Get ready for a reveal you absolutely don’t want to miss! This year marks a monumental milestone in our home improvement journey: we finally completed the full exterior repaint of our house. It’s a project that has been years, if not decades, in the making, and the transformation is nothing short of breathtaking. For long-time readers, you’ll know this isn’t my first rodeo with exterior painting. My initial attempt, a valiant but ultimately incomplete DIY endeavor, left significant portions of our home looking unfinished and neglected. The spray work by a family friend was… adequate, though a bit messy around the windows. However, the daunting task of tackling all the trim fell squarely on my shoulders.
What began as an ambitious plan quickly became a perpetually back-burnered project. With easily accessible areas on the front of the house superficially addressed, the intricate trim work on the sides and rear languished. Between other home projects, the demands of grad school, and transitioning to full-time work on UDH, the trim remained undone. I was convinced I could conquer it myself, fueled by a typical DIYer’s determination. Yet, the sheer volume of trim proved to be an overwhelming challenge, a constant reminder of an unfinished task looming over our home.
Years passed, and our house remained a patchwork of freshly sprayed siding and faded, unpainted trim. It became an eyesore, a source of constant low-level frustration. Despite my track record of successfully tackling other substantial, albeit sometimes lengthy, projects, this particular one seemed immune to my efforts. It never rose to the top of my priority list; I could never quite muster the energy or motivation to dive into the meticulous, time-consuming work the trim required. This prolonged state of incompletion eventually led me to a critical realization: it was time to call in the professionals. Slowly, I began setting aside funds, a decision that, ironically, initially brought with it a fresh wave of procrastination.
The DIY Dilemma: When to Call in the Pros for Your Exterior Paint Project
Admitting defeat and asking for professional help can be incredibly challenging, especially for dedicated DIY enthusiasts. I believe many of you can relate to this struggle. For me, it wasn’t just about completing a project; it was intertwined with my identity as a capable homeowner. The nagging thought, “Paint is kicking my ass… really, Sarah?!?” echoed in my mind. I knew I possessed the skills and potential to finish it, given enough time and motivation. The idea of spending money on something I felt competent to do myself felt almost like a personal failure.
However, there comes a point in every major home improvement journey where the best thing you can do for yourself, your sanity, and your home is to delegate. Sometimes, that persistent inner voice urging you to DIY needs to be politely, but firmly, silenced. For me, the scales truly tipped with the arrival of motherhood. The demands of a growing family underscored the finite nature of time and energy, making the decision to bring in reinforcements not just practical, but essential for maintaining a healthy balance.
A Fresh Perspective: Embracing Professional Expertise for Your Home’s Exterior
Once I accepted the necessity of professional help and started saving, a significant mental shift occurred. The burden of repainting lifted, opening up a world of new possibilities for our home’s aesthetic. I began brainstorming with renewed enthusiasm, envisioning a complete exterior transformation rather than just a patch-up job. I explored countless color schemes, reimagined the accents of our front porch entirely, even mocked up new landscaping plans. The floodgates of inspiration truly opened.
This newfound freedom allowed me to reconsider a long-held, self-imposed limitation. Years ago, I had decided to lighten the original house color only slightly, purely for the ease of a DIY approach. But now, with professionals handling the extensive prep work – pressure washing, repairs, caulking, and repainting – why limit myself? If I was investing significantly in labor and materials, it was the perfect opportunity to truly explore fresh, impactful looks for our home. This marked the beginning of a thoughtful, often challenging, but ultimately rewarding color selection process.
Choosing the Perfect Palette: Navigating Exterior Paint Colors
The journey to our ideal exterior color began with extensive testing. Initially, I turned to digital tools, experimenting with different hues first in Photoshop. My initial thought was a nice, neutral gray that would complement our existing warm brown roof. However, as I transitioned from digital mock-ups to real-life samples painted directly on the siding, a crucial realization emerged. The “gray” I envisioned actually needed to lean towards a cool brown to harmonize effectively with the roof’s undertones. While painting the roof was a consideration, research into its performance in our sunny Southern climate presented concerns, leading me to focus on finding a siding color that worked with the existing roof.
