(BPT) – When it comes to designing a home – whether it’s new construction or a renovation – choosing beautiful exterior colors and complementary accent hues is critical to creating an appealing household.
“To select the right colors for your home, view siding colors as an exterior project tool that both turns a home into a showpiece and increases its value,” says Leslie Harrington, executive director of The Color Association of the United States.
Color and architecture trends vary from city to city across the United States. The homes and buildings within a neighborhood define its character and in some ways, culture. Before deciding on the best design, take into consideration the local geography and design trends.
Here are four general recommendations to help a homeowner determine the best color choices for a home:
* Location – Consider the neighborhood as a whole. Think about the next-door neighbor and the homes down the street. Regardless of the neighborhood, the streetscape – sizes and facades of homes, landscape architecture, balance of light and shade – plays a role in creating an idyllic neighborhood and affects the value of individual homes and communities, overall. The natural surroundings also play a significant part in color selection. For example, a green wooded area would blend better colors with earth tones than a home near the blues and grays of the ocean.
* Color combinations – Selecting the right combination of colors for a home varies, but a good rule of thumb is to use three to six, depending on the siding and trim of the home. A best practice is to avoid selecting more than two siding colors, one trim color and one accent color for features like doors and shutters.
* Balance of color choices – A home’s visual balance can be disrupted by color hues that don’t mix or match. The eye is naturally drawn to light colors, so consider pairing a brighter, lighter garage door with a darker siding shade. Contractors, builders or remodelers can help guide homeowners on choosing multiple siding colors and trim hues that not only create a classic look for a home, but also help it blend in with its surrounding environment.
* Color performance – A home is a reflection of the person and family in it. It’s also an investment. If exterior products are both functionally and aesthetically sound, they offer a greater curb appeal, which can also help with resale value when the time comes. James Hardie developed its proprietary ColorPlus Technology: a multi-coat, baked-on color application process that provides a vibrant, consistent finish for its fiber cement siding and trim. The finish has better fade resistance and superior adhesion compared to field-applied paints on other exterior siding materials. James Hardie fiber cement siding comes in more than 20 classic colors, with varying collections across the U.S. and Canada, that can be mixed and matched seamlessly to create beautiful homes and neighborhoods.
From the primary color of the home, to the shades of the architectural details, a homeowner can create value with design using the tips above. To learn more about the James Hardie siding and trim with ColorPlus Technology, please visit http://www.jameshardie.com/homeowner/products-colorplus.shtml.
