by Corey Morgan | Sep 8, 2022 | Exterior Painting, Paint Color Help, Pro Tips
What you should know about HOAs & Paint Colors
What To Know About HOAs
As a Denver painter that handles projects in neighborhoods throughout the entire metro area, we deal with a lot of HOAs (Home Owner Associations). If you are considering painting your home, one of the first things you need to know is if you have an HOA. If you do, it is vital that you have an idea of what it’s like to work with your HOA. Depending on the HOA, getting HOA approval for your desired colors can take some time. Certain HOAs can be fairly strict, so it is important to plan ahead of time if you want to get your project completed in a timely manner. Keep reading to learn more about HOAs and what you can expect when getting your paint colors approved.
How long does HOA color approval take?
We get this question asked all the time: how long does HOA approval take? This can be a tricky question to answer. Every HOA is different. Some HOAs have very quick turnaround times for color approval while others can take months. It really depends on the size of your HOA and how they handle inquiries for different projects. We always suggest that you figure out the color schemes that your HOA approves of before beginning your color selection process.
One of our favorite HOAs to work with is HRCA, Highlands Ranch HOA. They are very responsive and will get colors approved in no time at all. They are also fairly flexible with their residents’ color choices. This allows their homeowners to exercise a little more creativity and control over their color options.
An HOA that a recent client struggled to get color approval from was West Gold Meadows HOA. This particular HOA is located in Castle Rock, CO. This client had their colors denied twice and took roughly 7 weeks to get approval. We aren’t throwing shade at West Gold! But we wanted to include a real example from a local HOA. In our experience, there are a lot of HOAs that can be a bit more strict on colors and may have a longer turnaround time similar to West Gold. This can be due to staffing issues and the type of homes that make up the neighborhood.
How do I find my HOA colors?
Homeowners can sometimes struggle to even locate their HOA online, let alone figure out how to best submit colors. Finding your HOA approved color schemes can be a challenge sometimes. For some HOAs you may be able to find their pre-approved colors at Sherwin Williams. Sherwin tends to keep HOA colors on file for clients, but that isn’t the case for every HOA.
You can typically find your HOA online if you do a simple search for your neighborhood, city or county, plus the keyword “HOA”. From your HOA website you may need to register with your HOA if you have yet to do so. After that you should be able to submit a request through the resident portal. Or you may need to email them for color approval. The process may be a little different for each HOA, but should be fairly simple. When submitting your colors be sure to include the paint color name and paint code.
Be sure to check out our previous blogs about some specific HOAs and our favorite approved colors:
5 HOA friendly colors
Our favorite Highland Ranch HOA color schemes
Broomfield’s most HOA friendly colors
Top 10 Tallyn’s Reach color schemes
How to submit colors to HRCA
Why do HOAs deny colors?
Some HOAs can be more strict than others. Your HOA may deny colors if they don’t fall under their specified guidelines for what they allow. This is because HOAs often have desired color schemes to create a cohesive look throughout the neighborhood. It also helps them to exercise a little control over the look and feel of the homes. You should be able to find your HOAs approved colors on their website. This is a good place to start when selecting colors.
Can my painter help with HOA approval?
Your painter may be able to help find your HOA online or they may have knowledge of your specific HOA and the color schemes that they approve. However, you will need to personally submit to your HOA for color approval; your painter won’t be able to do this for you.
Your painter may be able to suggest some fairly HOA safe colors schemes as well to get you started in the right direction.
What about a color consultant?
Professional color consultants are extremely knowledgeable about color schemes that work for HOAs. If you are struggling at all with your color selection, we always suggest getting some insight from a certified color consultant. They will help you easily narrow down colors and find the perfect fit for your home, your preferences and your HOA requirements.
Check out our Color Consultation page to learn more about our color consultation services.
