You might be planning your own exterior revamp or one of your customers may have asked you for help choosing colours for their scheme. Either way, it’s important to know the different considerations involved when choosing colours for exteriors. Read our blog to find out which RAL, BS and NCS shades we recommend for different exterior substrates and surroundings.
Using One Can for Exteriors
Any paint used for exterior projects should be durable enough to withstand all that the British climate has to throw at it. One Can combines a primer, undercoat and topcoat in one tin of tough and long-lasting paint, suitable for painting both interior and exterior substrates. It has excellent adhesion to a wide range of surface materials, including uPVC, metal and wood, supplied in either a Matt or Eggshell finish.
One Can can be tinted to all RAL, BS and NCS colours, so you can choose freely from an extensive colour range to select shades for your or your client’s home exterior.
Credit: 2 Sisters UK
Choosing Colours for Stone Properties
Older period properties are often built out of stone. Neutral colours are some of the best shades to complement the traditional look of these homes. Whether you are painting masonry, front doors, window frames, sills or soffits, consider shades like RAL 9001 or 10 C 31 from BS 4800. If you’re looking for something a bit more colourful, consider a blueish green like BS 16 E 53, which will coordinate well with the surrounding stone.
Credit: Fineline Decorating
Choosing Colours for Red Brick Properties
The other most common substrate for home exteriors is redbrick. Red is known to be a complementary colour of green. By choosing green to paint the exterior elements of redbrick properties, you will create a beautiful contrast and add instant kerb appeal. A rich green like RAL 6016 or 6026 is a great choice for front doors and wooden porches on redbrick homes.
Choosing Colours for Contemporary Properties
Contemporary homes can be clad in a variety of materials like timber or fibre cement, or they can be smoothly rendered and painted in cool grey or white. Dark and impactful shades work well to complement this urban look. A deep navy like ‘106 – Royal Blue’ from BS 381C will work superbly on a front door, whilst a greyish green like ‘220 – Olive Drab’ is excellent for painting metal railings so they blend into their surroundings. For a straight-forward, no-nonsense jet black, use RAL 9001 – a popular colour for painting garage doors and window frames.
Credit: Nick the Decorator
Choosing White for Exteriors
We advise against using bright white shades for home exteriors, as they can often appear too harsh or stark. If you or your client would like to choose white, opt for a softer shade like RAL 9010 or 9001, which will look considerably more pleasing to the eye.
Making an Impact on your Exteriors
Painting home exteriors offers a great chance to try using one or two bolder paint colours – even if your comfort zone for interior design is neutrals. For front doors, it’s often “the bolder the better” and a vibrant yellow like ‘363 – Bold Yellow’ will create a strong sense of welcome on the front of your home. If that feels a little too daring, a softer pastel colour like the greyish pink BS 04 B 17 or timeless blue BS 14 C 35 is a great alternative to bring some personality to your home exterior.
Credit: MRA Decorating
