Blue Door Painters Discusses Parts of the House to Use for Accent Colors
An accent color is an essential aspect of any color scheme, and it is a critical element of establishing curb appeal. A color in your design scheme qualifies as an accent if you don’t use very much of it, and if you put it in a place that stands out in some ways from the rest of the architecture. A very well-tested design strategy involves using a color that is either unusually bright, or radically different from the rest of your scheme, as an edgy accent. Across the panorama of Washington, DC construction, there are five frequently found architectural features, visible from the road, that provide ideal spots to host an accent color. We’ve listed them, along with some suggestions for maximizing their effect, below.
1. Shutters. With urban roots in very traditional Georgian, Colonial, and Federal-style architecture, Washington DC and Northern Virginia have many buildings that pair plain brick or siding with shutters as the only adornment. While you need to be careful adding too much bold contrast in your shutters, since they actually cover a fair amount of visual surface area, playing with color in your shutters is an excellent way to manipulate your overall design without expending too much time or paint. If you have a window that stands out from the rest in any way, experiment with painting the shutters on that window only a more dramatic color to create the ‘eye-catching’ effect used by many realtors to help stage houses. Also remember that color can be used to contour the space: lighter shutters will make a window seem slightly larger than darker shutters. Have fun: the cool thing about shutters – and accents in general – is that they are easy to change. If you take a risk and don’t end up liking the effect, you can always paint over it!
2. Doors. Doors are a classic candidate for a bold accent color. First of all, they are centrally located, creating a natural visible focal point for the house as a whole. Second, they are symbolic: the entryway to a space is automatically assumed, on a subconscious level, to encapsulate its spirit. (This is why the doorways to many houses of worship are very ornate). Adding some energy in the door area in the form of a burst of bold but tasteful color shows viewers that the home is lively and engaging, not dull and listless.
3. Cornices. While most modern construction has a minimal amount of cornicing, many of the historic buildings in the city and its surrounding urban villages feature cornices added for both decorative and functional effect. The narrow horizontal lines provided by cornices often accentuate certain architectural features, and offer an ideal opportunity to add in a splash of color. If you do not have cornices, but want to take advantage of that horizontal accent style, you can look into creative alternatives like creating a stripe out of a single line of siding, or even painting your gutter!
4. Chimney. Many houses in DC have chimneys, primarily constructed out of brick. Sometimes they are located on one end of the house, and sometimes they come straight out of the roof, creating a little architectural crown. While you have to take special care when painting chimneys, both to ensure you use the right kind of paint to adhere to the masonry, and to make sure your paint job can withstand the added environmental stress of fireplace smoke, painting chimneys is an excellent way to add a splash of color. You can experiment with both painting the entire chimney, or painting individual bricks scattered evenly throughout. Just remember that visual balance is essential: strong color on one side of the house should be balanced in some way on the other, and strong color on the roof should be balanced by something (like a detail in the landscaping) lower down.
5. Planter Boxes. The good thing about planter boxes is: if you don’t have them, you can easily get them! Planter boxes are an easy way to alter the aesthetic of just about any design, and they are an excellent avenue for adding color. Living green is an excellent neutral: brightly colored planter boxes filled with blooming flowers or vivid foliage can brighten up almost any exterior, without looking gaudy.