Lesson Learnt: Take your time and consider all your choices before deciding on a colour, it will last longer than a season.
Updating the exterior of your home with a coloured render can transform it, making it stand out down as a new modern home or simply refreshing it to give it a new lease of life. The big question however, is choosing a colour for the exterior that makes it stand out for the right reasons…. this can feel a little overwhelming.
When making a decision here are some pointers you should consider:
The colour you choose isn’t just about the one you like, it can be determined by what is around you, the period of the building or considering it against the materials used on other exterior features such as the roof, window frames or guttering.
As you would do when deciding on colours for the internal walls of your home, testing a range of colours can help you decide what looks best on the exterior too. Colours can appear differently depending on their surroundings, for example a white rendered external wall overlooking the sea may reflect back with a hint of blue, so it’s wise to test first before committing to a complete colour scheme.
Also bear in mind that whatever colour you choose, when applied to a larger scale exterior surface it will usually look lighter than on a smaller surface. This is down to several factors such as the position of the house, i.e. south facing or reflective effects.
What is the purpose of you choosing a colour? Do you want to blend in with your surroundings or do you want to stand out and make a statement on your road?
Neutral colours can look very professional, clean cut and elegant. They often appeal to more people and can future proof a potential sale should you be considering selling in the near future. White can be bold, so don’t be afraid of it. It can look crisp and bright too.
It is important to remember that render will keep its colour much better than a painted sand/cement surface. Although some might be concerned about discolouration over time this isn’t an issue with silicone render as it is hydroponic, so doesn’t allow water or dirt to collect on the surface thus making pure white an ideal colour for this type of render application.
If you love bright colours then you might want to think carefully before you commit. Painting the outside of your home is a huge undertaking regardless of its size and an investment to consider carefully. If you opt for a silicone render, for example, then the results will last for at least 20 years. That is a long time to commit to that trendy bright blue or striking pink!
If you do want to include a feature colour then perhaps consider locating it on an area of your property that is smaller or more contained and easy to repaint if you get tired of it over time. Front doors are a great way to bring colour to your exterior without committing to the entire façade.
Don’t think that you only have to choose one colour too. Often customers will pick out one storey or detailed areas in a slightly lighter or darker shade. This can look much more contemporary than a single colour choice and give a really effective finish.
Stick to a maximum combination of three colours in a differing levels of lightness or darkness to complement one another.
