Do you or your friends have a private home? Then here is an amazing article for you! We asked a designer, a builder, a specialist in low-rise buildings and a paint technologist about what color to paint the house, and we heard even more practical advice than we expected!
The first impression that will form about our home, about ourselves, depends on what the appearance of our house will be. But if everything is more or less clear with the style of the rooms, and even a person who doesn’t understand anything about design will find a lot of materials and ready-made ideas for arranging the interior, then what to do with the facade of a private house?
We won't convince you to paint the outside of your house red or light yellow, but we will tell you the secrets of the professionals that will definitely influence your choice!
About the general principles of color selection
House designs presented on numerous construction sites are in most cases made in neutral shades. This is done so that the colors do not distract from the details of the project, allowing you to more fully appreciate the design. The choice of colors for the facade and roof goes to the owner; it will be successful if you follow the simple rules that guide professional designers.
Before settling on a particular color scheme, you should decide whether you want to highlight your home, emphasizing its advantages, or, conversely, make it invisible, built into the environment. The solution to this question will tell you which direction to move in. The first option will require rich colors and bold combinations, while the second will require a harmony of natural shades.
For fans of extravagant solutions Source indeco.ru
When choosing colors for a country house, it is important to remember some features that are inherent in all colors, albeit to varying degrees. All of them have the following properties:
- Burnout . The more saturated and bright the color, the more noticeable it is. The champion in terms of burnout speed is black; brown, red and lilac roofing will be exposed to the sun to a lesser extent. The best durability is demonstrated by the gray color, which only slightly changes the shade. A white roof is also not ideal; elegant at first, over time it will inevitably turn yellow, and not evenly, but in spots.
- Heat absorption . We remember from a school physics course: the lighter the surface, the more it reflects light, and the darker the coating, the more it absorbs solar energy. Therefore, the further north the house is located, the more practical the choice of dark materials and colors for its facade and roof becomes.
Bright colors become lighter over time Source houzz.com
- Accentuation . Paints can change the external impression of a building. Light shades visually enlarge the object, dark shades make it smaller, but also give clarity to the details. Caution is needed when using several bright colors - this is usually a good solution for a house of a simple shape with a minimum of architectural details.
To simplify the task, it is convenient to approach the selection of a suitable color scheme in one of the following ways:
- Choice of shades of the same color . A common and almost win-win option. One color is divided into successive shades: for the roof, facade walls and smaller details. Buildings made in green, sand or brown tones look harmonious; more boldly - in red or blue.
Choosing shades of the same color Source dvamolotka.ru
- Choice of contrasting colors . The appearance of such a building will be bright and memorable. The color scheme is based on two maximum contrasting colors, for example, chocolate brown for the roof material and pale yellow or beige for the facade. Sometimes, to enhance the effect, facade details (doors, trim, plinth) are also painted to match the roof.
Selection of contrasting shades Source iteragroup.com.ua
- Combination with white color . A universal option, given that white harmonizes perfectly with both pale and rich shades.
The combination with white is also contrasting Source rooftrend.com.ua
- Combinations of several colors . A three-color combination is specified: brown – beige – olive or gray – pink – white. They are complemented by a suitable secondary tone, which is supposed to be used for finishing. With the right selection, even a black facade of a house, complemented by a light roof, will look harmonious and stylish.
Combination of several colors Source krona-yug.ru
Emphasizing wood texture
Not to shy away from the idea of environmental friendliness, to show the beauty of natural materials is the natural desire of most home owners. You can emphasize the texture of wood using translucent or glazing azures. They are quickly absorbed into the porous structure of wood, protecting it from biological influences and revealing the natural pattern more clearly. At the same time, the tree continues to “breathe.”
The influence of tradition and landscape on the choice of flowers
Most often, the selection of color combinations for the facade and roof takes into account the location, features of the local landscape and national traditions:
- In hot southern regions, cool shades are popular, from white and lilac to emerald and bright blue.
- In regions with cold and long winters, warm colors are popular: yellow, chocolate, red, orange.
- In lowland forest regions, facades and roofs in natural shades are common - earth, grass, moss, sand.
- In flat steppe regions, bright finishing materials are used to decorate the roof: red, cherry or orange.
A warm option for a cold winter Source doka-metal.ru
- Near a lake , river or on the sea coast, a combination of white, turquoise, blue and light blue is popular.
- Country cottages look especially attractive in pastel colors.
- If the estate is surrounded by an extensive garden , its design can include a bright palette with yellow, purple and lavender accents.