And if you are ready to get some pricing for your paint project, you can easily request a quote HERE. Thanks for reading! We hope this answered some of your questions about Home Owner Associations and getting color approval for your paint project.
by Corey Morgan | Jul 28, 2022 | Exterior Painting, Paint Color Help, Popular Colors
As basic as it may sound, white has been a trending paint color in 2022. This may be a result of the modern farmhouse craze or an attempt to battle the fading we often see here on Colorado homes. Either way we love this clean, timeless, and chic paint color. Every time we go out for a color consultation it seems like white is top of mind, but there is an overwhelming amount of white paint color choices. Even though it is a simple shade, narrowing it down can leave clients stressed and unsure. With that in mind, we thought it might be helpful to share with you the top white paint colors for colorado exteriors.
Pure White SW 7005
Pure White is a classic and we’ve mentioned it countless times on our Instagram account as well as over on our other site, Kind Home Solutions. This is a great white to use on your trim if you’re looking to create a lot of contrast and get a nice sharp pop against your body color. Pure White has just the smallest amount of yellow and black. This helps keep it warm enough to be used on an exterior, but it will look quite paper white to the naked eye. This is one of the most common exterior (and interior) trim colors we see clients go. This makes sense because of how reliable and simple it is. It can work with warmer body colors too, but generally we prefer to use it to contrast cooler body colors like cool grays and blues. That being said, we wouldn’t often recommend Pure White on the body of your home. It can feel quite stark, which doesn’t generally suit the style of most Colorado homes.
Alabaster SW 7008
If you want a white that doesn’t feel “too white” then Alabaster is a must try. You can think of Alabaster as a slightly toned down version of Pure White. It would be considered a fairly true white, but it has a little more warmth and depth that helps it appear just a bit softer than Pure White. This softness can be especially great for homes here in Colorado where we receive a ton of sunshine. When the sun hits your house it tends to amplify your colors and makes them appear brighter and more intense. Alabaster is harmonious because it really compliments the earth tones we see on most homes. It also goes great with stone and the surrounding landscaping associated with Colorado homes.
Nacre SW 6154
Many of the homes we paint here in Colorado feature some kind of stone or brick element. Beyond just protecting these elements throughout the painting process, we want to make sure your paint color complements your brick. One of the most common brick colors is traditional red brick and our favorite paint color to pair with red brick is Nacre. Nacre has a lot more warmth than the above mentioned whites and that additional depth really helps it coexist with red brick. The trick to finding the right paint color for any brick is that you don’t want the contrast to be too high. Since red brick is typically darker than say a blonde or light gray brick, you want to make sure you aren’t pairing it with a trim color that is too stark in contrast. Nacre works particularly well when your home is all red brick. However, if you do have some areas that require a body color just be sure to select a paint color that is on the warmer side and avoid cooler tones.
Greek Villa SW 7551
Greek Villa is a great paint color if you’re looking to create a pop of contrast without sacrificing warmth. This classic Sherwin Williams color can be used on both interiors and exteriors with amazing results. It’s clean, bright, and has a slightly yellow undertone that pairs beautifully with browns, reds, greens, and taupes. Greek Villa is quite a bit warmer than Alabaster so it makes for both a great body or trim color. This is especially true if you are trying to mimic the very popular modern farmhouse style and you don’t want a white that is too stark. This is an absolute go-to for our color consultants, so you can feel confident that you’re selecting the right color with Greek Villa.
Shoji White SW 7042
Over the past few years, Shoji White has risen to the top of the most popular white paint colors list. Shoji White is a very dynamic white that feels both inviting and modern. This is thanks to it’s combination of gray and warm undertones. Colors like Shoji White that can feel both timeless and contemporary have become more and more popular. Shoji White’s complexity creates a bit more interest while other colors can be flat and lifeless. It bounces between undertones which allows it to work with both cool and warm features. Much like Greek Villa, Shoji White is a great option for trim or body on your Colorado home. We’re confident we’ll continue to see more and more of Shoji White for years to come.
