Discover Stunning Exterior House Colour Schemes for Your House with Dulux and Resene NZ

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I. Introduction

Choosing the right exterior house colour schemes changes how your home looks from the street. The right palette can lift the value of the property and suit your own taste. In New Zealand, two main paint brands, Dulux and Resene, cover most exterior colour schemes for every style of house. This article runs through popular colour schemes, what to weigh up when you pick colours, and the tools Dulux and Resene give you to make the choice simpler.

II. Factors to Consider When Selecting an Exterior Colour Scheme

Exterior House Colour Schemes

Before you settle on a palette, think through a few things that shape the colour you end up choosing.

A. Architecture and style of your home

The age and design of your house matter when you pick an exterior colour scheme. A classic villa or bungalow tends to suit a traditional palette, while a modern home works with cleaner, contemporary colours. Pick colours that work with your home's features, such as window frames, cladding, and fretwork.

B. Surrounding environment and neighbourhood

Looking at the landscape around your home helps you land on colours that sit well together. Consider the colours of nearby trees, plants, and other features, then build a palette that fits in. Also check that your colour scheme matches the local area and any neighbourhood guidelines.

C. Personal preferences and design goals

Your exterior paint colours should reflect your own style. Think about the feel you want, whether that is warm and welcoming or bold and modern. Try a few colour combinations before you commit to one.

III. Exterior House Colour Schemes by House Style

Exterior House Colour Schemes

A. Traditional and historic homes

For classic homes like villas and bungalows, traditional colour schemes usually work best. Dulux and Resene both have heritage palettes built for period homes. These often use warm, earthy tones like cream, beige, and soft green, with deeper accent colours on the trim and other features.

B. Modern and contemporary houses

Contemporary homes suit clean colour schemes with simple lines and bold accents. Common choices are crisp whites, greys, and charcoals, often with a bright accent colour on the front door or another key feature. Resene has modern palettes, such as the “Resene Whites & Neutrals” collection, which covers a good spread of contemporary hues.

C. Weatherboard houses

Weatherboard homes are a classic New Zealand style that the right exterior colour scheme can lift. Traditional weatherboard schemes often use a light base colour, such as Resene Half Thorndon Cream or Resene Quarter Ash, with a darker trim colour like Resene Double Gravel or Resene Ironsand. For a more modern look, try a dark base colour, such as Resene Bokara Grey or Resene Element, with crisp white trim.

IV. Dulux Exterior Colour Schemes and Tools

Exterior House Colour Schemes

A. Dulux exterior paint colour chart and palettes

Dulux has a large range of exterior colours to suit most styles. Their colour chart runs from classic neutrals to bold, bright hues. Some popular Dulux exterior colours include Tranquil Retreat, Domino, and Antique White USA.

B. Dulux Visualizer

To see how different colours will look on your home, Dulux has a mobile app called the Dulux Visualizer. Upload a photo of your house, then paint the exterior on screen with various Dulux colours. The tool lets you try different colour combinations and placements before you decide.

C. Dulux colour consultancy services

For advice on your own house, Dulux runs colour consultancy services. Their colour consultants help you pick an exterior colour scheme based on your home's architecture, its surroundings, and what you like. They can also give tips on how to put your chosen palette into practice.

V. Resene Exterior Colour Schemes and Resources

Exterior House Colour Schemes

A. Resene colour charts and palettes

Resene is known for quality paints and a deep colour range. Their charts cover plenty of palettes for every style, from heritage hues to modern shades. Popular exterior Resene colours include Resene Alabaster, Resene Half Pravda, and Resene Double Foundry.

B. Resene EzyPaint virtual painting tool

Resene's EzyPaint is an online tool that lets you try different exterior colour schemes on your home. Upload a photo of your house, then paint the exterior on screen with various Resene colours. You can save and share your favourite schemes, which makes it easy to compare notes with family and friends.

C. Resene colour expert services

Resene runs colour expert services to help you pick an exterior colour scheme. Their colour consultants give recommendations based on your home's architecture, its surroundings, and your own style. They can also advise on how to put your chosen palette into practice.

VI. House Exterior Paint Ideas and Inspiration

Exterior House Colour Schemes

A. Modern exterior house colours

For a contemporary look, try a palette of crisp whites, soft greys, and charcoals, with a bold accent colour on the front door or another key feature. Popular Resene colours for modern homes include Resene Alabaster, Resene Half Concrete, and Resene Double Cod Grey.

B. Weatherboard house colours

Classic weatherboard schemes often use a light base colour, such as Resene Quarter Pearl Lusta or Resene Half Bianca, with a darker trim colour like Resene Ironsand or Resene Double Foundry. For a more modern twist, try a dark base colour, such as Resene Bokara Grey or Resene Element, with crisp white trim.

C. Street appeal and curb appeal

To make the front of your home more inviting, pick a palette that suits the house and its surroundings. Popular colour schemes for street presence pair classic neutrals, such as Resene Double Alabaster or Resene Triple Sea Fog, with a pop of colour on the front door, such as Resene Jalapeno or Resene Daring.

VII. Tips for Choosing and Implementing Your Exterior Colour Scheme

A. Testing colours in different lighting conditions

Before you commit to a scheme, test your colours in different light. A colour can read quite differently depending on the time of day and how much natural light hits it. Use Resene testpots to paint large swatches on the exterior, then watch how the colours look at different times of the day.

B. Coordinating colours for a cohesive look

For a balanced exterior palette, try the 60-30-10 rule. Use your main colour for 60% of the exterior, a second colour for 30%, and an accent colour for the last 10%. It gives you a balanced result that reads well.

C. Preparation and application

Good surface prep is what makes a finish last. Before painting, clean, repair, and prime the exterior surfaces properly. Hiring a professional painter helps you get a solid result and skip the common mistakes. With proper prep, a quality finish lasts about 7 to 10 years.

VIII. Conclusion

Choosing your exterior house colour schemes is a chance to change how your home looks and feels. Weigh up your home's architecture, its surroundings, and your own style, and you can land on a palette that suits your taste and lifts the front of the house.

Dulux and Resene both give you tools to picture and pick the right colour scheme for your home. Between the colour charts, virtual painting tools, and expert consultancy services, these two brands make the choice easier.

Start looking through the exterior colour options today and find a palette that gives your home a fresh look. With Dulux and Resene behind you, you can take on your exterior painting project knowing you have the tools and the advice to get a result you are happy with.

Colour Palette Generator

Tip: Click any color to copy its hex code. Click the lock icon to keep a color when generating new palettes.

If you need painting and decorating done in Wellington, get in touch with Wellington Decorators Limited. Khai Do has been on the tools since 2008, and our team takes care over the prep so the finish holds up.

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Khai Do

Khai started in the painting and decorating trade at 17, in 2008, and has run Wellington Decorators Limited since. He keeps the company focused on careful prep and looking after customers.

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