Wooden Furniture

Although painting can easily be the easiest way to update the look and feel of your home, some homeowners aren't sure how to begin the painting process, especially for exterior painting. Exterior painting is one of the least expensive and quickest ways to add value and curb appeal to your home, but that doesn't mean it can be done without some research. Although the expense isn't very high, having to redo it a few weeks later is never the plan. There are plenty of aspects of your home to consider before settling on one specific paint color, such as the color and design of your neighbor's homes and the whole neighborhood, how a color will appear at night or in cloudy weather, and how a color will last after years of sun damage.

To begin, there are tons of books, magazines and a plethora of new home improvement TV shows that will provide you with exterior painting inspiration. Finding the right color isn't always as easy as people think it is, especially once you consider the amount of space that one color will occupy, and that it will be the most visible feature of your house to anyone who walks by. Color selection should also take into consideration potential new owners if you're thinking of selling your home; a great color will increase your home's curb appeal, making it sell faster, but it can also add value, making it sell at a higher price. It's important to take your time selecting the perfect exterior painting color.

Walk around your neighborhood to get ideas from other homes. This is especially helpful if you're trying to decide between a few different colors. How do your neighbor's homes look with their landscaping? Will your home be a contrast or a complement to their looks? Is your landscaping similar to your neighbors? Have the other homes been painted recently? All sorts of things can affect the final look of a color, so be sure to think about them all before making big decisions.

Once you've narrowed down your color talk to a representative in a painting store or a professional painting contractor. Finding your perfect color in a magazine doesn't mean you'll find the exact match in a paint store and the color could look completely different on a page or on the TV than they will on your house. It would be awful to get the paint up only to find yourself telling others it's not quite what you expected. A trained professional will also be able to help you figure out which brand works best (and lasts the longest!) on your type of house and also be able to help you further narrow down your color. Ask about good coverage, which brand or style will suit your house best.

Before you buy a car-load of paint apply a few samples to each side of your house. Take a look at what the color will look like in the daylight as well as at night or in the shade and take a few days to let the sample soak in. You don't want to be that one house that turned out salmon when you thought you were going for a creamy tan! All of this will save you plenty of time, money and hassle. And once you have your perfect color you'll know your home will look fantastic when you're all finished!