The perfect colour palette for the facade of a house

Kamla Villanueva Kamla Villanueva
DOM W KOSZALINIE , Studio Projektowe Projektive Studio Projektowe Projektive Modern houses
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The façade is like the business card of the house. It provides visitors with the first impression even before entering the home, which is why it is particularly important to choose the right house facade colour.

The paint will depend on your taste. The possibilities are almost inexhaustible so you should be well decided on the colour of the façade before having it done because it is definitely something that will last for years, even decades.

In general: warm colours like brown and orange are inviting, while other colours like green and blue can be quite eye catching. Other factors should also be considered in designing the façade, there's the size and position of the house and the orientation in which the sun rises and sets. All these contribute greatly to its overall appearance.

So, in order to find which facade colour is perfect for your home, we're here to give you a few tips to help you out.

Bright exterior walls with dark roof

The classic white facade matched with a dark grey roof creates a wonderful contrast of colours. Having walls with a light shade such as white, or beige or yellow blends serenely with the environment without being an eye-sore to the calm surroundings.

You can't go wrong with a light coloured façade, if not, then far from making a mistake that would need remedying. Also, it won't be distracting enough to be a nuisance to the landscape. Even large houses with light coloured facades can fit beautifully into the scenery – unlike bright and dark walls.

Also, a colour palette is often given by the community.  This will more likely narrow down your choices in a way that also avoids disturbing the overall style and atmosphere that is set for the neighbourhood. You can say that it is both a blessing and curse at the same time. At the very least, you won't need to worry about the colour of the façade too much. On the other hand, if you are set on a specific colour, then you can do so, provided that you have a special permit.

But the ultimate goal should also be a harmonious picture of the house, the garden, the roof and the environment. A dark coloured roof like anthracite or dark brown are also elegant and chic. Also, the good thing about it is that the dirt on the roof won't be as evident.

Walls and roof with the same colour palette

If you are unsure of which paint to choose for the facade, then it would be advisable to go with a basic colour tone because they are easier to match with light and dark colour schemes. If you opt for the safe bet which is a beige wall coating, then having a roof that also has a beige tone would fit the picture perfectly.

This is a standard type of colour except for some of the white details found on the window frames, railings and even the garden fence are matched in colour. Even the gutter fits in with the beige colour that matches the overall concept. The shades are harmonious and nothing jump out of place.

The tones of the house work best in a nice open area where you can appreciate how it's warm colour can stand alone. This proves that you don't necessarily need striking colours to land an eye-catcher.

Dark facade – light roof

In the search for the right colour for the façade, one should primarily ask 'What type of house is it? Is it a terraced house, a detached house, or a semi-detached house?'

Important considerations are also about the size of the house and the light irradiation. This depends largely on whether a dark façade fits into the surroundings.

Most homeowners choose a classic colour concept from a light facade and a darker roof. However, the Beech Architects' house shows that it can also look different in a different way. The striking façade of this country house is mainly due to the fact that the bright roof matches the base and forms a frame for the black walls.

Black colour fit ideally in modern homes but it can also look striking and new when it is used for a country home surrounded by lush greeneries. The green of the lawns and the façade in black gives the entire property a very strong design statement.

A mixture of different materials

Glass, wood, metal, stone or the classic plaster wall? Why do you always have to decide? Admittedly, the simplest variant is probably the plastered wall, but this simple structure can be easily broken.

It is best to add a plastered exterior wall with a stone base, or simply combine simple stone columns with their otherwise rather simple façade. Anyone who decides to work with wood gives his house a natural look. The use of other elements such as metal provides a rustic vibe that softens most modern homes.

If you prefer to think less about the colour of the façade, you can opt for a glazing. Glass walls provide a light-filled interior. Then you must also think of the appropriate blinds or curtains.

In general, you should be aware of the overall concept and the embedding of your home in the environment. Decide specifically for two or three materials so it does not strain the eyes.

