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House Color Charts

From Jackie Craven,
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Exterior House Paint Color Combinations

Coordinating house colors can be confusing. Most houses will use a palette with at least three different colors for siding, trim, and accents. Your local paint store or home supply store can give you sample color charts with suggested color combinations. Or, you can view paint color charts online using the links below.

Please note that colors you see on your computer screen are approximate. Always try a sample of the actual paint before making your final decision. Also, consider using easy, free House Color Visualization Software to view color choices on your house.

1. Historic Color Schemes

From the Detroit Historic Commission, a variety of color palettes for historic and contemporary house styles. Click on a "Color System" in the menu to see sample colors and recommended color combinations. These color charts are especially helpful because they identify recommended colors for specific house styles.

2. CBN Color Charts

This online database lets you view thousands of colors from major paint manufacturers like Benjamin Moore, Behr, Sherwin Williams, and many others. Click on a manufacturer's name to view color chips and popular color combinations online, or download free trial paint color software with free paint color palettes.

3. Sherwin Williams Historic Palettes

Find color charts from the Sherwin Williams paint company. Click on the links in the menu to view historic color combinations for Classical and Colonial houses, Victorian houses, Arts & Crafts houses, and Suburban Modern houses.

4. Benjamin Moore Virtual Fan Deck

Browse Benjamin Moore paint colors online. Click on Virtual Fan Deck to view colors from the same Benjamin Moore paint chip "fan decks" you'd find at a Benjamin Moore paint store.

5. Valspar Paint Color Palettes

Choose colors from Valspar color palettes, then select from a library of photos to see how your chosen colors look on rooms and houses. Also find recommended color palettes for various house styles.

6. KILZ Casual Colors

KILZ® is known for manufacturing stain-covering primers, and they claim that their Casual Color paints also provide great hiding properties. If you use a roller and choose a color from the KILZ palette, you shouldn't need to apply a second coat. (Although you may still need to use a primer.) The colors shown on this one-page palette are just a sample of the available color line. KILZ Casual Colors paint is sold at WalMart stores.
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