Exterior Paint Color Schemes: 10 Basics

When considering exterior paint color schemes, boil it down to three elements in descending order of area or size:

1. Wall
2. Trim
3. Accents

Wall paint, or field, comprises the largest area.  Trim means:  eaves, fascia, corner boards, window casing.  Accents:  doors, shutters, etc.

White trim is the classic counterpoint for wall color, but it doesn't always have to be.  Use any color that does justice to the wall color.

And with accents, you can really go crazy--red, black, whatever--since there is so little of it.  Why the heck do you think they call it accents, anyway?

So check out a few exterior paint schemes that About Home Renovations put together out of Sherwin-Williams colors, like:

• Mad Men
• Sweet Cottage Candy
• Twin Peaks Forest Cabin
• Comforting Brown

Image:  Lee Wallender/Licensed to About.com/via Sherwin-Williams