Nothing brightens up the outside of a home like a fresh coat of paint. While painting your house isn’t as expensive as some of the other maintenance costs that pop up from time to time when you own a home, such as replacing the roof, it is not an inexpensive job either, especially if good, high-quality paint is being used. For the average home, a new coat of paint can last about a decade, depending on the nature of the paint, the surfaces that are being painted, and their exposure to the elements.

That being said, because paint is an investment, you will want to make sure the color is exactly what you want. Finding the exact color and shade you desire is simple with the following three steps:

Step 1: Decide upon a general color scheme. Check out home improvement television shows, real estate magazines, and other houses in your area for inspiration. Remember, painting a home may involve three or more colors. You will need to choose the main color for the exterior of your home, the color for your trim, and an accent color for any shutters, railings, or doors. Once you have a general idea of the colors you want, from there you can go on to select the exact shade.

Step 2: Order paint samples of various shades in the color you are considering. Do not simply pick a paint color based on the color swatch! Pay a few extra dollars for samples of various shades of paint in the color you are considering for your exterior painting project. When you get a few spare minutes, apply this sample paint to various areas on every side of your home. Study it in various lights. Does it look the way you want it to look when in direct sunlight? How about in the shade? When in doubt, ask the opinion of people you trust.

Step 3: Pay attention to the neighborhood. Obviously, this is your home, and you are free to choose whichever color and shade you like, however, it may be in your best interest to consider other homes in your immediate area. Would the colors and shades you are thinking of investing in fit in with the architecture and style of your community. For example, that dramatic shade of grey may work on your historic property in St. Paul, but that same color would look dull and drab on your vacation cottage along the coast.

Choosing the perfect color and shade may be entirely subjective, however, finding just the right color and shade that you will be pleased with can take some time and effort. Fortunately, our friendly, seasoned professionals are available for color consultations, and are pleased to offer you a free estimate for the work you are planning to have done. For more information, contact us today!