If you're going to be having your home exterior painted in the near future, you're probably looking forward to your house having a fresh new look. However, you may be struggling with deciding what color to paint your home. If this is the case, consider using color theory as a guide to creating a cohesive and aesthetically pleasing look for your home's exterior.

Following are five tips for using color theory in your residential exterior painting project.

Choose a Dominant Color

The dominant color is the primary color used on the majority of the home's exterior. It's usually the color of the siding or brick. When choosing a dominant color, consider the style of your home, the surrounding landscape, and the other colors you plan to use. Neutral colors like white, beige, and gray are popular choices for dominant colors because they create a classic and timeless look.

Select an Accent Color

The accent color is a secondary color used to add visual interest and highlight the architectural features of the home. When choosing an accent color, consider colors that complement the dominant color. For example, if the dominant color is a neutral shade, you might choose a bold accent color like red or blue. If the dominant color is already a bold color, you might choose a more subdued accent color like gray or beige.

Create Color Harmony

Color harmony is the use of colors that complement each other to create a cohesive and balanced look. To create color harmony for your home's exterior, consider using a color scheme like complementary or analogous. A complementary color scheme uses colors that are opposite each other on the color wheel, such as blue and orange. An analogous color scheme uses colors that are next to each other on the color wheel, such as green and blue.

Consider the Neighborhood

When choosing colors for your home's exterior, consider the other homes in the neighborhood. You want your home to stand out, but not in a way that clashes with the surrounding homes. If the other homes in the neighborhood are mostly neutral, you might consider adding a bold accent color to make your home stand out. If the surrounding homes are already colorful, you might consider using more subdued colors for your home's exterior — additionally, if an HOA is part of the picture, it's important to double-check their guidelines prior to starting any project that modifies your home's exterior.