Exterior Paint Color Inspiration for my 1921 Stucco Home
Exterior Painting Season
Oh happy freaking day! It’s finally time!! Time for what you might ask? Exterior paint time- whoop whoop!
Now don’t get me wrong. I love my house, but the exterior transformation has been put off for longer than my inpatient brain cares to think about. You see, I was hoping to get the house painted last fall, but had decided to put it on hold in the hopes that I would be able to tackle my garage demo + addition. Sadly, my renovation budget for that was a laughing joke to all 5 contractors I spoke to and the numbers came back almost double what I wanted to pay.
So…after a LONG winter and what I guess you could call a “Minnesota spring,” it is finally warm enough out to paint the exterior of my home. I am saying goodbye to the red trim and beige stucco and hello to a soon to be fresh, crisp look.
House Paint Color Inspiration
Now it’s important for me to note that I don’t plan to get too crazy. You know me. I love my neutrals, and on top of that, I want to make sure my home stays classic and doesn’t stand out amongst the crowd. She is going to sparkle though. Don’t you worry!
Based on how I’m describing my beautiful update I bet you think I’ve got it all planned out. Don’t you? Well the jokes on you haha. When I left my 9-5 to have a “flexible” work schedule and build my own business, I had no idea I was signing up to work 24/7 instead. It’s not to say I don’t love my job, I do. It just doesn’t leave a ton of time to be a great planner.
So, what I tend to do instead is have a tentative decision made that is directionally what I want, and then procrastinate a bit until it’s time to make a game time decision. My house paint color selection is no different. I have a handful of inspiration photos that CLEARLY have a theme to them (neutral AF), but I haven’t selected the final, final colors quite yet. Lets just say it will be a surprise to all of us! For now, here is a sneak peak of the direction I’m headed. You’ll have to stay tuned for the final result.
Designed by: Jenna Sue Design
Photographed in Minneapolis by yours truly
Designed by: Lindye Galloway
Designed by: Vincent Longo Custom Builders
Designed by: Summer Classics
Hire a pro vs. DIY
Now some of you might be wondering if I am planning to paint the house myself. I personally wouldn’t dare get on a ladder tall enough to paint a home, let alone a 2-story home, so this job is being hired out. If you are a brave soul though and plan to paint your own home, I didn’t want to leave you hanging.
Here are a few tips when painting stucco:
Stucco is a long lasting material that can handle quite a few of the elements here in the Midwest. When painting stucco, it is best to use a flat paint with a sprayer. The flat paint allows you to touch up areas from all angles without leaving blotches. Because of the inconsistency of stucco and the fact that it is not smooth, stucco needs to be painted from all angles with a sprayer and is recommended that you use an experienced professional. Be sure to apply multiple coats due to the continuous texture and inconsistency. This will help ensure no spot is missed!
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Exterior Paint Color Trends
If you’re looking for more exterior paint color inspiration, be sure to check out this blog post. I go through some of my favorites that are making a big splash. There are even a couple “comeback” colors that you may fall in love with! In the meantime, wish me luck over these next two weeks as I narrow down my final picks!
Jen
