What color should I paint my house?

Are you wondering what color to paint your house? You’re not alone if you think it’s a tough question. And it leads to more questions like, “What will my neighbors think of? Will my significant other agree? Will it become dated too quickly? ” There are also practical concerns. You may be someone who plans on your paint job lasting for ten years. Or you may be thinking about next year, when you plan to sell. Maybe you just want something that makes you feel good now. Personal and situation-focused questions can all factor into your decision when you are asking yourself what color should I paint my house? In this post, we’ll cover some ways to help you make that big decision.

Tip One: Answer the Question, “Why Are You Painting?”

Whether you are painting the interior of your home, the exterior, or both, it’s helpful to consider the context of the job when you’re selecting colors. Begin with the question, why are you painting? It could be a simple question of age and weathering. Perhaps you like the current color, but it just needs freshening up. Or it could be that you’re considering a sale and you want to find neutral colors that come recommended by trendspotters and realtors who are “in-the-know.” Either way, it’s helpful to at least look at the latest trends and recommendations from the experts.
Your home doesn’t exist in a vacuum. It’s in a neighborhood, on a block, in a yard, in a particular climate. So, the next question you may ask is, what are the complementary assets of my home? In other words, what are the elements of your home and its surrounding environment that you need to take into consideration? Just a few examples of these environmental factors relative to exterior painting are: shingle color, windows and trim color/tone/size/design, landscaping and foliage, neighboring homes, and sun exposure. By the same token, an interior has a host of factors, just as varied, that could influence your choices of paint color. These factors include a room’s intended use, a room’s inhabitants (e.g. kids), the room’s flow into and out of other rooms, its connection to outside and natural light, and so on. Thinking creatively about the total scope of an interior painting project can yield outstanding results.

Tip Two: Explore Before. Techniques to Help Choose Colors.

  • “See with an artist’s eyes” – Sherwin Williams wants you to think like an artist. Think “Happy Trees” and snow-capped mountains in the background. More succinctly, play with perspective. Do you want your paint color to make your room feel bigger? Do you want the exterior paint to integrate into the natural landscape?
  • “Follow the wisdom of the crowds” – Sometimes, ‘going along to get along’ isn’t a bad idea. This is especially true if you like what the crowd likes or want broad appeal (e.g. you’re selling soon). Trend reports are abundant and useful. Note: one color may be the color of the year, but there are usually a bunch of runners-up that deserve your consideration and may be a perfect fit for you.
  • “Just browse” – Got some time on your hands? Sherwin-Williams has more than 1,700 paint colors arranged in families. See them all next to each other.
  • “Speed dating” – Expedite the process of picking a color by taking a quiz or using an online visualizer tool that gets you to that situational match more quickly.
  • Personality match” – Another great idea from Sherwin Williams, personality-match your paint color. If you’ve done a Myers-Briggs test or Enneagram quiz to create a personality profile, you remember how the question-answer quiz builds a profile of who you are. Why not match the profile to shades and hues of color?
  • “Ask an expert” – Your ONiT representative has knowledge borne of experience and has access to our color consultant. Both are versed in the very questions you’re wrestling with.
  • Tip Three: Have Fun and Own It.

    We’ve outlined some of the potential reasons you are painting and some of the most widely-used tools you can use in your selection process. Picking color can be a fun and engaging task for a homeowner. So, don’t limit yourself to the processes and tools we’ve outlined. Your color selection may be highly personal for you. It stands to reason that you would put your personal stamp on the process. Make a mood board. Cut out images from magazines. Have fun with it!

    Do You Have the Answer to “What Color Should I Paint My House?”

    Talk to your ONiT representative, and get connected to our color consultant. They’ve considered all the angles, worked with customers facing unique situations, and have probably dealt with something analogous to your situation.

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