After gathering several quotes and receiving a strong recommendation from a neighbor, we selected a highly reputable painter. Their team would handle the comprehensive prep work, essential repairs, and the precise application of our chosen paints. This meticulous approach by professionals ensured that our foundation was solid before any color decisions were finalized, a stark contrast to my earlier, hurried DIY attempts.
For the trim, I had a clear vision: to maintain the warm white I had previously favored. This particular shade, when paired with other warm outdoor elements, offered a wonderfully crisp appearance under the bright sun. Knowing our chosen painter exclusively used Sherwin-Williams products, I easily found a perfectly matched color within their extensive range, streamlining the process. The main house color, however, proved to be a more significant challenge. I found myself caught in a classic dilemma, oscillating between a darker gray and a lighter alternative. Would a darker shade bring the sophisticated curb appeal we desired, or would it feel too heavy? Our neighbor’s house, incidentally, also sported a dark gray (paired with vibrant red trim, a look that wasn’t quite my preference), raising concerns about similarity versus distinctiveness. I wavered, convinced I’d made a choice, only to second-guess myself repeatedly. Until, unexpectedly, my intuition took over.
Breaking Through Decision Paralysis: The Power of a Gut Feeling in Design
Have you ever found yourself in a state of decision paralysis, pondering options for so long that the choice becomes utterly impossible? Often, this indicates that none of the available options truly resonate with your deeper desires. This was precisely my experience with the exterior house color. Then, on a whim, an unexpected moment of clarity struck. I applied a patch of the trim color – that beautiful warm white – directly onto a section of the front siding where the main house color would go. Stepping back, the answer was immediate and undeniable: that was it.
A quick check on my favorite paint color app confirmed the LRV (Light Reflectance Value, explained further below) was within the ideal range. Without a moment’s hesitation or further sampling of similar shades, I informed the painter of my decision: the entire house, both siding and trim, would be painted in that very same, perfect white. And not just any white, but with a flat sheen throughout. The painter initially expressed some reservations, as a higher sheen is typically used for trim for durability and contrast. But I was adamant about seeing the single flat sheen first – and I was right! The result was absolutely PERFECT. Are you ready to witness this incredible transformation?
Sherwin-Williams Shoji White Exterior: A Stunning Before and After Home Makeover
Here’s a look at our home’s exterior before this remarkable transformation:
And now, prepare yourself for the breathtaking AFTER! I am utterly, completely in love with it!
Once more, for dramatic comparison, the before of the unfinished side:
And the radiant after!
Understanding LRV: Why Light Reflectance Value is Crucial for White Exterior Paint
When selecting white paint for your home’s exterior, a factor often overlooked but incredibly important is its Light Reflectance Value, or LRV. LRV is essentially a measurement indicating the percentage of visible and usable light that a paint color reflects. It ranges from 0 (absolute black, reflecting no light) to 100 (pure white, reflecting all light). You might assume all white paints are roughly similar in this regard, but their LRVs can differ significantly, leading to vastly different appearances in natural light.
The higher the LRV, the more light a color reflects, and thus, the brighter and more expansive it appears. For interior spaces, a high LRV can make a room feel larger and brighter. However, for a house exterior, especially one exposed to direct sunlight, an LRV that’s too high can be overwhelming. Imagine a house with an LRV above 85 – the sun reflecting off its surface could be so intense you’d need sunglasses just to look at it! Extensive research and expert recommendations suggest that an LRV between 73 and 85 is ideal for white exteriors. This range provides a bright, clean look without creating uncomfortable glare.
This knowledge was instrumental in my final decision. When I discovered that Sherwin-Williams Shoji White, the very color my gut had intuitively chosen, boasts an LRV of 74, it confirmed I was on the right track. This perfect LRV ensures our house appears beautifully bright and inviting, without being blindingly reflective, making it an excellent choice for a cohesive, all-over exterior paint. It’s a prime example of how combining intuition with technical understanding leads to superior design outcomes.
Beyond Procrastination: The Underlying Reasons for Indecision in Design
It’s genuinely hard to believe that after all these years, my house now looks so incredibly good. For so long, I had grown accustomed to its unevenly painted, warm brown facade that I’d subconsciously developed a habit of avoiding looking at it when backing out of my driveway. It was a subtle form of avoidance, a way to sidestep the discomfort of an unfinished project. Now, every time I turn the corner onto my street and see our home, I’m genuinely stopped in my tracks by its stunning new appearance.
