Choosing paint colors is never easy – in fact, it can be one of the biggest disagreements a family can have when taking ownership of a new home or apartment. Tastes vary and preferences change, and that can make it hard to reach a consensus on what look your new house should take. So in the end, you wind up with a house full of boring neutral tones that nobody is happy with.
When it comes to historic homes, it might seem like things only get more complicated – after all, someone might really want that hot pink bedroom, but it just doesn’t seem right to paint a hundred-year-old house like that. So if you’ve got a historic home and you want to stay true to its personality, what are your options when it comes to paint? Well, we have a few solutions that will lighten the load of this weighty decision.
Do Your Research
First things first – when it comes to owning a historic home, if you want to keep things true to history then you’ll need to do some research. Digging up old photos, interviewing long-time neighbors, and reviewing permits and plans for work done to the property can all be invaluable when it comes to making any type of renovation decision about your historic home.
Use A Color Palette
Depending on where your home is located, you may be in a local or National historic district that offers guidance to homeowners on how to maintain your property in keeping with its historic nature. Some historic districts even have a palette of colors that they recommend homeowners use when making paint choices, in order to stay as true as possible to the history of those homes.
If your house stands alone – separate from a historic district or away from other historic homes – you might have a harder time finding good resources to help with your decision. Luckily, some major paint brands have a few options to help you out. Major companies, such as Sherwin Williams, often have a historic color palette of their own, which does double duty as a guide for picking the right colors for your property and alleviating the burden of trying to color coordinate between the walls, trim, and accent features.
Hire A Professional
Still not feeling comfortable? It’s completely okay to ask for help when you need it, and paint is no exception. There are plenty of pros out there that specialize in historic home renovations that can lend a hand if you need some extra guidance. In fact, some companies even specialize in painting and décor consultations for historic homeowners, ensuring that the homeowners end up with a great finished product that is also true to the history of the house.