Every time you walk or drive up to your home, take a moment to look over its current appearance. If the siding still has that same stale lemon yellow paint from when you first bought the house, you might want to repaint it. We hope these tips will help you decide on the right siding color for your home, and if you need help from our roofers in Alpharetta, siding specialists, painters, or other teams, please get in touch for a complimentary quote today.

Align Your House Exterior Color With Your Home’s Architectural Style

You may not realize it, but your home’s architecture can influence the colors you pick. Every exterior house painter in Duluth can fill you in on the palettes that’ll help your home stand out and create a better first impression, even if you plan on selling later.

For example, a Colonial-style home typically looks best with traditional, neutral colors like white, cream, or soft gray, which highlight its symmetry and classic details. On the other hand, a Craftsman-style home benefits from earthy tones like warm browns and greens; this draws out its natural materials and handcrafted elements. Victorian homes often feature vibrant, contrasting, or pastel colors to emphasize ornate details.

See historical preservation guidelines, such as those from the National Park Service’s Historic Preservation Briefs, to gain valuable insights into period-appropriate color choices. You can also use digital visualization tools like this one by Sherwin Williams that will help you experiment with various color combinations to find the perfect match for your home’s architectural style.

Should You Paint Your Home’s Trim Before The Siding?

Yes, it’s often a good idea to prioritize the trim on your house when choosing a paint color. It’s okay not to know what paint color to get right away—some individuals look at the door first to find the pigment that suits the outside walls. However, the best way to really hone in on choosing an ideal palette for your exterior is to paint the trim first.

The trimming is a great start, as it opens a moment of opportunity to pick colors you’d never think to use or combine with another shade. The trim, or “casing,” is on the edges of a home. It goes around a window or door, and typically below the roof.

The colors we recommend starting with include:

• Camel
• Beige
• Taupe
• White

Painting the trim first will help guide your decision, give insights as to how light reflects and plays off your home, and more.

Take Your Climate Into Consideration When Choosing a Paint Color

The biggest issue everyone faces when painting their home’s siding is dealing with the climate. Everything can affect your paint, from moisture buildup to fluctuating temperatures. It can seem like there’s no way to combat the unpredictable weather. If you have questions about how the North Georgia climate may impact your paint choice, call our house painters in Johns Creek today.

Even if you experience all four seasons, a painter can advise what finishes to use after painting. After applying a professional finisher, you don’t need touch ups or replacements for your siding due to foundational paint issues soon after completing your work. In humid climates, opt for paints with mildew-resistant additives and water-resistant sealers to prevent moisture damage. In dry or arid climates, UV-resistant finishes and sealers can shield against sun damage and fading. For extreme temperature variations, flexible sealers are essential to accommodate expansion and contraction. Ultimately, consult with local experts or paint professionals who understand the specific climate challenges in your area for the most suitable product recommendations.

Don’t Shy Away From a Personal Touch When Painting Your Home’s Exterior

It’s essential to give the home a personal touch instead of following everything your neighbors say or do. Sure, some people might have guidance, but they aren’t you. You’re the one who wants the paint job, and the colors you choose should match what you like and reflect your personality. Unless you choose something extremely eccentric, it’s unlikely that you’ll even need to repaint the house if you put it on the market. Potential home buyers often love houses with unique character.
Whether you need a hand from our siding installation contractors in Alpharetta, our house painters in Roswell, GA, or something else, please get in touch for your complimentary quote today.

Protecting your interior’s essential, but so is the exterior. Without a proper system to help drain water away from your home, you risk the gutters overflowing and spilling water on the ground, where it hits your foundation. Relieve yourself of having to fix another foundational issue once and for all by learning why it’s important to have gutters on your home.

Your Siding Receives Protection

The two things you need to worry about are the sides and foundation. Without a drain structure, your home’s vulnerability increases as rainwater gathers and sits around it, creating issues that lead to a lengthy cleanup process that can take months.

Prevent flooding and other problems by installing a gutter system. You’ll be pleased to have no water to drain out and no foundational issues to fix.

Soil Doesn’t Erode

When water overflows and doesn’t drain well, it can cause severe problems with your soil. For instance, it can remove the essential minerals that keep your soil in good condition for planting. By installing a gutter, you can cut down on the spillage amount by setting up a tank that attaches to your drains to collect that rainwater.

The tank will then evenly dispense the water into the soil without splashing it around. Work with your home gutter installation company in Cumming, GA to create your installation blueprint. Design the plan to fit around the home and safely drain all precipitation out of your yard.