Most Popular White Paint Colors for Colorado
This list sheds some light on the most popular white paint colors we’re seeing on Colorado homes. Colorado is known for its natural elements, so it’s often important to make sure your home feels cohesive with the natural surroundings. This is true whether you are part of an HOA or not. White paint colors that compliment the Colorado landscape help make your home feel cohesive rather than stark. This lends to a sense of harmony. If you’d like more paint color inspiration and suggestions be sure to follow us over on Instagram where we post pictures of our work including the paint colors used on each house or contact our office to schedule a color consultation.
by Corey Morgan | Jul 6, 2022 | Color Consultations, Exterior Painting, Paint Color Help
Best Trim Colors for Denver Bungalows
Denver bungalows can all feel quite similar, but a great way to have your bungalow stand out is to paint the trim. Bungalows here in Denver tend to be brick, so the bulk of an exterior painting project revolves around the trim. It’s very easy to think the only options you have are white! Although there are some white paint colors that can look great on your trim, we want you to know all your options. Below we’ve got a list of some of the best trim colors for Denver Bungalows. If you’re considering an exterior painting project, keep reading to get inspired!
Top 5 Trim Colors for Denver Bungalows
Nacre
Many of the brick bungalows in Denver and the surrounding areas are made up of red brick. Red brick comes in a lot of variations ranging from orangey-red to schoolhouse red. But there is one trim color that we feel always works with red brick: Nacre SW 6154 from Sherwin Williams. Nacre is not a stark, cold white. It’s added warmth helps it harmonize with a lot of different red brick colors. We also love that Nacre isn’t too yellow, which can make it feel dated. It offers a nice contrast without being too sharp. It also has a creamy base with a little bit of gray that helps to keep things modern and fresh.
This is technically not a Denver Bungalow, but this will help you see Nacre against brick!
Black Fox
If you’re looking for a very contemporary and interesting color for your bungalow trim then you have to check out Black Fox SW 7020. This is another great color option from Sherwin Williams and it’s especially beautiful if you have bronze windows. Black Fox is a deep brown with a heavy gray undertone, which makes it feel really modern and dynamic. We particularly like this trim color for Denver bungalows that feature brown brick or bricks with a brown undertone. It’s different and a fun way to make your home stand out.
Sage Green Light
Green has been immensely popular this year and it’s also a great option for a trim color on a bungalow that isn’t a standard neutral. The trick to finding the perfect green color for any exterior project is to make sure the green you select has a good amount of gray in it. Greens can look overly saturated and bright so we really love that Sage Green Light SW 2851 has a lot of depth and feels quite toned down overall. You can definitely play with the saturation, but when it comes to greens we always recommend that you pick up some samples to confirm your color before beginning your project.
Dover White
Dover White SW 6385 is an absolute classic from Sherwin Williams. It’s a great white option for bungalows because it does a beautiful job of creating contrast without feeling like a stock white. Many whites are just too white for a bungalow, so make sure you select a white that has some kind of undertone to it. We prefer a warmer tone like you see with Dover, but you can try more tan options if you’re concerned about the yellow undertone. Dover White feels very clean, but also more historically appropriate for the bungalow style of home when compared to brighter whites like Pure White.
Dovetail
No list is complete without mentioning some kind of gray. Grays can be very tricky especially when you’re working with a brick structure, but we love how dynamic Dovetail SW 7018 is. This is a darker gray with a slightly warm red undertone. This undertone really helps the trim and brick feel unified while also checking off boxes for our gray lovers out there. If Dovetail feels a little dark you can always try its lighter counterpart, Acier for something a little less deep. These grays work with a variety of brick colors, so they are definitely worth checking out!
Picking the Perfect Trim Color for a Brick Bungalow
When you’re working on an exterior painting project involving a brick bungalow it’s very important to factor in your fixed features. Fixed features are things like your brick, stone, or roof shingle color. Since these items won’t be changing, your trim color needs to work within those parameters. Sometimes it’s easy to fall in love with a trim color that you see on another home, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it will work on your home or with your fixed features, so be sure to get samples and keep an open mind. There are so many colors that will look beautiful on your home and we hope this list helps inspire you and your next painting project.
Trim: Dovetail SW 7018
For more color inspiration, be sure to check out our Exterior Gallery and our Instagram!
