, and a house that sported a light teal/gray combination. To ensure my choices were not just passing whims, I viewed these homes under varying light conditions. It’s fascinating how light, whether from a clear sunny sky or a cloudy one, can alter the perception of color.

Consider Your Limitations

I took into account my “fixed finishes,” particularly my roof, which resembled Benjamin Moore’s “November Skies” with its blue-gray hue. Given its relatively inconspicuous appearance, this color wouldn’t significantly influence my overall palette. Additionally, I had wooden decks and railings, initially stained but now requiring a decision: should I continue with staining or opt for paint? Ultimately, I chose to paint them. Had I gone with staining, I would have needed to regard this color as one of my enduring design elements.

Visualize How Your Choices will Look

I decide to try some of the color combinations I liked using the visualizer on the Benjamin Moore website. I selected some body and trim colors I liked. I also considered colors in my landscaping and flowers for inspiration for a front door color.

Test Your Colors to See How they Look in Different Light Conditions

Next, I tested these colors on the back of the house, assessing their appearance under different lighting conditions. Curious about the results? Discover what happened in “How to Pick the Perfect Exterior Paint Colors Part 2!”

If you’re gearing up to sell rather than stay, grab your free report on the “Top Paint Colors for a Speedy and Profitable Home Sale” to guide your color decisions.

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Take the GuessWork Out of Picking Your Perfect Paint Colors

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When I painted the exterior of my house, it looks gorgeous, like a new house. Then, I was inspired to repaint and redecorate the inside so there would be harmony between the outside and inside.

The thought of decorating makes me happy.

I know it will take time, work, and money, but I don’t care because I know decorating will make me feel great!

Why is that? What is it about decorating that is so good for our minds, our hearts, our souls? Why do we want to do it? Why should we do it? I can think of nine reasons, and when added together, the end result is bliss!

It’s Refreshing

One of the first steps in redecorating is getting rid of the old, excess, or unwanted things that are taking up space. Taking stock of what we love and what we don’t or haven’t looked at or used in years is a good first step.

This allows us to make room for new things and provides space to highlight the things we love most.

Getting rid of excess stuff always makes me feel refreshed. How about you?

Why Decorating Makes Us Happy — Edesign by Northern Lights Home Staging and Design.

It Brings Serenity

Going through the de-cluttering process often brings on a frenzy of organizing as we create more room for all our things.

This always helps me feel like I have a little more control over my life, my destiny, my time.

I feel more relaxed after getting rid of things and reorganizing what’s left.

It Celebrates Good Memories

Once the decluttering is done, there is more room to re-arrange what is left, display cherished art and accessories in a new way, and highlight objects with memories of travels, friends, family, and our history.

Our story comes to life for us and others to see and enjoy.

It Allows Us To Express Our True Selves

Once we have decluttered, organized, and started to display the things most meaningful to us, it is time to take stock of what new things to bring into our space.

If you haven’t done this for a while, lots of things are probably looking dated and you may be bored with them.

Maybe your style and likes have changed and what you have doesn’t express your taste anymore.

It is time to what serves you now and to bring it to life. Express yourself!

We always feel the most comfortable and at home in a space that truly reflects who we are.

Does your home make you feel that way now?

Color Brings Us Joy

Whether you love bright, bold color or revel in calming and serene neutrals, color has a big impact on how you feel every day.

Changing the colors of the walls or accessories can make the space look fresh and new and change your mood…for the better!

Beauty beats Chaos

What an amazing feeling to walk through your rooms and let beauty, rather than chaos wash over you.

Imagine how much better you would feel every day.

It Creates Connection

When we are not proud of the way our space looks, we tend to be less likely to invite friends over to socialize and connect.

Once your space looks beautiful, you want to show it off! Decorating helps make us more likely to entertain friends at home and spend time relaxing and connecting.

It Creates Renewal

Creating our perfect space or sanctuary to retreat to during our busy lives renews our energy and gives us the space and peace of mind we all need.

Well-being is the highest state of mind you can achieve. Our surroundings have a big impact on that feeling.

It Creates Excitement

Redecorating is exciting, a journey of discovery.

We may not be sure exactly what the end result will be.

It can be like a treasure hunt for all the right pieces of a beautiful puzzle that tells our story. Sometimes the end result may surprise you!

Does the Process Bring You Joy?

I realize, the process may not be fun for everyone and you might need a helping hand. You may struggle with the de-cluttering and organization, how to arrange things, figuring out your style, finding new items to complete the space, selecting paint and other colors, and more. That’s what I am here for. And I am would love to help you find your bliss.

The first step is to create a plan with an Aligned Design consultation. I take a holistic and transformative approach to Interior Design, aligning art, science, and energy to develop a great plan for you. Then we work on the details of implementing it with my in-person and Edesign Services.