Which colour should you choose for your house?

Compare colour samples in the intended finish and different daylight conditions before choosing. Use an appropriate sample method for the façade rather than relying only on a small indoor colour card. Colour appearance changes with lighting, surrounding colours, area, texture and gloss. Compare a representative sample in its intended setting; there is no fixed number of shades by which every colour changes.

Follow a daylight comparison: compare samples in several daylight conditions, including sun and shade where relevant. This is a practical comparison method, not a guarantee that a colour will appear identical at every time of day.

Use a colour reference, a short list of samples in the intended product or finish, and a suitable place to compare them against the building’s fixed materials. An NCS notation specifies a colour reference using hue and perceived blackness and chromaticness. Finished appearance also depends on product, gloss, texture and lighting, so verify a physical sample with the chosen supplier, such as STO, Jotun or Nordsjö.

• NCS colour chart · to specify an exact code, not just “grey-green”.
• Colour samples (2–3) · sample tins in your shortlisted colours.
• Brush and sample area · make a representative sample using a method and coat build-up suitable for the actual substrate and product.
• The right paint system · Swedish distemper, linseed oil, acrylic or silicate paint according to material.

Do not skip colour sampling. NLL’s listed 187.50–250 SEK/m² material range covers paint, tape and protection for the painting work; it is not a retail price for façade paint alone.

Use five planning steps: consider the architecture, shortlist colours, prepare representative samples, view them in different light, and compare with fixed materials and the surroundings. Compare representative samples before committing to the full façade.

1. Identify the house’s age and style. A house from around 1900 and a new build suit very different colours.
2. Choose 2–3 NCS candidates. Keep the shortlist small, or the decision becomes impossible.
3. Prepare representative samples. On the façade and aspect that will be painted.
4. Compare different daylight conditions. Morning, midday sun and overcast evening.
5. Check against materials and neighbours. The colour should suit both the façade material and the streetscape.

Consider the architecture and fixed materials when choosing a colour. A house’s date alone does not determine whether light, dark, muted or saturated colours are appropriate. Architecture, existing materials and any historic or local requirements help guide the shortlist. These are design considerations, not a universal old-house versus new-house colour rule.

For example, an old timber house with decorative woodwork is enhanced by muted English red or a pale linseed oil paint colour. Conversely, the deep graphite black suiting a modern cubic house may look harsh and wrong on a house from around 1900. Look at window trim, roof and plinth: they frame what the façade can carry.

Check whether the proposed dark colour is permitted for the actual façade system. Solar heating, the product formulation, substrate and exposure all affect performance; no fixed repainting interval follows from the colour alone. Darker surfaces can absorb more solar energy, but weathering and colour stability depend on the specific system and exposure. Check any restrictions on dark colours in the product or façade-system instructions.

A dark colour may be suitable when the specified system permits it. Assess a sample in the intended setting and follow system-specific maintenance guidance rather than assuming a universal shorter life.

The façade material and existing coating determine suitable systems, while texture, gloss, lighting and colour reference affect appearance. Do not infer a maintenance interval from the binder alone. Check the actual substrate and existing coating before choosing a product. An NCS reference does not specify gloss or texture, and the same reference can look different in different finishes or lighting.

If considering paint on brick, assess the masonry, moisture conditions, mortar and suitable coating system first. A generic mineral-paint recommendation is not enough to establish suitability.

Ask for professional help where safe access requires specialist equipment. NLL’s exterior painting labour is priced by surface and scope; materials and access costs are separate, and any ROT deduction is conditional. The right colour will not last over poor preparation; washing, scraping and priming determine most façade jobs.

The cost of exterior house painting is based on labour of 500–750 SEK/m² for rendered/brick façades and 625–875 SEK/m² for timber façades, including VAT before any applicable ROT. Paint, tape and protection are additional at 187.50–250 SEK/m². A conditional example of full 30% ROT on 50,000 SEK of eligible labour gives a 15,000 SEK deduction and 35,000 SEK labour payment, only if the customer meets the conditions and has enough allowance. NLL assesses the actual surface and scope before quoting. See exterior painting in Skåne for the service.