It‘s now 2017 and you are thinking about giving your log cabin a facelift. Whether you are planning to sell your property or you just want to enhance its curb appeal, changing its exterior colour is an effective way to do it. The fact is that there are so many elements outside that are at play when it comes to this project and it is highly recommended that you should take the time to consider them before choosing a specific colour scheme.
Here are some important things that you need to consider when planning to paint the exterior of your log cabin:
1. The Roof
If your cabin comes with a brown roof then you should steer towards a warm siding colour. If your roof is black or grey then your siding colour should be cooler. Take the time to survey the fixed and other non-paintable parts of your log cabin‘s exterior such as stone chimneys, brick features and copper awnings.
2. Consider Your Neighbours
If your neighbour’s house immediately next to you is painted navy blue and the other house is painted white, you need not to imitate their colours as well. Instead of imitating their colour schemes, it is best to match the colour intensity of their houses instead. The colour that you choose should be something that stays in the cool spectrum and does not duplicate their choices. Remember, you want your house to have a personality that‘s distinct but does not stand out or in a bad way.
3. Do Not Ignore Cues from Your Surroundings
Apart from the colours used by many homes in your area, it is also important to conduct some research. Drive around your locality to get an idea if your colour choice is regionally and historically appropriate. According to Amy Krane, a professional colour consultant for architectural design, imagining the colours that you see on around you is the key. Turquoise and pink look and feel natural in a tropical region but tend to be wholly out-of-place in Britain.
4. Keep Depth and Scale in Mind
The colour of your log cabin can trick your eyes. For example, painting your log cabin with something light can make it look larger than its actual size. It is also something that visually brings your cabin forward to the curb as well. On the other hand, dark colours can make your cabin look smaller but more set back and substantial.
5. Conduct a Test before Committing
Before finalizing your colour choice it is very helpful to conduct a patch test and observe the property at different points of the day. This will give you an idea of how the sunlight can affect the colour. You also have to keep in mind that all colours will appear to look lighter on the exterior of your home than on a paint chip in the paint shop. According to Kridtie Barnett, a colour specialist, natural lighting can make everything appear brighter and lighter. This is why it is recommended that when you intend to choose a colour for your log cabin’s exterior, always go for darker ones – darker than you think you may want.
6. The Best Colour Choices for the Trim
Trim that is matched exactly to the siding colour usually looks and feels flat. Dark trims around windows can make them appear oddly framed and small.
* Keeping it in the family. A safe choice is a trim colour that‘s two shades darker or lighter than the siding colour or you can keep it simple with a cream or fresh white shade.
* Make use of trim to blend. See to it that your log cabin‘s less attractive elements (gutters, vents, garage doors) are painted a similar colour as your cabin‘s trim so that they will blend well. Choosing a trim colour can be difficult so it is highly advised that you take this part to a professional. Make sure that the paint consultant or company comes with preselected colour palettes based on colour range or architectural style.
7. The Accent Colours
This is in fact the fun part of painting the exterior part of your log cabin. After you have chosen the foundation for your colour palette, the trim and siding colours, it is time to have some fun playing with and enjoying the accents, such as the shutters, front door and other architectural details. With accent colours, you have the opportunity to present and make a statement, differentiating your log cabin from the other houses in your neighbourhood.
* Keep your accent colour classic. When painting front doors, there are colours that will never go out of date or style. A red colour for your front door is actually one of the best exterior colours which is simply timeless and would never fade away in terms of style. A navy-blue colour with a grey undertone is slightly fresher and more modern when it comes to looks.
* Look on the inside of your log cabin. Aside from having a good colour coordination with your cabin‘s trim and siding with your front door, it is also important to consider looking at its interior. See to it that once you’ve opened the front door, the things inside match your front door as well. Maybe an oriental rug and a piece of art work well to complement your front door. For instance, pulling out a lilac colour from these elements to be used on the front door will create a stunning impact as you enter you log cabin. Today, there are unexpected hues that can simply ooze this particular effect.
* Add extra colour. There are other architectural details that can match the colour of your front door and they offer another opportunity to introduce another hue. As such, colour specialists say that it is a good idea to pull other accent colours from the fixed elements of your cabin. For example, if your roof is coloured black, you can make black shutters and a pop of colour on the front door.
Whatever colour you choose for the exterior painting project of your log cabin, syncing all the aforementioned details will make you feel and look like you had a plan.
