Exterior Painting In Chelan By Amsberry Painting
Choose The Right Color For Your Chelan, WA Home
With Exterior Painting Advice From The Pros!
Discover What To Know Before You Paint
Color Combos And More
Is today the day you pick your house colors? At least the outside ones? Exterior painting in Chelan, WA, does wonders for your overall home.
Maybe you’re leaning toward a bold statement like deep navy or a more gentle color like soft sage. Or perhaps you’re one of those who has NO CLUE what color they should choose.
Wherever you’re at, Amsberry Painting is here to help! We understand that the right paint color completely changes your home’s look and feel.
With over 50 years in business, we’ve seen all sorts of color combos, so we know what works and what needs a little rethinking. Let’s help you choose the perfect exterior paint color.
Understand The Big Picture
Choosing an exterior paint color for your home isn’t like deciding what color you want your new car to be. You have to consider how the color interacts with sunlight, the surrounding neighborhood, and even the materials on your home that aren’t being painted.
What is the first thing you should do when choosing house colors? Go outside.
Look around your street. What’s the overall color theme? Are the houses all neutral and classic? Bright and tropical? You don’t need to copy them, but it helps to be aware.
Maybe you want to fit in – or perhaps you want to stand out. Either is fine. Just make sure it’s intentional.
While you’re at it, don’t forget to bring your samples outside with you. Colors look wildly different in full sunlight. What seems neutral indoors might look obnoxiously neon out in the sun. Your lighting is the actual sun, not warm indoor bulbs.
Light Reflective Value And Light: The Secret Ingredients
And here’s the twist: sunlight is not warm. It’s cool-toned, almost blue. That means exterior paint colors shift. Cool grays may look blue, while warm grays look more balanced. Even white can feel glaring.
So what are you to do? Look for a color with a balanced Light Reflectance Value (LRV).
LRV is the number that tells you how light or dark a color is. Higher LRV means a lighter, more reflective color. Lower LRV means a darker, more heat-absorbing color. All you have to know is that a low to mid LRV number keeps your house looking crisp without being blinding.
Body, Trim, And Accent: The Color Trio
Let’s break down the parts of your home you’ll be painting: the body, the trim, and the accent. The body color covers most of the outside. Trim includes your fascia, window frames, and railings. Accents include your front door and shutters.
Pick colors that work together. The body sets the tone, the trim adds contrast, and the accent gives your home some personality.
If you’re going with a shade of brown for the body, creamy white trim will brighten it up. And a crabby-red door adds a warm, bold pop. A muted yellow body looks great with shell-white trim that leans a little orange, and moss green shutters help everything click.
Are you into foggy gray? Soft white trim and a moss green door give it an earthy, welcoming vibe you’ll love coming home to.
Look At What ISN’T Being Painted
Remember to look at what isn’t getting painted – this step is often overlooked until it’s too late. And pay attention to what surrounds the painted areas. This is especially important for homes with brick or stone.
Even if you love a certain green, it won’t work if it clashes with your masonry.
Study the undertones of those unpainted surfaces. Does your brick lean reddish, orange, or cool purple-gray? Use those tones to help guide your choice of body color.
Finally, always consider the trim before choosing any other colors. Is the trim staying as-is, or will it be updated? That decision can completely shift how colors interact, so it’s smart to factor it in early.
What About White?
Most exteriors have some form of white. But how do you pick the right white? It’s not as easy as it might seem. A white that works indoors can be glaring and off-putting as an exterior color.
A good rule of thumb for exterior whites: if it’s off-white, it’s all right.
Stick with an LRV around 75 to avoid the blinding effect of high-reflective whites. Warm whites, light beiges, or shell tones often work best.
Neutrals Are Not Boring
There’s this idea that fun color means bright color, but outside, subtle versions of bold colors often work better.
The sun brightens everything. A soft green can turn into bright lime. A bold yellow becomes a highlighter. What feels warm and cozy inside can be loud and flashy outside.
The solution? Choose the subtle versions of fun colors.
Love blue? Go dusty. Orange? Burnt orange always wins. Pink? Smoky salmon is your friend.
Muted doesn’t mean washed out. It means toned down – more depth, less shock factor. These kinds of colors still stand out. They just don’t scream “look at me.”
When it’s time to start your exterior painting project, Amsberry Painting is ready to help. We proudly serve the Chelan, WA area and would love to give you a free estimate.