No More Infestations

Bugs love to roost in places with water. If bugs know there’s water on your property, they’ll lay their eggs there. After the eggs hatch, more of them will find shelter inside your home. This is where things can get messy.

Evade those pesky infestations by installing your draining system. With a new system, you lessen the chance of bugs finding their way into your home and nesting.

Mold Growth Is Controlled

Mold is an irritant that develops in and outside your house, and it grows near wet areas. If you notice that the foundation is damp and there are leaks in the walls, you likely have mold growth somewhere.

Even catching the mold before it starts doesn’t stop it from occurring. Make everything right by installing a downspout that carries the water away from your home and gently pours it into the ground. Also, after putting up the channels, make sure to fill in any cracks or holes in the foundation.

As you fix your home up, don’t forget about the essential features like the gutter system. The various reasons why installing a gutter system on your home is important boil down to how much value you place on the home’s foundation. Keep your home protected by redirecting water away from your property.

You never know what could happen if you don’t have gutters. Bear Mountain Custom Painting has the answers, and we can help fix the most vulnerable parts of your home. Contact us today for more information on our gutter installation services.

As the au contraire of minimalism, maximalism allows others to overdecorate their residence. You might think this theme supports clutter, but that’s not the whole truth. Explore more on how to achieve a maximalist style in your home with this thorough guide. If you need a professional hand from our house painters in Alpharetta, or if our roofers in Cumming, GA could improve your quality of life, call us for your complimentary quote today.

What Is Maximalism?

Maximalism isn’t new; in fact, it’s been around just as long as minimalism. The lifestyle isn’t a salute to hoarders. However, it gives a decorator the mindset that something big, maybe more than one oversized item, should be in a particular room to help balance out a specific style.

Let’s take antique shops, for example. You may think that it’s filled with junk, but if you go inside of one, you explore different areas set up to achieve a certain level of luxury, style, or personality.

Maximalism allows you to think outside of the box, as long as you follow these rules:

• Every space needs to be filled
• Have fun with color
• Mix styles
• Go as far as possible on lighting
• Buy those kitsch objects

As long as you follow this set of rules, you won’t have trouble filling every room with things that mean a lot to you and follow a theme.

Maximalism has no limit, but if you feel your space is tight, try and limit yourself to a few items for now until you get a bigger space.

Here’s more on how to achieve a maximalist style in your home.

Don’t Limit Yourself on Color

Color means everything to the maximum enthusiast. When you come across new ways to enhance your home’s theme, don’t neglect color—you can use the entire color wheel if that’s what you desire.

There are some colors you want to test out, so go to your local hardware store and pick up sample swatches to use. Start with light colors first, and then mix in dark hues to help make balance. Our house painters in Woodstock, GA would be happy to help you choose a color, offer samples, and provide guidance on textures and brands.

Fill Your Walls and Shelves

Don’t be afraid to live your best life with artwork walls and shelves full of different-sized books. The best thing about the maximalism style is applying the art you want, including purchasing kitsch items to help pull it all together.

Don’t only add one or two pictures; get creative and add more. Nothing needs to be even, but ensure you keep the spacing lined up for a clean appearance.

For example, if you want different pictures to look like they’re ascending, place each piece to its adjacent side and raise it only a few inches above the other.

Apply Your Personality Everywhere

Let’s compare the maximalist trend to a table of desserts and hors d’oeuvres. The hors d’oeuvres are the beginning of your style, but it can’t be simple all the time; you need to add taste to every room, so treat it like a dessert.

Think of your favorite thing to eat after or before dinner; if you could eat it forever, wouldn’t you want to keep decorating your place for eternity? That’s what it’s like to apply your favorite furniture pieces and your personality to your residence.

Use everything from bright colored fabrics to fun decorations that make the space feel more like a personal escape. Work with our Roswell, GA house painters to add a bold interior color, and you’ve mastered the maximalist lifestyle.

Place Books Everywhere

Even if you’re not a reader, books are a decorative piece many can use to define their style. Books come in many colors, and the older the book is, the quainter and more personal the room feels.

Keep books on shelves, scattered out on side tables, or even hide them in the bathroom for others to read at their leisure.

Don’t stop using books as ornamental pieces; they make great centerpieces and even better conversation starters.

Ensure You Add Comfort to Every Room

Maximalism can’t exist without comfort. Even though you’re encouraged to add as many items as possible, you still need space for true relaxation and comfort.

