Choosing an exterior paint colour for your home is something you want to get right, especially when you consider that daily conditions can alter the look, it’s on display for all to see and it it’s a big area if you to repaint if you change your mind! Luckily Resene Colour Expert Amy Watkins has all the expert tips and advice on how to guide you through the process.
Spring and autumn are the two best seasons for painting your exterior, but it’s also a popular job for summer DIYers who can paint part of the day and then relax for the rest. “You need to have consistent weather so that it’s not too hot where the paint could dry too quickly or too cold where the paint can take too long to dry,” she says. “Look at the weather forecast to get an idea as to how to best plan your day of painting.”
Things to consider
When selecting exterior paint colours, Amy says that the first thing you need to look at is what other materials you’re going to be working with – is it COLORSTEEL®, COLORBOND® or Colorcote roofing, aluminium joinery or bricks and stones? This can have a major effect on what kind of colours you can choose for your home’s exterior. By identifying their undertones, you’ll be able to narrow down what Resene paint colour options will work with the parts of the house you’re not changing.
Another thing to consider is the style of your home, as this will dictate the different types of Resene exterior colours you’ll use. Is it a contemporary modern new build or is a traditional villa or classic bungalow? ‘Amy says, “When doing a new build or renovating an existing home, it’s important that you choose the colours that are harder to change later on, first. For example, choose your joinery or your roofing first before your paint colours.” It’s often best to choose ‘safe’ colours for things that will be hard to change later – such as your joinery or roof – and be more adventurous with your paint colours which are easier to update when your tastes change. Remember when you are choosing joinery and roof colours to choose colours that go with lots of different colour options, which will give you more choice down the track if you want to go with a new look.
Ask the experts
Visiting a Resene ColorShop is always a good idea, especially when deciding on an exterior paint colour. Amy recommends looking at the A4 drawdown paint swatches in the colour library instore. “These are screen–printed using real Resene paint so that they’re as accurate in colour as possible,” she says. “Take them outside and have a look at them in the natural light.” If you are painting a wall, hold them up vertically so you can see how they look in the light. If you are painting a deck, hold them horizontally.
You can also pick up some Resene testpots and paint them out onto a piece of A2 card. Make sure you leave an unpainted border around the edge, so that the colour is isolated, and you get a more accurate representation of how it’s going to work with other shades. “Take it around your home and make sure you look at it on the northern, western, eastern and southern sides, as well as the morning, middle of the day and afternoon, because the colour will change throughout the day.”
