How to Match Colors for Painting the Outside of Houses

Visit a paint or home store, and pick up whatever color swatches appeal to you. Ask for manufacturer paint color brochures that provide suggestions for exterior color combinations.

Take some digital photographs of the house, and upload them to an online color tool such as Colorjive or Bob Vila's Paint Designer (see Resources). This allows you to digitally "try out" paint colors to see how well they match each other and other architectural elements on the house.

Purchase quarts of the exterior colors you have chosen and paint large samples directly on the house. If you don't want to paint on the house yet, paint the samples on sheets of cardboard or art board. Be aware that painting a test color on a smooth surface may look a little different on the house itself if the siding is rough or textured.

Look at the colors in several lights during the day, as well as at night with your exterior lighting.

Consider other elements on your house, such as your roof, masonry, decks or adjacent buildings. The paint color should match or complement the other elements, instead of clashing with them.

Choose colors that contrast sharply with each other to accentuate trim. For instance, paint the siding a light tan, and pick a deep brown to bring out attractive woodwork on the outside of the house. Choose colors that don't contrast sharply, but are closer in tone, to downplay the appearance and make the house look bigger.

Paint a focal element, such as your front door, a vivid, welcoming color. Match the paint to something else around your home, such as a color in your landscaping, to give the house a pulled-together look.