Have you noticed the trend for painting exteriors black? Would you consider painting your house black? It is certainly a very stylish look and one that is appealing because it makes a statement. In a world of greys and whites, it can be quite shocking to see a house which is black. Let me show you how you can make this more of a success.
Planning to paint your house black?
I absolutely love weatherboard houses. They lend themselves so well to the whole range of colours and tones for exteriors. Colours that look great on weatherboards, often don't work on flat rendered walls so if you have a weatherboard home, you have a lot more choice when it comes to choosing that exterior colour. You can certainly be more confident with painting your house black if you have weatherboards. The reason that colour and really dark tones like black and dark grey work well on weatherboards is due to the natural shadow line created with the overlapping boards.
A solid wall can be quite oppressive painted in black however the way that a lining board breaks up the surface of the house makes it more suitable for dark colours.
Laid back and relaxed, weatherboard houses have a charm that is difficult to replicate with a brick or cement rendered house. Popular at the moment is the use of black and white for both exteriors and interiors. This bold tonal variation can create a very sleek and contemporary look, however when used on weatherboards with the edges softened, you can also create a fabulous country style relaxed scheme. Throw in a strong modern accent colour and you are back to contemporary again – the looks are endless. So don't underestimate the impact of having an exterior black.
An important point to remember however, is that an exterior black will absorb light and heat from the infra-red rays of the sun which will make your home uncomfortably hot during the summer.
Historically, black has been used on barns in order to heat up the interior, for example in the tobacco growing areas of Kentucky, black barns are dotted all over the landscape. Black paint finishes are also popular for barn conversions in the UK where keeping the heat inside is usually a priority. So when you decide upon an exterior scheme for your house, particularly if you are in a very hot climate, this is certainly a consideration.
Technology has come to the rescue however and there are dark paints available that actually reflect the heat. Resene’s CoolColour paint will perform in the same way as a lighter colour painted on the exterior of your home which means you can confidently use a dark black without ramping up the air conditioning throughout the summer months. Resene Bokara Grey, Double Cod Grey, Black and Double Gravel are all great dark colours to try.
Read more about Resene's CoolColour paint here
So, unless you want to fry in the summer, make sure you use a dark paint from a company that uses light and heat reflecting technology in their range. Readers in England – you may all want to rush out and paint your house black!
Selecting an exterior black roof can also be problematic
If you are in a warm climate you may also need to reconsider selecting a dark roof as this will absorb the heat too and keep it in the house. A light coloured roof will reflect the heat so this could also be a consideration.
The finishing touches when painting your house black
It is of course the finishing touches that will really change the look and feel of the house. Opt for furnishings and accessories that are not too perfect, for example, hand painted antique furniture, original rattan pieces and weathered pots and containers are great if you would like a country style look. Soft furnishings really complete the picture and the Geometry collection by Pegasus at James Dunlop Textiles brings a striking touch to the scheme.
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