Choosing Siding Color (or Colors) for your House
July 19, 2011 § 4 Comments
If your house has an architectural feature — maybe a porch, a large portico, or a distinctive garage — consider using an accent color for the siding instead of the color you’ve chosen for the house.* The effect is obvious. The accent color will stand out. This color technique is perfect for large houses that might look too massive if they were all the same color. Dividing up the exterior color gives you an opportunity to highlight the design of your home and make a large-scale house a bit cozier.
Speaking of a massive house that could use a little visual down-sizing, maybe we should consider accenting the architectural detail on the White House with a little color! … (oh, forget it… we’d get into that red state/blue state thing — no wonder the place is still white!)
Anyway, color can be used creatively to re-scale a large structure and add visual interest.
If you want your house to look bigger, however, this technique is NOT for you. Dividing up the exterior color chops up the house and calls attention to small areas. If your small house currently has a multi-colored siding palette, consider painting it all one color and using the accent colors for doors, shutters, furniture, flowers, and other accessories.
*The construction of the Doyle Center in Leominster, MA, is really interesting. Here’s a link: http://www.thetrustees.org/what-we-care-about/climate-change/green-buildings/doyle-conservation-center.html
Your Home & Color Coach 
what about a smallish house that is being sided. Darker body with lighter trim? lighter body with darker trim? All the same color and just use shutters and door color for the accent?
Hi Vicky,
Any contrasting trim will highlight that particular feature. One way around the problem with a small house is to use trim that’s in the same color family but just 2-3 shades apart. Or of course, you can paint the trim the same color as the house for maximum “size.” White houses are often trimmed in white with contrasting shutters (often black) and an accent color for the front door (red, for example).
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi Barbara………thanks. We are going with Desert Sand for body and Pebblestone Clay for trim. I would like the shutters to be the same color as the trim and do a punch of color on the door. I have black railing and black light fixtures. I think this will give the house a custom look. Of course, my husband does not agree and wants black shutters. Whaddya think?……..Vicky
Help! My daughter painted her house BM moroccan red. She wanted a happy house. Yes– and it really is cute. It’s a 1913, small house with two large windows in the front with fairly wide outer trim on them. The windows have little window panes. Roof is blackish grey. She REALLY wants to use blue for accents. What blue color (Ben Moore preferably) could she possibly use for trim? She absolutely does not want a flag red, white and blue look. Any ideas for a third color?
Thanks for your advice.