February 13, 2020
Whether you have a beautiful Queenslander or a classic brick home, choosing a new exterior house colour is a powerful way to transform how people perceive your property. A stunning exterior colour scheme can give your property more visual impact and attract sellers to buy.
With millions of exterior paint colours available, choosing the right colour can feel daunting. In this article, we offer a wealth of professional tips from our painting experts, plus exterior wall paint ideas using Dulux’s industry-leading Weathershield paints. Here’s how to choose exterior house colours to suit any style of home.
Painting your home’s exterior is all about sculpting the proportions and architectural features of your home to create a pleasing aesthetic. Essentially, your home’s exterior colour scheme should consist of:
An accent colour: A complementary colour for the front door, window frame, shutter, or any element of your home that you want to stand out
A trim colour: A contrasting colour for the door casing, roof eaves, window trim, letterbox, railings, fascia, frieze, gutter and downspout
Ideally, the trim colour should contrast sharply with the dominant colour to create a crisp result. Most often, you’ll find the trim colour painted in a light neutral such as white or soft pale grey. For people looking to buck the trend and create a bolder look, pairing a light dominant color with a darker trim can create a clean-cut, dramatic effect.
Consider the size of your home when deciding whether to choose a light colour (tint) or dark colour (shade). If you want your home to appear larger and more airy, select a light tint. If you want your home to look solid and grounded, paint the base of your home in a darker shade.
The architectural style of your home can help guide your choice in paint colours. For example, exterior colour schemes for Queenslanders often feature striking colours that retain the elegance of the historical architecture while bringing it up-to-date. Think bright and antique whites (Dulux Regency White, Ivory or Lexicon Half), sand (Dulux Portland Stone), grey (Dulux Leadman, Highgate or Aerobus), or greige (Dulux Linseed or Light Leather).
From a beachy vibe to a contemporary, edgy aesthetic, think about your home’s desired aesthetic. If you’re having trouble pinpointing a colour palette, we recommend seeking help from an expert colour consultant who can find the exact right match to suit your vision and your home’s style.
From cool dove grey to opaque gunmetal grey and warm greige, this colour is a natural choice for exteriors. Offering the perfect balance of sophisticated modern style and timeless beauty, this versatile colour looks especially beautiful when trimmed with crisp white. It also looks amazing when contrasted with exterior elements such as bricks, stone and timber with a greyish undertone.
Here are some classic pairings to try:
A striking all-white exterior will keep your home looking fresh and classy. Dulux offers a range of classic shades that work well on their own and matched together:
Classic yet sleek and modern, a monochromatic black and white scheme can deliver an arresting result. Use the contrast to visually sculpt the property, highlighting bold architectural elements or different substrates. Here are some options:
Pastels are a popular way to lighten and brighten any facade. For timeless elegance, opt for a classic, two-colour palette where a neutral helps ground the pastel:
A palette of earthy colours in warm hues works well for a home with timber, brick and stone features. This is the perfect palette if you want your home to exude a rustic vibe. Here are our favourite ideas:
For a classy and timeless nautical vibe, pick strong, contrasting shades of blue and white. Ideas include:
Cobalt blue, light grey and mint: Dulux Cobalt Blue, Dulux Lexicon Half and Dulux Greenland Ice Quarter
Dark navy, gold and white: Dulux Sailing Safari, Topelo Honey and Dulux Natural White
Wilko Painting offers a Dulux Colour Consultation to transform your home. Interested in an obligation free quote? Give us a call on 1300 945 564.