Paint can make a dramatic impact on your home. Whether it’s the exterior or interior, adding color will drastically change your house’s appearance and create unique curb appeal.
Before committing to a new color, consider how long you plan to live in the house and any restrictions imposed by homeowners associations or city zoning laws. Then experiment with your options.
Exterior House Paint Color Ideas
When painting the exterior of your home, it’s important to consider color combinations that complement your surroundings. This will help to create a cohesive look and add curb appeal. If you aren’t sure which colors to choose, take a look at your neighborhood to see what other homeowners have done with their homes. You can also ask local painters for advice.
A popular choice for siding is gray, and it can be accented with different colors for trim and doors. Some homeowners are going for a more natural look, while others prefer to use color to make a statement. One trend that is gaining popularity in 2019 is high-intensity shades that mimic artificial light. This includes blue-lilac hues like Twilight Mist from Valspar. Other popular shades are greens, particularly olive, which is a great color for Craftsman-style houses. If you want to be more unique, try a citrus orange or lime green.
If you are looking for a neutral exterior house paint color idea, greige is having a major moment. This beige-gray shade works well with many styles and can be accented with almost any color, including warm reds, pinks, and oranges. Alternatively, you can go for a classic white that will work with almost any type of home. White can appear bright and shiny, so it’s a good choice for homes in warmer climates where the sun can keep interiors hot.
Other neutral options include tan and taupe. These shades can give your home a more rustic appearance. Tan can be especially attractive with wood siding, while taupe pairs well with brick and stone. If you’re planning to sell your home in the future, it’s a good idea to stick with a more neutral shade when choosing an exterior house paint color.
You can also add some drama with your front door paint color. A red door is a bold choice that makes a statement. Blues and greens can also be a great addition to your front door, as long as you match the color with the surrounding features of your home.
Interior House Paint Color Ideas
Whether you’re in an open-plan home or are working with a single room, selecting the right interior paint colors makes all the difference. Choose the right shades and you can lift moods, define spaces, and even set a scene. Choose the wrong ones, and you risk a room that is off-putting or downright ugly.
The best interior paint color ideas are neutral, as they’re easy on the eyes and match virtually any style. They also work well with seasonal decors. However, if you want to make a statement, consider a dusty blue or green for walls or trim. These hues are a great way to add personality to a space and will still allow you to easily swap out pillows, blankets and other accessories for a fresh new look.
Pale grays are the latest interior paint color trend, as they pair beautifully with white trim and ceilings. Light grays with warm undertones, like Classic Gray (BM 1548) by Benjamin Moore, are a popular choice for bedrooms and living rooms. They’re sophisticated, yet light enough to bounce off dark trims and furnishings.
When it comes to kitchens, choose a soft green that resembles mint or sage. It will enhance your cabinets and go perfectly with wood tones and metal accents. For a dining room, opt for a deeper shade of green to add warmth and a sense of luxury to the space. If you’re looking for a bolder interior paint idea, try a black shade. It can be surprisingly warm and calming in the bedroom or can serve as a moody accent in the living room.
One thing to keep in mind when choosing whole house paint color ideas is that your color choices may have an impact on your home’s resale value. If you’re planning on selling, stick with neutrals to appeal to the most number of potential buyers. Bright colors will be difficult for them to envision as their own and could deter them from making an offer.
Once you’ve settled on your interior and exterior paint colors, it’s time to choose a finish. Flat paints, once considered low-end, now come with improved stain resistance and are an excellent choice for most areas of your home. For areas that receive a lot of foot traffic, opt for a satin sheen or eggshell finish that can be easily wiped clean. High-gloss sheens, on the other hand, are better reserved for molding profiles and trim.
Ceiling Paint Ideas
Ceilings are a great place to use color to create a dramatic, yet sophisticated, atmosphere. Dark shades, particularly those that complement natural wood panels or beams, can make a room feel cozy and inviting, or provide a striking backdrop for decorative accents. For a more subtle effect, consider a soft light neutral for the ceiling that coordinates with the wall color or ties the room together.
Many new homeowners are unsure what color to paint the ceilings in their home. White ceiling paint is one popular choice, as it reflects light and makes rooms appear brighter and larger. However, there are also plenty of other options to choose from, depending on the design style you’re going for.
When choosing a ceiling color, it’s important to take into account how the color will look with your lights on and off. Use a sample to see how the shade will look at different times of day and in all lighting conditions before committing to a specific hue. It’s also a good idea to test the color on a small area of the ceiling to see how it looks in natural light, as well as in overhead light fixtures.
For a truly coordinated look, paint walls and ceilings the same color for a cohesive look that’s easy to maintain. This is ideal for living spaces, bedrooms, and dining areas, and works especially well in open concept homes. Use a lighter strength of the same color on walls, and a darker shade on the ceiling for a subtle contrast that’s sure to impress.
Alternatively, you can add visual interest to your ceiling by using an artistic mural or other decorative paint design. This is a great way to make the space feel more unique and personal, and can really tie a room together. Just be sure to use a high-quality ceiling paint, such as a matt emulsion, for best results.
Stripes are another popular ceiling paint idea. Whether you opt for a classic country ticking pattern or a bolder, modern take, this is a fun and creative way to give the fifth wall some added flair.
Wall Paint Ideas
In today’s open-plan homes, wall painting is a crucial way to define interior spaces and create focal points in rooms without imposing hard boundaries. Popular bedroom paint ideas promote calm and restfulness with pastel tones, while dining room and living space walls can be boldly colored to inspire lively entertaining.
Traditionally, flat paint was preferred for walls because it’s easier to touch up, and it blends better with other painted surfaces than satin or semi-gloss finishes, which show every flaw and stain. But now that formulas have improved, it’s possible to create similar textures and visual interest with glossier paints, too. If you’re using a bright color on walls, keep in mind that it may reflect more light and cause glare than darker shades would.
A high-gloss sheen is a good choice for trim, as it can accent and highlight details like molding profiles or the curved lines of a door frame. For an eye-catching effect, you can also use a glossy sheen as the sole color in a room, allowing other elements to shine by contrast.
Buildup and dirt can muddy the look of walls, so it’s important to prepare them properly before you apply any type of finish. Wash the walls with detergent and water to remove any dirt and stains, then dry them completely before you start painting. For an extra level of protection, apply a coat of primer before you apply any finish.
If you’re working with a plain, builder-grade home, consider this clever paint technique for adding (faux) architectural interest around doorways and window frames. Design pro Justina Blakeney used the technique in her petite 1050-square-foot bungalow, coating the ceiling and walls in Breakfast Room Green by Farrow & Ball to unify the room’s neutral palette.
When using a dark color on walls, consider adding texture to the surface by stippling or brushing in random patterns. This will give the wall more dimension and make it appear less flat. You can also add texture with a wallpaper, fabric or other decorating accents to create more visual interest.