- Private house in a residential area . Modern urban architecture involves experimenting with bright and unexpected color combinations.
- Building in the old quarter . You will have to adapt to the style of the environment so as not to destroy the historical surroundings.
Facade in a pastel palette Source doka-metal.ru
About the compatibility of colors of the roof and facade
Experts advise thinking about the combination, starting with the roof, and then choosing a façade to match it. This rule is explained by the peculiarities of the construction process - the roof is installed first. In addition, in the construction market the choice of facade materials is much more diverse than roofing ones. You will greatly simplify your task if you choose façade material for roofing, and not vice versa. To make the combination harmonious, use the following rules:
- For decoration, they are limited to two or three shades .
- You can seek advice from a professional or choose a color combination yourself using special compatibility tables . The tables clearly demonstrate how well or poorly different shades combine.
Video description
About color selection using the program in the following video:
See also: Catalog of companies that specialize in facade, roofing and paint materials.
- An alternative option is to turn to one of the many online visual apps . With the help of such a program, you can evaluate the appearance of the house with the selected materials before investing money in the purchase.
- It is not recommended to select and purchase materials from a catalog (paper or online); It’s better to visit a specialized store and see the colors in person.
- Chimney color . You can choose a shade that is in harmony with the tone of the facade (if the chimney is small). A color that matches the roof is relevant if the chimney is large (so it blends in with the roof and attracts less attention). Sometimes the best solution is a chimney that contrasts both the walls of the house and the roof.
- Drain pipe color . It is chosen at the discretion of the owners - an acceptable option is considered to be one that is close to both the finishing of the facade and the roof. If you want a more complex color scheme, the pipes can be painted in a shade that differs from the main one by two or three tones.
The chimney does not look like an alien detail Source domstroika.ru
- Hemming of overhangs . Usually the color matches the roof, sometimes a contrasting solution turns out to be interesting.
Traditionally, the most popular are brown, black, red and green roofs; which facade will look most advantageous with these and other shades can be seen from the following comparisons:
- Roofing in green tones . Fits well into any landscape; It is appropriate to paint the walls of such a house in beige, the color of baked milk, sand, white, olive or yellow.
- Red or brown roof . It can often be found on buildings of the classical type; It will be paired with walls in white, cream or beige tones. A turquoise or pink facade will look ridiculous.
Classic design Source pinterest.com
- Gray roof . A practical option that is easy to match. The gray roof, complemented by a facade in pastel colors, looks modern. Gray color is friends with rich, noble shades of red.
- Light roof . Such roofs, with a hint of blue or gray tint, can be found in southern regions with short, warm winters and little rainfall. They crown homes with walls in rich shades: blue, cherry, brown and peach.
- House with a blue roof . The image of the building will be complete if you choose a contrasting facade - white, as well as beige, ivory, milky white or pearl gray. Light blue, light brown and pink walls will look a little worse, and a turquoise, crimson or light green facade will appeal to rare originals.
Elegant combination with a dark gray roof Source megazar.ru
- Black roof . A rare selection, typical of houses in Gothic and some ethnic (Japanese, Scandinavian) styles.
Most often, they try to give the facade natural shades of beige, green, yellow and brown. They not only go well with each other, but are also easy to combine with bright and rich shades. The combination of the color of the facade and its details (doors, trim, plinth) is determined by the following rules:
- Facade in natural shades . The addition of windows and doors of a lighter tone of wood will give the building a solid and presentable appearance.
Comfort in a natural palette Source www.weareart.ru
- Green facade . It is appropriate to complement it with details of white, gray and dark green.
- White walls . Can be successfully combined with finishing elements of any color.
- Terracotta facade . Clinker tiles, which give the walls this vibrant look, are perfectly complemented by white details and tiles in shades of gray (from light to graphite).
How to paint a wooden house
Of course, you can paint a wooden house “tightly” using topcoat paints, for example, wood enamels. But most often in wooden construction translucent paints are used - azures, popularly called either impregnations or stains (we previously wrote about the accuracy of the terms).
“For wooden houses it is better to use materials that emphasize the structure of the wood. After all, ultimately, this is why we choose a house made of wood: for its color and texture.
The color option will depend on the chosen color and texture of the roof, the proposed platbands, the color of the drainage system, the option of finishing the base, the color of window lamination, log/beam exits (cuts at corners and in wall joints), as well as on the design of already built buildings on the site, for example, baths. In our practice, we offer clients a choice of 3-4 standard options for painting a wooden house.