If you have additional space outside, turn your patio into a peaceful sanctuary where you can relax. Our expert deck builders in Cumming would love to help you create an amazing outdoor space.

Give Each Room Its Own Purpose

Each room has a purpose it needs to deliver; like the transformed sanctuary on your patio, every other room needs to breathe in new life before being used.

For instance, if you love cooking in the kitchen with friends during parties, now’s the time to work with professional house painting services in Cumming, GA to pick a palette.

Everything from warm yellow and brown tones to medium-hued greens and blues, your room won’t be the same.

Consider applying the rustic Italian kitchen style to your kitchenette as you incorporate other themes into your residence.

Act Now and Adopt the Boho Style

The Boho style is easy to replicate, but it can be pricey depending on what you buy. However, there are ways to achieve a boho-style abode for cheap.

First, pick a room, any room; then, select neutral-toned palette colors that don’t contain too many dark undertones. Also, buy fake plants; they’re affordable, and you can place them in other areas of your abode.

The best place to buy anything boho-themed is vintage stores, since it relies a lot on Zen and vintage items.

Go Vintage

Vintage is the best way to go when wanting to achieve maximalism. If you have a favorite century, try incorporating inspired items into those rooms to curate more of the maximum design.

Many vintage items may scream minimalism, but adding different colored furniture and art pieces can help the room achieve full maximum. Our professional carpenters in Cumming can also help you restore and perfect furniture and trims.

Let Maximalism Be Imperfect and Personal

Unlike other style trends, maximalism doesn’t rely on perfectionism. It prefers to be imperfect, especially when merging and crossing over different dwelling styles.

While shopping for your furniture and art pieces, don’t stress over matching everything; the whole point of maximalism is to incorporate what you like and want, not others.

The best place to start with your maximalist style is here. Our guide can enhance your space into something you enjoy while showcasing your best art and furniture pieces.

Now that you have your style choice, let’s get you paired with a house painter from Bear Mountain Custom Painting. We can rally together to find the best palettes for each room. Contact us here for more information on how you can use more color in your house to achieve maximalism.

The last thing any homeowner wants to do is paint their home a color that devalues it. Don’t use colors that make your home look like the ’80s called and want their paint job back. Here’s a compiled list of exterior house colors you should avoid using at all costs.

Pink

Your house isn’t Barbie’s Dreamhouse; it’s a home that demands a color that turns heads and gives the home a clean appearance. Back in the 50s, many raved over using pink, but it’s now the color for dollhouses.

Some admire the dollhouse-like features of Victorian homes, but if your house isn’t Victorian-styled or an inspired one, don’t use pink. Instead, try repainting the trims of the home a more neutral pink, like dusty rose, if you have a brown or black exterior.

Yellow

Yellow’s a fun color to use, and people back in the day loved the way it looked on countryside homes and nestled-away cottages. It’s even made several appearances across social media. However, it doesn’t age well with the house.

Yellow’s too bright but fades fast and ages homes badly. So, avoid using this color if you can, but try going a shade or two brighter if you can’t.

Beige

Beige is very common but rather too familiar for some tastes. Medium-dark shades work pretty well with beige, like maroon. If your home is currently beige, or you want to attempt the color, try incorporating other fun colors to other parts of your home, such as the door.

A maroon or red door adds personality and immediately turns heads. For window frames, try going with a basic white. The windows are the eyes of your home, so add a bright white to help waken your home a little more and draw in more light.

Cream

Cream is a beautiful color, but it’s difficult to maintain during the winter, as it can make the outside look dirty. It’s possible to lift the paint with a deep blue on the door or window frames, but not by replacing the stain with a bluer shade.

Instead of using cream, try using a neutral-toned yellow. The cool yellow tones can lift the cream, creating a golden-like rim around the base of your home.

Green

Unless you are super creative, green won’t make your house look nice. In fact, green is one of the most challenging colors to pull off without the right foliage or accompanying colors on the door or windowpanes.

Depending on the shade, you need to be extra careful. For a dark green, color the trims with white paint.

Contacting a home exterior painting company can connect you to professionals who can give you an honest opinion of what colors to avoid using on your home’s exterior.

Every professional at Bear Mountain Custom Painting can provide you with ideas on acquiring the right palette set for your home’s outside walls. For more information on our exterior home painting services, contact us.

You’ve endlessly sifted through countless magazines, looking for the style that suits your lifestyle but also gives you an edge. We know that minimalism is a thing, and it is not very interesting after a while. However, minimalism has a sibling that’s a little edgier—meet brutal, your new favorite interior design. Let’s get a little creative in our current home decorations and find ways to integrate brutalist interior design into your home.

