How do you go about choosing a color of paint for a 1921 house?

Question

The house is a one story plan house that was built in 1921 with a full basement and 2 dormers on the roof one in the front and the other in the back. the house is brick with a shaker build out for the dining room.

Janet Pizaro · Answer

In order for you to start thinking of colors is to go to the paint store and get color charts. No one can decide or tell you what color to choose.

What do you like.What color is the roof?Once you think you like a color buy a sample and test it.

Ana Bacallao · Answer

i think it's strictly a matter of taste but you would obviously try not to choose colors that would be more current. This should,help:

http://oldhousecolors.com/

Lynn · Answer

Lots of things go into choosing a paint color. You can go to the town hall and see if they have a history (Field Card, realtors call it) and you may find a description of the original colors of the house.

You'll want something that stands out from the brick. You'll also want a color that wont be sticking out like a sore thumb from the rest of the houses in your neighborhood.

Paint stores have small jars of sample colors...buy a few and paint a few test squares on your house... you dont have to decide right away either.

Elizabeth Fencl · Answer

That is a great site to look at, Ana, I agree check out this site.

Another idea is to look at your neighborhood and the general color in the neighborhood. You don't want to go with a really crazy color that will make your house stand out like a sore thumb.

Naomie Moore aka baileyanddaisey, Castaic CA · Answer

How about looking at historical colors from that time period? Another way is to see what colors are in your neighborhood and choose something that blends in. A good paint contractor will also offer up suggestions and generally they have some great color combos too. Or just throw caution to the wind and visit a paint store and pick something that catches your eye. Anything you choose will most likely go with a bright white or butter cream trim if you want simple. I once did a house in a sage green with milk chocolate trim, old red front door and black wrought iron accents. Sounds dark and dreary, but when you saw the house in person it was amazing. Fit right into the surrounding neighborhood, but still stood out as it was different from every other home. Hope this give you some things to consider!

C. D. Scallan · Answer

It sounds lovely . Are asking for an exterior color ? Or colors for the interior rooms ?

Tina · Answer

are you tryiung to make it back to the original color? if so I use the library a lot and look up photos of various locatons with houses in this era...lol...most didn't have the beautiful colors available as we have today , white , beige, grey or some had no paint at all , remember the walls back then had a lot of horsehair in the plaster so it muted the colors a lot, liven it up jonathan and make it about your personality ...:)