For a house it is better to use 2-3 colors: the first for the facade, the second for the trim, front roof strips and pillars, the third color for the base and balusters.
You also need to understand that wood requires special protection: during operation, it is capable of both gaining moisture from rain and other precipitation, and releasing it under the influence of sunlight.
The facades that suffer most from environmental factors are those located on the sunny side, so they are required to undergo protective treatment first of all after construction; it is also very important to immediately treat the exits of timber or logs, since they are the main points of entry of moisture into the material. We advise clients to use light colors. The fact is that dark surfaces can heat up more, and in comparison with them, light ones are subject to less deformation from the heating-cooling process,” said Anton Shagiev, director of the company for the construction of wooden houses “IZHS-STROY”.
So, the choice of color, as well as the choice between paint and glaze, is yours, the main thing is to use high-quality materials. Owners of wooden houses are more concerned with the question of how to update a façade painted with azure over time: we have already talked about this (here is the link).
Useful tips
If you dream of a home with impeccable style, the following recommendations will be useful:
- If your house has a traditional look , in most cases it is assumed that a roofing material that is darker than the façade finish will be chosen (although the opposite solution is not prohibited). If the dominant color seems bland, you can dilute it with bright accents.
- For a home in a classic style, bright and provocative colors are prohibited. The combination of white and dirty pink tones for facade decoration has a noble sound; white and hot pink will remind you of a bowl of marshmallows.
Types of facade paints
For the facade, you need to take compounds that are not afraid of moisture, ultraviolet radiation, frost, and temperature fluctuations. You can choose a matte, semi-matte or glossy texture. If the house is under active sun, do not use gloss. It's better to paint it matte.
They also sell textured paints that look like decorative plaster. The composition includes small granules, which provide the grainy effect of painted walls. This option is relevant for cases where it is necessary to hide defects on external walls. It is applied in a thin layer, and therefore the consumption will be impressive.
A real hit of recent years is acrylic paints for facades. They have a number of advantages:
- simple operation;
- diluted with water;
- tinted in any colors and shades;
- no unpleasant odor;
- dry quickly;
- differ in vapor permeability;
- create an elastic film that does not crack.
Oil paints are an outdated solution. Yes, they withstand the weather well and are also highly durable. But they take a long time to dry, have a strong smell and lack plasticity.
Alkyd ones can withstand severe frosts, but are prone to rapid wear.
If the walls are pre-plastered, then it is better to use water-dispersed acrylic or silicone-type compounds. They do not burn, are fire resistant and waterproof. The color also lasts for a long time. But the price is high, for which you need to be prepared in advance.
Video description
About the influence of lighting on the color of facade finishing in the following video:
Thanks to additional colors, the gray facade does not look boring Source mfkbu.ru
- For a large roof with a complex structure, soft and muted tones are the right choice; You can make individual elements saturated.
- A reliable solution for most cases is to choose two shades of the same color , the difference between which is a couple of tones; which one to use for the facade and which one for the roof is up to you to decide. You can use the door as an accent by decorating it with a third, contrasting color.
Unacceptable Practices
The following decisions will lead to deterioration in the appearance of the building:
- more than 4-5 colors in wall decoration . The result may surprise you, but it is unlikely to please you.
- Using incompatible or several bright shades that interfere with each other.
An error in choosing a color worsens the perception of a home Source doka-metal.ru
- The facade and roof should be made in either warm or cool colors ; otherwise there will be no harmony.
- Using the same color .
- Not the best solution is to copy the decoration of neighboring houses . It is enough to choose colors that match the tone or style.
- If you want to focus on small details (door and window frames, cornices, pipes), use one shade so as not to create the impression of variegation, which is tiring for the eyes.
- To prevent your home from looking like a children's construction set (unless you're going for that effect), the ideal accent colors are white, black, and gray , rather than red, blue, or yellow.
For a black facade, the main thing is accents Source otdelka-trade.ru
Painting by floor
The facades of houses to which a floor has been added often have a combined finish. This move is used to save money or when it is impossible to select completely identical material.
Color can be used to highlight the space of the gable, the veranda or the entire floor. It is better to choose warm, deep, slightly muted colors. Be sure to pay attention to their compatibility.
Whatever painting option the home owners choose, updating the facade always benefits it. Work should be carried out every 4-5 years. This way the wood will last longer, and the appearance of the house will delight the residents again and again.
