Pinterest Searches Are up 774% For This Unexpected Home Trend

From checkerboard interiors to fun twisted candles and the resurrection of the '80s wave, 2021 is all about bold, vivacious and retro home trends. It's a rebellion from rigidity and a reflection of people wanting to gain some sort of control that we've lost thanks to the global pandemic.

While we've previously reported on yellow being the trendiest interior colour of the year, it seems as though another fearless colour is taking over exteriors: black. 

On an episode of Domino's podcast Design Time, Head of Content and Creator Partnerships at Pinterest, Aya Kanai, spoke about ten things that are inspiring her now - with one of them being black homes. 

According to Kanai, Pinterest has seen a whopping 774 per cent growth in searches for black homes since 2014. 

She explained "black houses had explosively grown on [the] platform" as well as any related search terms such as "all black house exterior".

"You see how the content just grows and grows overtime, and this inspires so many people around the world to surprise themselves to try something they might never try," Kanai spoke of the exterior trend. 

But before you go out and buy a bucket of black paint, executing - and maintaining - the look is certainly not easy. Done correctly, and you're left with a style statement that allows architectural details to shine. Done incorrectly and you could be left with a home that looks severely dated. So, we sought the help of Porter's Paints Marketing Manager Melanie Stevenson and Bed Threads Stylist Jackie Brown, to share their expert tips on how to nail a black exterior with confidence and style. 

How to Nail a Black Painted Home Exterior

1. Be wary of tones

Just like with any colour, you'll find there are a plethora of different tones of black. This complicates the process of choosing the right one for your home, however, there are a few tones you should avoid at all costs. 

"Steer away from blacks with blue undertones as these will have a cold feel and could actually look like a dark blue in strong light," Stevenson advises. "Warmer or neutral undertones are the way to go."

Some safe colours include Porter’s Paints 'Aniseed' or 'River Stone' in either Porter’s Eggshell (their signature matt finish) or Porter’s Stone Paint Fine (a flat finish), both of which are formulated for exterior and interior use.

On this note, Stevenson recommends always choosing a matt or flat finish to ensure the colour is full saturation. "Any higher gloss level will reflect light and any defects in the walls will become highly visible."

2. Play with contrasting pops of colour

Brown says black gives you the opportunity to stay traditional or go wild with pops of colour.

"For a more traditional look, you can’t go past a classic white trim (think windows, shutters, porch detailing, balustrades and so forth), but if you want an element of whimsy, why not experiment with bolder colours? For example, a pink or yellow door can look amazing with a black exterior. Plus, it’s a fun, easy and reversible way to express your personality," she explains. 

3. Look at your landscaping

Brown highly recommends speaking to a landscape designer prior to painting your home black. "Whatever colours and shapes you put against the black are really going to pop, so discuss what will work cohesively to compliment your black house."

4. Use high quality paint

You definitely want to think of your paint as an investment that will last you years.

"Ensure you use the highest quality paint you can afford, as cheaper paints only means more coats," Stevenson warns. "With paint, the rule is that you get what you pay for, so spend more on the paint to avoid two scenarios – paying a painter to paint three or even four coats, or painting it all yourself."

Bottomline: "Better quality paints have better coverage, and will save money and time." 

5. Consider the heat factor

The number one factor you need to consider with a black painted home is the heat, especially if you live in Australia. Sunlight fades darker colours faster, meaning the paint on black homes will blister and peel faster than a light colour. "Black absorbs heat, so if you have a wooden or weatherboard home that is positioned in full sun, a black finish could cause increased surface temperatures and possibly contribute to heat stress and timber splitting," Stevenson explains. 

Brown says there is paint technology available that works to reflect heat, which would definitely work wonders during the warmer months. 

6. Prep, prep, prep

As well as opting for heat-reflective paint technology, you must ensure you prep your surface before applying any paint (the biggest cause of blistering and peeling paint - with any colour - is water seeping beneath the surface).

"Do your research and invest in the time and money to prep your surfaces correctly before you get out the roller. If you don’t prep right you could be repainting sooner than you think," Brown explains. You want to thoroughly scrape and sand a surface before painting to prevent this problem. 

Brown adds: "Be prepared that a black exterior might need more frequent maintenance. The colour can fade faster and any imperfections will be more noticeable. This is especially true if you live near the ocean and are subjected to salty air."

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