Colour palette for your home exteriors

It is a general tendency that we concentrate more on our home interiors. After all, it represents our individuality and innate style. But seldom do we realise that it's the exterior that offers any viewer the first impression about a home and the owner's personality.

However, choosing an exterior wall paint colour for the Indian climate is not easy, and several factors need to be considered. Here are some quick tips on how to choose the best exterior paint colours for an Indian home.

Choose the right paint type

The type of paint you use will ultimately decide the durability of the exterior. Avoid using high gloss paints for your exteriors. For a perfect exterior wall paint finish, matte and eggshell are the best choices as they have high durability and are easier to clean. These finishes further enhance the natural colour of the paint.

Weather is crucial

Exterior paints have a longer life span if they are painted during summer, as they require a minimum temperature to adhere to the wall. This will provide enough temperature for the paint to dry properly. Painting your exteriors during winter will result in 'flaking' over time, owing to the humidity. So, its best advised undertaking any painting expedition during summer.

Pick the best colour

In India, colours are region-specific. While homeowners up north traditionally use a subtle colour palette including beiges, greys, whites, creams and neutral tones, houses down south are designed with more unconventional and brighter colours.

As a rule, use two or a maximum of three colours, as any more would make it appear cluttered. You can splash a bright colour to highlight a particular section like a balcony while choosing to keep the overall look neutral.

Some top trending colours this year have been mustard yellow, brown, and light greens. One of the best exterior paint colour idea is to avoid black and other dark colours. These colours absorb dust and make you repaint your exterior wall paint more frequently.

Pay attention to exterior furnishing

Just like interiors, your home exterior also needs to be enhanced with the right furnishing. Using interesting materials to accentuate your house will bring an oomph factor to even a potentially boring colour combination.

A tried and tested trend is to incorporate earthy elements and textures to your exteriors. You can do this by adding natural materials like wood, rocks, cement, metals, glass and bricks. This is not only a safe house style but is guaranteed to give a modern vibe to your home. Similarly, furniture used must preferably match with the colour theme of the exterior wall paint colours.

Don't forget waterproofing

One aspect of exterior wall paints often overlooked is the 'waterproofing' property. Every time exterior walls are exposed to rainwater or high humidity; moisture can travel through the layers and affect the interior walls too. This renders the walls a breeding ground for mould and mildew growth, causing irreparable damage and water leakage.

The best way to prevent this is to waterproof your building while initial construction or choose a wall paint that has superior water resistance. Opt for a paint that has effective waterproofing and anti-carbonation properties, offering outstanding protection for exterior surfaces. Some paints are developed with properties that protect the surface against water, algal attack, dust pick-up, hairline crack bridging, efflorescence and extreme weather.

All these put together, you have the best ideas for your home exteriors. So, get going with your exterior decorations in a hassle-free way by following all the above tips.

- Mahesh Anand, Nippon Paint (India)