The Ultimate Guide to House Painting Colours

The best house painting colours can transform the ambience of any space, giving your interiors and exteriors a vibrant, new look.

The right colour palette is key to painting your walls fresh and stripping off years of wear and tear. Recent trends explore bright colours for bolder looks, incorporating bright reds and pinks, warm pastels on trims, and darker shades along the entrance.

In this article, we discuss how different shades of paint can highlight even the finest architectural details of a space. Here’s everything you need to know about interior and exterior paint colours.

Psychology of Paint Colours

Most paint trends have begun to explore the concepts of colour psychology. In fact, modern design is deeply influenced by various elements in nature.

As mentioned in the Theory of Colors, a book written by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, the book talks about how various hues affect people’s moods, connecting specific colours to different emotional categories.

For instance, warm and earthy tones of sandstone, moss, and charcoal greys help create a calm, comfortable, and minimalistic feel. In contrast, a rich purple-brown palette offers an indulgent and dramatic flair to your interiors.

Expert fashion psychologist Dawnn Karen states that colours can impact one’s mental health, reflecting how you feel. You can either settle for soft, muted tones of white and beige or brighten your interiors with vibrant blue and orange accents.

Best Interior & Exterior House Colour Schemes

Before adding a splash of paint to your walls, consider the functionality of that space and the kind of mood it sets in.

For instance, green-grey is one of the most sought-after trends in Australia, mainly because it uses natural light most efficiently. Besides hiding away imperfections, such a colour palette creates a tranquil retreat.

Even your home’s landscape plays a crucial role in deciding what exterior paint colour is most suitable. Imagine rich, clay tones paired against brick exteriors for a rustic appeal, particularly well suited for bungalow-style homes.

Earthy tones of white—ivory, cream and beige are excellent for creating a minimalistic appeal that pairs perfectly with stone. For a timeless look, select a warm palette of grey, beige, and charcoal for your entrances and doorways.

Brighter, bolder tones of red, yellow, and green are perfect for lifting the energy level of a space. Such colours suit parts of a house where people gather or socialise more often, like a dining or living room, or small, unexpected spaces like a corridor.

From accent colours to warm neutrals, the right colour palette not only enhances aesthetics but also increases your home’s property value. Here are popular house painting colours you can consider for your next project.

Subtle tones of white

A typical white-on-white layout features subtle undertones of yellow. For modern homes, such a colour palette is the safest to go with. Besides bringing warmth to a space, it helps reflect heat and glare more efficiently. As a result, this colour scheme can work beautifully in warmer areas of Australia.

Grey hues for a dramatic statement

Such a colour scheme is inspired by the coastal regions of Australia, best suited for an industrial-themed house. It pairs perfectly with crispy whites and blue tones to achieve a deep and aesthetically pleasing look. Combine this palette with glossy lighting, copper-styled bathroom accessories and cane furniture.

Monochrome colour palette

A monochrome palette particularly compliments textured walls, giving your space a unique and contemporary feel. When redesigning your exteriors, one of the best colour combinations to explore is neutral grey against rich whites for the trims. Monochromatic interiors also look great with accent walls featuring a splash of colour.

Soft neutrals and pastels

Many homeowners prefer a lighter colour palette that features shades of beige, cream, and dusty orange. Neutral colours or dull pastels of pink, orange, and green, help create a relaxing environment, may it be your interiors or exteriors.

Best examples of warm interiors inspired by nature include shades of brown and green across the walls combined with textured furnishings and potted plants. Additionally, subtle shades of brick red, brown, and beige also pair well with natural tones of green.

Classic navy blue and grey

Also known as Gentleman’s Grey, navy blue paired with grey is an excellent wall accent colour combination. If your room is spacious, it filters through a lot of natural light, giving the room a larger appearance. You can pair this colour scheme with light wood interiors and dusty pink or orange upholstery.

What house paints colours best suit a bedroom?

A bedroom is meant to be a space for relaxation, rest, and sleep, so bedroom colours should be muted at all levels. When deciding on a paint shade, consider tones of green, purple, and blue if you don’t mind a splash of colour.

For absolute peace and restfulness, you can incorporate neutral bedroom colours for a modern and contemporary look. Shades of lavender add personality to Victorian-style homes, especially for creating an accent wall in the bedroom.

What colours add the most value to a house?

Neutral colour schemes of light grey, beige, and grey-brown are widely used for increasing the sale price of a newly painted house. Additionally, front doors too have the ability to impact curb appeal. Try a coat of matte black, one of the most popular exterior house colours to consider for window trims and entrances.

Should I paint my whole house the same colour?

Though most interior designers advise against this, a single paint colour offers a cohesive look when it compliments your furniture, flooring, and other details. For instance, a full coloured-scheme house can also include various shades of light grey, that’s well distributed across different rooms, often accentuated with wooden furniture.

What paint colours are best suited for Heritage-style homes?

When restoring a Heritage-styled space, determine which era or period the architectural layout relates to the most. For instance, a mid-century colour palette that includes shades of teal, black, and charcoal grey for a clean and uncluttered look.

Tips to Consider When Selecting House Paint Colours

Test a small area before committing to a new colour

It’s going to cost you loads if you choose the wrong paint colour or settle for an average paint job, so it’s best to sample a few pots. Start painting one wall with the colour of your choice, give it a few weeks, and then make a final decision. Even when you’re accessorising, introduce a colourful piece of art that harmonises with your upholstery first, and go from there.

Determine the functionality of a room before picking a paint colours

Think about the function of each room before landing on a certain shade. Additionally, consider the amount of natural light that enters the space, including the furniture and existing architectural details. For instance, a bright red drape, wall, or pathway will create an exciting feeling when you’re entering a home. In contrast, you should avoid red accents in your bedroom and instead opt for cool white, blue, and green tones to promote better sleep.

Speak to an Expert Today

No matter what house colour you end up choosing, it’s the paint job that matters in the end and quality of the material used.

At Hunter Valley Painting, we can give your interiors and exteriors a fresh, new look! With over 10 years of experience, we are a fully-licensed painting company, offering a range of residential painting services to our customers in Newcastle or Maitland.

Contact us now.