Observe

• 1). Look at homes in decorator magazines to get an idea of how different colors look on homes with a similar style and setting as yours.
  
  
• 2). Take note of the homes around you. Decide which paint colors will look attractive alongside the houses near yours.
  
  
• 3). Think of color combinations that will work together well. Take a hint from color palettes that paint manufacturers have put together
  
  

Selection

• 1). Choose bright or light colors if you live in an area where you have sun most of the time, since sun tends to wash colors out. Do the opposite if you get a variety of seasons. Select a slight gray tone of the hue you like so that your color will not look too bright once it goes on the house.
  
  
• 2). Opt for a paint color that matches the material and style of your home. Pull a color from natural brick, slate or stone accents on your home. Choose a deep burgundy red to contrast dreary gray stone. Use white, beige or gray with black and white trim for a colonial style house. Paint an old Victorian muted green or blue and finish the trim with crisp white
  
  
• 3). Enter the colors you have chosen into computer imaging software at your paint store to see how the colors look together. Decide your colors based on the images you like the most.
  
  

Try It On

• 1). Buy paint brushes and a few quarts of the paint colors you have chosen.
  
  
• 2). Use the brushes to paint a portion of the house with the colors. Do this on an area where the body of the house comes together with trim and accents so that you can examine all of the colors together
  
  
• 3). Examine how the colors look at different times of the day and as the sunlight changes.
  
  
• 4). If the first combination of colors doesn’t work out, try more color combinations until you are satisfied.
  
  
• 5). Paint your home with the colors you have decided are right.