There is no denying that choosing a good exterior house color is a very daunting task. Primarily, that is because most of us have never done it before. But more than that, the task is difficult because there are many different factors that you should consider, on top of applying some bit of creativity to the whole thing.

However, daunting as it may seem, there are several no-nonsense things you can do to make it a lot easier. And the creativity part can be minimized as well, because these suggestions are as practical as they come. Let us discuss them one by one.

The simplest approach, by far, is to get your computer and log onto the net. Believe it or not, there are user-friendly software which allows you to virtually apply colors to a sample house, letting you mix and match to your heart’s content. You then save a lot of time. However, the problem is that they would not have your exact house, and your exact surroundings in their database, and so the colors you will find nice on their sample house may not look that great when applied to your own.

A more customized approach is to consider the colors of your house’s fixed elements. These elements include roofing shingles, chimney structures, walkways, decks, and foundation materials like concrete or brick. Simply note the predominant color of all these elements, and pick an exterior color that will harmonize with that. Slate gray to blue, dark brown to beige, and all sorts of combinations, depending on what you prefer.

And so by now, you will have some idea of the combinations that you want. But to further define them, you need a color chart, which you can get from your local paint or home supply store. These charts will give you an idea of the different hues that are commonly used for exterior house colors, and you can pick what you like from there. In addition, those stores would usually have a few square feet of those same colors that you can look at, or maybe take pictures of, so you can narrow down your choices further. Moreover, they can suggest common color combinations for your area that you can adopt.

But in determining your exterior house colors, you should consider two more factors: the surroundings and the house architecture itself. For the surroundings, you just choose colors that contrasts with your lot area while being harmonized with your neighborhood’s homes. For instance, if your lot area has many trees, then you need brighter hues to make the house stand out, but not to the point of sticking out like a sore thumb when viewed alongside other houses. As for the architecture, you should choose more classic, understated colors for vintage homes, and brighter tones for a more modern look.

With so many colors to choose from, deciding on external house colors can be truly confusing. But if you apply the suggestions mentioned here, then you can cut down much of that confusion and arrive at a sensible choice. So look carefully at your existing design, and pick your tones logically. Good luck.