Classic

Ranch. Everything depends on the color of the brick. If the brick is white, tan, or copper, blend the body color in. Do not blend the body color into red brick -- you'll never match the color. Use a contrasting body color instead. De-emphasize the house's horizontal lines by blending window trim in with the body color. Keeping the house monochromatic will give it visual height. Use a punch color on the door only. Most any color will do.

Farmhouse. The body color, a highly demanded creamy yellow, reinforces the farmhouse feeling. Using a sandy neutral on the roof trim, window trim, and corner boards offers visual relief from the body color. Use an additional color on decorative elements such as the porch soffit. Teal is the punch color for the front door and the single set of shutters.

Craftsman Bungalow. This style successfully unites the increasingly popular combination of green and brown. Brown is coming back big. A Craftsman roofline looks weighty and interesting, and the brown roof trim emphasizes that substance. Cream-color cornices emphasize traditional style. In general, if your trim is unaligned or in disrepair, blend it into the house color. If it's plumb, solid, or decorative, accent it-a light color is best.

Split-Level. If you have a house with many elements and geometrical planes, tie it all together with a darker color. In this scheme, the taupe trim is a nice complement to the gray-blue body because you're mixing warm and cool colors. Blue trim on a gray-blue body would make the house seem cold. Always blend the garage door in with the body, and use your deepest or brightest color at the front door.