By Sylvia O’Brien / Colour Theory 

Ever been on the house hunt, pulled up to the curb of a potential new home and didn’t even get out of the car? The exterior front of your home is like a billboard. Your interiors may be fantastic, but who will know if they don’t enter?
Whether you are selling your home or not, colour selection for the exterior may be very different than interior colour choices. Your exterior is public space and may not be the best place to exercise your sense of whimsy.
The balance of colour combinations of trim, doors, siding, roofing, landscape and even streetscape is a delicate one. It can make or break the overall look of your home…  and you don’t have to be far off to blow it!

Things to keep in mind:

• Pay close attention to the colour of the elements that don’t change (ie. Roof, brick, stone, eavestroughs & downspouts). Whatever paint colours you choose must work with these elements. 
• Your front entry is the focal point to your home. Your front door can be it’s own colour and doesn’t have to match anything else.  
• Think about how your new colour scheme will flow with the streetscape.  Should it blend in? stand out?

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Sylvia O’Brien is a colour consultant and creative director of Colour Theory, Toronto, Canada
416 766-6789 www.colourtheory.net