How to Select Your Exterior Color Scheme Based on Your Roof

By Kate Smith, DaVinci Roofscapes.   

The secret to pulling together an excellent exterior color palette is to take cues from your roof. 

Your roof is the biggest aspect in your home’s exterior design. It is the first thing people will see when they look at your house because it is a massive part of your home. Thus, you should build your color story from the top down. A composite slate or shake roof, for example, serves as excellent inspiration for your home’s color scheme. 

Here are three simple rules to point you in the right direction when looking at your roof as the starting point for your curb appeal color palette: 

1 - Check your roof’s temperature 

Most roofs are neutral, but the overall tone is warm or cool. For example, DaVinci Roofscapes synthetic slate in Castle Gray is a cool gray; Slate Gray is a warmer gray. 

A general rule of thumb is to choose a primary exterior paint color that is the same “temperature” as your roof– warm roof colors work with warm colors, cool roof colors with cool colors. 

Another option is to balance warm and cool colors. Rather than match the roof tone, the opposite color temperature will stand out in contrast to the warmth or coolness of the roof. 

2 - Pull the colors from your roof into your exterior scheme 

Whether your roof is a single color or multi-colored, using your roof’s color on your home exterior is a solid strategy for creating an integrated paint scheme. 

If you have a Slate Black roof, black accent shutters will contrast with the house and draw the eye vertically, making the home look larger. 

For a multi-color roof like European, you could use a more robust version of one of the roof colors on the front door to create “eye appeal.” 

3 - Do both 

It can be tempting to think that the least apparent solutions will be the most eye-catching when choosing an exterior color scheme that is not usually true. What people find most appealing is an exterior scheme that uses color to connect all of a house’s different parts and details. One of the best ways to do this is to choose two or three hues and use them in various shades and values (lightness/darkness) on the house’s different architectural elements. 

Have a question? AskARoofer.  

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Original article source: DaVinci Roofscapes