Too many colors on small house?
Question:I have a small house with medium-light brown tin roof. We have chosen a brown one shade lighter than roof and wanted to paint trim with a creamy off white. But what about shutters and doors?? If we chose another color altogether for shutters and door would that be too many colors, too, many contrasts? Houses that I've looked at with shutters have their trim the same color as house and the shutters and door in a contrasting color or white trim with house color and shutters in coordinating colors. I don't want the house to look "busy" with too many colors contrasting--the brown roof, the light brown on the house, the cream on the trim and then the color of the shutters. Sounds like a lot for a small house. But I don't want to dull it down by not having enough contrast, either. Any suggestions or advice??
Answers:
I would paint the 'body" of the house with the cream, and trim with the darker..the shutters can be accented or not your choice to your eye..I am A paint contractor and general rule is ligth color on body, darker color on trim..but rules are meant to be broken
it sounds okay because you're staying in basically the same color family
The rule of thumb is: 3 colors on a house,whether large or small.
I would suggest picking a color for the shutters that is darker and coordinates well with the tone of the roof so essentially you are not adding more colors but will end up with a nice contrast. Two colors are not enough to give you any depth, three always works best especially when they are complimentary. If you are using different tones of one basic color I don't think it will be busy. It would be if none of the colors coordinated but your choices will
Victorian rule of thumb was 5 colors at least so you can go with whatever you want. Keep it simple, keep it elegant, keep it in the same or co-ordinating color family.
If the house is really small think I would paint trim the same color as house or a shade lighter and highlight shutters and door with a bright color.
More Related Questions & Answers...