Stick With Seamless Design

Being seamless in everything, from furniture to wall décor, so you don’t want to add too much into the brutalist style. For instance, the home design style focuses on elements that lean on the same line as minimalism, such as clean lines and subtle design.

Since minimalism doesn’t expose too much, brutalism comes in to add a little bit more to help it appeal to a home’s modernity.

Incorporate Blocky Furniture

In industrial design, you may have noticed that the lines are clean, and the techniques heavily rely on big and plain furniture but cool to darker tones. Brutalism adopts some of those but makes the furniture choices bulkier.

In other words, you can find many of the elements used for furniture have points; the points create a visual that’s appealing from afar. Up close, though, the lines meld in, creating an unwarranted error into your minimalist home style.

When buying your furniture, focus on objects that have a bulky, square, or blocky-like form. These forms create contrast and add more depth to a minimalistic design.

Use Harsh and Distressed Surfaces

Block furniture’s not the only thing you want in your home; when adding in different textures, focus on rough and distressed surfaces. Brutalism is a way to accept imperfection into your otherwise perfect understated home.

Surfacing says a lot about how you introduce imperfection into the home’s theme. For vintage lovers, you’ll want to incorporate metal objects, such as mirrors and cast iron side tables. These elements seem simple, but they add an edge that makes the home feel like the best mix of hard and simple.

Focus on Colorless Paint Palettes

Paint is still an essential part of the brutalist minimalism home decor theme. The colors you pick won’t have insanely bright or dark hues.

Focus on using cool neutrals like charcoal, slate, and platinum. However, if you want to use gold, go for cool tones, such as daffodil or flaxen. These shades, among others, are achievable in your color palette, and many interior home painters in Cumming, Georgia can collaborate and find the best tones to meet your standards.

Focus your energy on not only learning how to integrate the brutalist interior design into your home, but also on finding inspirational photos and working with a designer on transforming your house.

Bear Mountain Custom Painting loves working with different home designs. The one thing we love even more is helping clients find the paint colors that suit them the best. For more information on our painting services, contact us here.

The outdoor deck is the highlight of every housewarming party. Not only is there extra room to sprawl out, but it provides you the opportunity to have a private space to go to when you want to relax. Don’t you think it’s time to check for any signs that your deck may need repair or replacement? You’ll know by looking over these indications.

Rotted Wood

The first obvious sign that the surfacing needs work or replacement is rotted wood. The first appearance of a rot problem is when soft spots show up on your panels. This phenomenon is called wood rot and can spread to more vulnerable areas, like the foundation, if you have an attached deck.

If you do catch the issue early, it’s possible to remove it with a screwdriver and some wood cleaner. If the rot doesn’t come out, you need to remove the boards and get new ones to prevent the wood rot from spreading.

Loose Floorboards

Floorboards can become loose if there’s enough traffic going through. It’s a common issue that’s easy to fix if you resolve the problem promptly.

The best thing to do is inspect the screws and see if they’ve rotted. If so, they need to be replaced. As mentioned above, loose floorboards are common, but they becomes a hazard if you don’t inspect and diagnose the problem and do something to treat the boards.

Weak Railings

To walk up and down safely, you need to have sturdy railings that will help prevent falls or other accidents. Your railings can suffer from problems. Like floorboards, stair railings can be replaced and fixed.

If your railings are bent or severely damaged, it’s better to replace the entire structure to make the stairs safer.

Rotted Posts

If you’ve noticed that the posts aren’t as durable as before, you likely need to replace them out before your outdoor deck falls apart.

A rotted-away post is a good indicator that you need to check the hardware. This is also an easy fix, but is better suited for a company with specialized Carpenters in Cumming, GA.

Bug Damage

The other cause of damage that requires massive tear downs and redo is bug damage. If you’re not preventative, bugs like termites and carpenter ants can chew away at your wood, weakening the durability of your surface.

If you notice hollow or sunken boards, it’s time to bring in a specialist who can look over the areas and replace them with new panels. You can prevent this by spraying the area down with insect repellent.

It’s essential to prevent insects from invading and even maintaining your deck when natural elements take over, which is why you need to be aware of these signs your deck needs to be repaired or replaced.

Bear Mountain Custom Painting can ensure that your deck looks new again through necessary repairs or replacements provided by our carpentry services. For more information on repairing your deck, contact our deck contractors in Cumming, GA.