Creating Visual Harmony with the Siding on Your Home

Color means more than you think when it comes to the look of your home, especially the exterior.  This means when it is time to have new siding (and trim) installed on your home, the siding you choose should be good quality within your budget, but you also want to select colors that create the feel of harmony.

 

And did you know you can combine siding styles and colors to produce a really custom look?  You don’t need just one siding or type for your whole house.  In fact, many of the projects we’ve done for homeowners here in the Twin Cities include multiple styles and colors. 

The place to start when selecting colors is what overall feel you want to produce, because color can create a mood. Perhaps you’ve read one of our earlier posts and have learned a bit more about using the color wheel when choosing a color;, now is the time to know more about choosing warm and cool colors and which you want to go with.

Warm and Cool Colors: The Basics

Colors are separated into two different categories, warm and cool, based on where they are located on the spectrum.  But note, where the two sides come together, there is a blending, and one color can shift slightly to the other side.  For example, blue-violet, a bluish purple, is a cool color.  But red-violet is considered a warm color since red is the dominant hue.

• Oranges, yellows, and reds are what make up the warm colors while blues, purples, and greens are known as cooler colors to choose. Warm colors are exciting colors; they appear larger and more prominent than other options.
• Cool colors are calmer and relaxing. They are used often in northern areas of the country, while warmer are located more in the south. Blues, greens, and purples are cool colors.
  
• You’ll notice that neither black or nor white are on this color wheel. That’s because the color wheel was developed using colors of light. With light, black represents the absence of color, while white is the blending of all colors of light.

Color harmony is achieved with the combinations you choose:  complementary colors are directly across from each other on the wheel; analagous colors are side by side. Or you may create a triadic color scheme with 3 colors that go well together. Triads are produced using three colors that are equally spaced around the wheel.

Quick Home Exterior Color FAQs

How many colors should be used on my home?

How many colors you use depends on a number of factors, but generally, no more than three should be used at one time. They make up the body, trim and accent of the home. Why three? It gets a little complicated to figure out a harmonious combination with more colors.

The exception to this general rule is a home with lots of architectural features or what used to be called ‘gingerbread’. Homes such as Victorians fall into this category, and you may see as many as seven colors or more on these homes. But if you look closely, there are two or three colors that make up most of the coverage: the main siding color, the main trim color, and then possibly a siding accent color.

Should the trim be lighter or darker than the rest of the home?

Usually lighter trim is the way to go when you want to create a more visually appealing contrast with the rest of the home. The eye naturally goes to the lightest color between the two. The trim is what emphasizes the architecture of the home.

Do I have to use color?

You can use black and white and still create a visual appeal. You can use white and then add a pop of color with one other bright, bold color that stands out. A vividly colored front door works well. You’re not boring when you do this, and it might just be more visually appealing. Right now one of the most popular design trends for home exteriors is icy white siding and black trim, including black window and door frames.  This makes for an eye-catching contrast.

It is important that you know what color combination to work with when you want to change the look and feel of the outside of your home. The right colors are going to make it stand right out.

We install a number of siding products, such as Craneboard insulated vinyl siding, James Hardie fiber cement siding, and LP SmartSide engineered wood siding providing a nice look on the outside of the home and a way to change the look and feel of the exterior of the home. Contact us today to find out more.

Window Outfitters, Inc. is a licensed Minnesota home remodeling company. We specialize in the installation of exterior materials such as siding.

 

Window Outfitters is a premier Window Replacement, doors, siding contractor and installer. As Contractor in the St Paul, Minneapolis, (Twin Cities) Minnesota (MN) metro, we proudly serve, but are not limited to, the following areas: Minneapolis Energy Efficient Vinyl Windows, Replacement Window Contractors Minnesota, Burnsville, Apple Valley, Lakeville, Savage, Bloomington, Edina, Richfield, Eagan, St Paul, Hastings, Minnetonka, Plymouth, Maple Grove, Eden Prairie, Farmington MN, Chaska, Shakopee, Chanhassen, Victoria, Mendota Heights Anderson Windows Minneapolis, Marvin Windows Minneapolis.