Can I Paint My Stucco House a Bright Color? This Colorado Springs Home Proves You Can.
Not just in Colorado Springs, but nationwide, it seems there’s been a long-standing tradition of painting the exteriors of stucco homes in earthy, unobtrusive colors: in the beige-to-pink hues of desert and ocean sands, or in the sienna shades of native clays. In some warmer climates, you might find neighborhoods of turquoise, fuchsia, and sunshine stucco bungalows clustered among palm trees, and that’s adorable — but it’s not the kind of character we see in the vast middle of the country.
Maybe it’s worth asking: why not?
What is it about stucco that has made homeowners in Colorado Springs and elsewhere shy away from bolder, brighter shades of exterior paint for decades? In fact, with the exception of a smattering of surviving Victorian painted ladies, most American homes of all styles and materials have stayed within a pretty tame spectrum of color for generations.
What have we been so afraid of?
In this video, you’ll get to see the before-and-after results of an exterior paint job on stucco that we recently completed for a homeowner in Colorado Springs.
The “before” color was a soft, demure shade on the edge between sand and rose that had lost its allure to the elements and changing tastes. We were thrilled that the homeowner was willing to make a bold choice, creating an opportunity for us as professional house painters to demonstrate how color – confident, bright, here-I-am color – can transform a mild-mannered stucco abode into the head-turning charmer of the block.
The “after” color was about as flirtatious as you can get: fire engine red. And it WORKS. Take a look at the video to see what we mean.
However, this home sidestepped being garish by pairing with a soft, understated beige for its contrasting details: shutters, window trim, and corner quoins. She’s like a striking lady in red lipstick who still had the good sense to wear khaki to the country club.
Home Exterior Before
Restorative Exterior Paint After!
An experienced, professional exterior house painter in Colorado Springs (or anywhere) with an up-to-the-minute approach to selecting color can guide you in making a dramatic change you won’t regret. The old “rules” (or should we call them “habits”?) when it comes to selecting exterior paint colors are falling away and allowing us to reimagine the curb appeal of our homes, from stucco to stone and everything in between. It’s refreshing!