Facade colour to dictate the overall style of the house

In general, the colours of the façade and the home should be more or less, uniform: the best choice is grayed tones, no clear, bright colours. Why? The façade design is long-term, it is subject to external influences such as dirt and weather.

Moreover, in contrast to earth tones, luminescent colours usually only exist with organic pigments which are less resistant to light than paint with mineral pigments.

But then again, what if glossy green or blue are exactly the colours you want for your façade? Then it should be used in the house as you wish. Although be mindful that there are certain colours that are not to be used. Imagine a country house with a facade of wood in bright pink paint? That would be a disastrous idea. A house in the middle of a natural environment can have a dark green coating that blends in with the overall picture. Likewise large houses in bright red can be overwhelming. If you have a red wall or a red element at your house, you can use them as accents pieces.

In a row of houses, having a home with a striking colour can be an eye-sore and disturb the overall ambience. In this case, you may as well style the entire house to striking and special while having a basic coloured facade.

Classic home

In Germany one likes to be more classical and unaffected, but above all, inconspicuous. Houses are designed in most cases with bright colors. The façade are mostly white, beige, yellow or orange with a roof that is red or brown.

As for this home, it is by no means boring, for it shows a distinct style. For those who are keen on doing some experiments, then go ahead, although it does not mean that you should try to paint the walls bright red. You can use the colours as an accent. In a white facade, you can add colour to the window shutters, the door and garden fences with the same colour.

In modern houses you often find flat roofs or large glass façades, leaving little room for those who want to become creative themselves. The classic German peaked roof can also be matched with its red, brown or anthracite coloured roof tiles.

Baroque houses

In order to revive the baroque age, one must take a look at the architecture, because the baroque art found its strongest expression. Playful, curved shapes, ornaments, gables, columns and the interplay of light and shadows. In addition, Baroque architecture is deliberately based on illusion. As for material justice? There is none. If you can't afford marble, wood can have a marble design. If you can not afford gold, gypsum is gilded.

In Germany, the natural stone colours of sandstone and marble in blass yellow and red were predominant in addition to white, grey and black. Later, contrasting colours became the style for the facades of buildings.

Compared to other countries the colour in Germany remained somewhat reserved. Even though toward the end of the era, more and more was placed on contrasting red and honey colour. Through the conscious play of light and shade on the facades of these houses, one should deal even more intensively with the overall effect of the house to the environment. If the façade is adorned with elaborate ornaments, one might prefer to avoid imposing colors, as these can overwhelm the visitor.

Living behind a Renaissance façade

Majestic renaissance houses bring their owners back directly into the ancient world, for nothing else has made Renaissance architecture. It recaptured elements such as columns, triangles, and capitals from the long past epoch, and transposed them into more strict architecture. Simple geometric forms such as circles and cuboids dominate the façades with a display of something grand.

Renaissance buildings are often found in three different versions: of natural stone, with plastered facades or in the form of a veneer. During those times, colours leaned toward greys and overtones developed. If the façade is plastered and only slightly decorated for Renaissance conditions, the use of colour is worthwhile. In the Renaissance, for example, a preference for dark grey, brown and red shades usually prevailed on a white wall.

In the case of half-timbered houses the compartment was usually white. The entablature experienced a more carefree colour palette in southern Germany, while colours were used more conservatively in northern Germany. But they used many details and ornaments. Due to its versatility, a renaissance façade does not provide clear rules for colour design. On the contrary, one should take a close look at the façade and then decide, 'striking' or 'unobtrusive'.

Romanesque facades

Clear geometric stone squares placed on top of each other, with reduced ornamentation and small windows, made the Romanesque architecture a massive, heavy and blocky one.

No wonder the Romanesque period enjoyed a special delight in the opacity of facades and interior spaces. Often, the pure natural stone was decorated in a colorful manner.

Today thick walls are considered as a desirable feature in houses. The restored ornaments are just right in the classical style of this era and offer more scope for the color of the façade.

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