Do homework before picking exterior color scheme

With summer just around the corner, maybe you’re thinking that it’s time to shake off the ravages of winter and spruce up the outside of your home with a fresh coat of paint.

If a change from the current color scheme is in order, a bit of simple homework is in order before you break out the paint brushes.

What’s trending

OK, this is pretty much impossible to predict, extrapolate, understand or generally make sense of. But from what I’ve been able to discern from a variety of sources, here’s what seems to be trending for 2018.

It looks like the trend toward safer neutral colors that was popular in recent years is fading a bit. That doesn’t mean you have to shoot for anything wild, but that seems to be the trend.

In its place is a movement toward more contrasting colors. This can be done in a number of ways, depending on your tastes and your appetite for taking risks.

One popular color combination seems to be black or charcoal siding with white trim. Or perhaps a deep crimson siding with a light gray trim.

If that’s a bit too much and neutrals are still more to your liking, you might consider livening up the color palette with just some pops of color, such as a boldly painted front door.

Things to consider

Despite what the trends might be and whether you’re going with or against the crowd, there are a lot of things to consider when selecting the perfect color scheme for your home. For example, you might want to ask yourself:

• What color is it now? What do you like and dislike about the current colors and why? Are they too dark or too light? Too bright or too dull? Between the body color and the trim, are there too many colors on the house, or perhaps not enough? A good rule of thumb in your initial thinking about color is to decide what you like, and work from that palette of colors.

• Are their restrictions to worry about? Perhaps that crimson exterior with gray trim sounds good, but your neighborhood may not allow it. Some areas have restricted color palettes, so you may need to check with your homeowner’s association or architectural review committee for approval before deciding on a color. Certain historical districts also may have color palette restrictions.

• Keep the style of your home in mind. Certain color schemes are better suited for certain architectural styles than others. Southwestern stucco might do best with monochrome whites or pastels, while your ornate Victorian may look best with a coordinated set of three, four or even more colors. Most paint dealers can provide you with color sample books that show coordinated groups of colors for various styles of homes.

• Look at your home’s prominent features. For some types of homes, color may be dictated by such highly visible and unchangeable components as brick or stone veneers, or by the color of the roof.

• Is your home large or small? Remember the basic rule of color: Dark colors can make a large house look smaller, while light colors can make a small house appear larger.

• Dark color considerations. Keep in mind that in harsh sunlight environments dark colors are more prone to fading, and also absorb and hold more heat. Bright colors are also much more prone to fading.

• Light over dark. If your existing house is a dark color and you want to paint a light color over it, you’ll probably need to use a primer first in order to get that lighter color to cover. While this alone is not a reason to stay away from a lighter color that you like, it’s important to know that you’ll probably be facing some additional labor and material expense.

Before you commit

Painting the exterior your home is no small undertaking, whether you’re hiring a pro or tackling it as a DIY project. So before you commit to that final color scheme and have all that — nonreturnable — paint mixed, do a bit more homework.

One great way to test out a color scheme is to take a photograph of your house, then make several black-and-white photocopies of the photograph. Using colored pencils, crayons or other art supplies, color in the photocopies and see what you like.

Another option is to try a computer program. Many paint stores have sophisticated computer programs that allow you to try out different color schemes in the store.

You’ll be presented with a variety of house styles, and you begin by selecting one that looks as close to the style of your home as possible. Then use the computer to color in the body of the house, the trim, the doors, and other features.

And there are any number of apps you can download that will allow you to experiment with colors, either on a house from the app’s library or on a picture of your own home.

Of course, nothing beats the real thing. So when you think you’ve got those colors nailed down — especially the main body color — buy a quart of each color you’re considering and test it out on the house. Paint some on different areas, and view the color at different times of day and in different lights. Quarts of test paint are cheap insurance to see if you like the actual colors in their intended locations.

Most paint dealers can provide you with color sample books that show coordinated groups of colors for various styles of homes.