Choose exterior colors that blend in with your neighborhood.
Contemporary architectural exterior colors are not just for modern houses. Architects and designers develop contemporary color schemes for different architectures, whether the homes are original or are built today in that style. The smooth lines of contemporary houses call for a restrained color scheme while the decorative details of Victorian houses lend themselves to contrasting colors.
Considerations
Start your exterior color scheme by considering the architectural style of your house. Contemporary color schemes extend the traditional colors of that period with modern hues and often add a punch of a modern color for contrast. Your exterior color selections should blend with the other houses in your neighborhood yet show your personality. Use dark colors to highlight architectural details and light colors to hide flaws. Warm colors, such as yellow and red, advance towards the viewer, while cool colors tend to recede. Every color comes in shades that have underlying warm, neutral or cool tones, so you're not limited to just one color family.
Contemporary Homes
The eclectic designs of contemporary homes often have clean lines and minimal ornamentation. Natural paint colors, such as shades of white and cream, gray and brown highlight the shape of the home. For a monochromatic look, use a light squirrel gray for the siding or stucco, an off-white for the door surround and pure white for the window trim. Mix neutrals such as ashwood, a light gray and mid-toned bison brown, and add a punch of color with a licorice red door. For ultimate contrast, use black and white, but choose a cool, blue-toned, shade of white.
Victorian Homes
Contemporary colors for Victorian houses reflect the original dark jewel colors of the period but with a modern twist. Choose rich but muted colors, such as a mid-blue-gray and a red mahogany with white trim for a strong contrast. Lighter, but still muted, colors offer a more gentle contrast. Try pink-beige with a warm-toned white and soft blue-gray. To highlight the modern twist, paint the exterior in a soft white with lilac tones and a pale pink-lilac. Add strong color with mid-range purple trim.
Bungalows and Ranch Homes
These architectural styles appeared around the 1950s and are still built today. Coordinate your exterior colors to the brickwork, often in shades of red, yellow or gray. A color palette of soft ivory and pale gray-taupe matches gray stone and complements a door of soft brown-red. Choose a monochromatic palette of a yellow-toned white, a warm taupe and a pale raffia color for sophistication. Highlight the size of your bungalow by using two different shades of white for the walls, and highlight the trim with a rich blue or brown.
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