Every few years my parents would decide to paint their house. What colour should we paint it, dear? White, of course! White ruled for decades. Although one year, it was a daring, shocking cream.
There is logic in painting a house white, reckon the paint experts. Not only is it a classic and timeless choice but white also helps to keep your house cool during hotter months. This is because white reflects light, and therefore heat, from the sun. White will also make a property appear larger.
White does not have to be plain and boring, and there is a pallet of white to play with - from cooler hues such as blue to warmer tones such as cream. These colours will also reflect light and heat and be ideal in hotter climates.
Interestingly, shade (as created by trees or an awning) can reduce the temperature inside your house by as much as -6 degree Celsius.
Another way to enhance a white exterior is with colourful accents which you can create by painting shutters, window and door frames, doors, verandas, and railings, a complementary colour such as green, blue, and even red or yellow.
Black is back
On the opposite side of the colour spectrum, is black. Do remember that black absorbs light, which also means the heat from the sun.
Any dark colour, however, will make the interior warmer, and it's therefore not the ideal colour for your beach house, for example. However a darker colour is a clever decoy if your property has any imperfections you want to hide.
Fifty shades
While black can be a dramatic and unusual choice for a house, grey is an increasingly popular colour, ranging from a cloudy grey to an elephant grey, and even deep charcoal.
What is interesting, and handy about grey, is that it can be used to reflect or absorb light, depending on the shade of paint that is used. A light grey will make your house cooler, while a dark grey has a heating effect.
For cool options that aren't a whiter shade of pale, try beige or a light yellow, pale blue, a very light berry, even or a pale olive. For dramatic, warmer options try red, a dark olive or navy blue.
Colour trends
- Cream is perfect for a cool, calm exterior and it has an historical feel to it, which can be complimentary if you have a house dating from an older period.
- While you don't often see South African homes painted a dark olive colour, it's a clever way to create a harmonious and connected feel to the garden where the exterior blends into nature.
- Blue is becoming an increasingly popular exterior trend, whether it is eclectic blue, Mediterranean blue, or a light powdery blue hue.
- Black is starting to come forward as a strong exterior statement, but then often paired with cream or white.
- A pale green is also a good option to try if you are tired of white. Green has the further advantage that it neutralises in sunlight but turn more green in the shade.
- An unusual but new trend is pink. Don't think Barbie, but rather conjure up the pale pink elegance of the Mount Nelson. A very light cool pink also works well with white accents and any greenery will compliment your pink home.
Colours that have resale value
If you want to sell your house, classic white is still the way to go. Other neutrals such as grey, beige and cream are also safe, likeable options.
Exterior painting pointers
- Too often properties in the same neighbourhood look like colour copies of each other. Rather avoid the same colour and choose a different but complimentary shade.
- You should consider painting your property every five to seven years.
- Glossy paint is durable and easier to clean, but it magnifies imperfections. Flat paint is easy to apply and hides blemishes but is difficult to clean. The best option therefore is a satin or eggshell finish that provides even coverage, is fairly weather-resistant, and easy to clean.