For what felt like an eternity, I struggled with making a definitive decision on the paint color. Even when I thought I had settled on a shade, I would constantly second-guess myself, toggling between various grays and whites. Yet, when the true inspiration struck – that instantaneous, undeniable “aha!” moment – I pulled the trigger with absolute certainty. There were zero regrets, no lingering doubts. This experience taught me a profound lesson: if you’re grappling with a design decision, feeling stuck and unable to commit, it’s often a sign that the perfect solution simply hasn’t presented itself yet. When the right answer finally emerges, it will do so with crystal-clear conviction, making the choice effortless and deeply satisfying.
A Note on Texture: Painting Over Rough Cedar Siding
One distinctive characteristic of our home, and many in our neighborhood, is the original rough cedar siding. This textured material, installed when the houses were built almost forty years ago, remains remarkably robust. In fact, our professional painter strongly advised us to retain it for as long as possible, as only minimal repairs were needed. Many sections I had anticipated replacing proved to be solid, despite their weathered appearance. I bring this up because it became a point of discussion on Instagram during the second coat of paint application. At least one follower found this insight particularly valuable for their own house painting project.
The inherent rough texture of cedar siding creates a significant amount of natural shadows on the house, which can sometimes give the impression that the paint is uneven, especially in certain lighting conditions or at particular angles (such as on the chimney). Rest assured, the paint was applied flawlessly and fully coated. This is simply an optical effect due to the deep grooves and variations of the wood.
We did experiment with sanding a test spot and even applied a special primer, but for our particular siding, the visual effect remained largely the same. Therefore, it wasn’t deemed worthwhile to have the painter undertake extensive additional work. However, the Instagram follower who reached out shared that sanding their cedar siding proved highly successful, resulting in a noticeably brighter paint finish for their home. So, I wanted to pass along that valuable suggestion for anyone reading this post in the future who might be seeking advice for painting over rough cedar siding. It’s worth noting that the reader mentioned they dedicated many days to sanding before professional painters commenced the actual painting. While we initially noticed this shadowing effect on our own home because we were actively looking for it, after several weeks of admiring our stunning new house color (and walking past it daily with E), it has become entirely unnoticeable to us and certainly doesn’t detract from the overall beauty. I am officially unbothered by it, and I believe the overall impact of the Shoji White far outweighs this minor detail.
The Journey Continues: Future Exterior Home Improvements & Accents
The exterior makeover of our home is far from complete; the house paint was merely the crucial first step. It laid the pristine foundation upon which we can now build further improvements without the risk of overspray or damage from ladders. This summer, our focus shifts to the front porch, where demolition has already begun, signaling the exciting next phase of our renovation.
Beyond the porch, the garage door is also slated for a significant upgrade (if you’ve been following along on Instagram, you might have already caught some sneak peeks, with the full reveal just around the corner!). While we might not be entirely out of “Phase One” due to a little remaining demolition, the upcoming projects are all about adding those crucial accent details that will truly elevate our home’s curb appeal. I am incredibly excited for what’s next! Join me this summer as we tackle the porch ceiling, rejuvenate the porch columns, and complete the garage door makeover. Our gardens are also receiving much-needed updates, ensuring every element of our home’s exterior contributes to a cohesive and inviting aesthetic.
P.S. You might have noticed my unexpectedly white-blonde hair in some of the photos! This was, in fact, a rather unfortunate accident that happened on the very day our house received its new coat of paint. In an effort to find a new local hairstylist closer to home – a goal I’d been pursuing for over a year, especially since the start of the “panini” and before my pregnancy announcement – things took an unexpected turn. To my utter shock, the stylist was not only 45 minutes late for my appointment but also incredibly slow in her work. After sitting in the chair for more than six hours, I had to call it quits, heading home with a completely different hair color than intended. Despite this personal setback and arriving home after dark, I was still completely awestruck by the house’s color transformation (which meant I had to wait until the next day for the full reveal in daylight!).
All things considered, I would much rather be unhappy with my hair color than with our house paint – primarily because changing hair color is significantly less expensive and easier to remedy! I’m still experimenting with my final hair shade, hoping to achieve a dark teal soon. You might catch another glimpse of my blonde look in an upcoming reveal, but rest assured, it wasn’t a long-lasting style, even though K loved it!