Boost Your Home’s Curb Appeal with These 12 Painting Tips
Whether you’re looking for routine upkeep, want to make your home prettier because you look at it, or painting for the sake of curb appeal, a fresh coat of exterior paint can do the job!
From choosing the perfect color to prepping your surfaces, we’ll guide you through 12 of our exterior painting tips to transform your home.
12 Painting Tips To Maximize Your Homes’ Curb Appeal
Painting your home’s exterior isn’t just about aesthetics. It serves multiple purposes that benefit both the home's longevity and its market value.
Protection Against the Elements: A fresh coat of paint acts as a barrier against weather conditions, preventing moisture intrusion, wood rot, and insect damage.
Neighborhood Aesthetic Harmony: Updating your home's exterior ensures it complements the surrounding homes, maintaining or enhancing the overall appeal of the neighborhood.
Personal Satisfaction: A newly painted home can rejuvenate your living experience, making your space feel refreshed and well-maintained.
Boosting Home Value: Perhaps most compelling, exterior painting offers a significant return on investment. According to HomeLight, a professional exterior paint job can increase a home's value by up to 2-5%!
Whether you're looking to sell or simply want to enhance your home's appearance and durability, investing in exterior painting is a cost-effective strategy that delivers substantial benefits.
1. Color choice is key
Photo By: Kaboompics.com
We wish we could tell you exactly what color to paint your house, but the truth is, the “right” color depends on your home, your taste, and your surroundings.
What we can do is help you make a confident, informed choice.
Start by browsing the color choice of the year or what’s trending in paint colors. Each year, the industry releases palettes that reflect current design styles, regional preferences, and environmental considerations.
Consider environmental factors and where your home is positioned. If your house gets a lot of direct sunlight, a cooler color may help tone it down. In Minneapolis, a warmer-toned exterior can help make your home more inviting and cozier as we struggle through the bleak winter months.
Think about your home’s architecture and history. A classic bungalow, for example, often looks best with earthy greens, muted reds, or warm browns that complement its craftsman details. A mid-century modern ranch might lean more toward charcoal, crisp white, or olive green.
2. Prep work is essential
Photo by Pavel Danilyuk
If you want your exterior paint job to last, and look great, prep work isn’t optional, it’s everything. Even the highest-quality paint won’t stick properly to dirty, peeling, or damaged surfaces.
The prep work can be broken down into 3 steps: cleaning, repairing, priming.
Step 1: Clean
Before a single drop of paint goes on, the surface needs to be clean, dry, and smooth. This involves cleaning up grime, debris, and clearing away cobwebs.
Depending on what your home needs, clean the area to be painted. It can be as simple as wiping it down with a damp cloth or power washing the exterior.
Step 2: Repair
Look for damages to the exterior — peeling paint, cracks, holes, or rotted areas. Use a scraper to get old and cracked paint off, fill in the cracks and holes with caulk or filler, and take care of wood rot.
Step 3: Prime
Adding a primer is essentially to any newly repaired areas and any surface that you’ll be painting. Make sure you use a primer that’s suitable for the surface you’ll be painting.
This step isn’t the most glamorous part of the job, but skipping it can lead to bubbling, cracking, or peeling within months. Especially in areas with tough weather.
3. Choose the right paint
Photo by Craig Adderley/Pexels
Not all paint is created equal, especially when it comes to exterior projects. Choosing the right paint formula and finish can give your paint job a better lifespan.
Choose your formula
Acrylic paint: the gold standard for most wood, vinyl, or fiber cement siding because it is durable, breathable, and flexible which makes it excellent for freeze-thaw climates like ours).
Oil-based paint: this has become less popular over time as water-soluble paints have improved in formulation but they still have their place! Oil-based paints are durable, they adhere well, and they offer a smooth finish.
Choose your finish
Flat or matte: great for hiding surface imperfections, but not as resistant to dirt or mildew.
Satin or low-lustre: a popular, balanced choice that offers durability with a soft glow which makes it perfect for most siding.
Semi-gloss: ideal for trim, shutters, and doors where you want a bit of shine and extra wipeability.
4. Protect your surroundings
Before you start painting, take the time to protect your landscaping, hardscaping, and anything else nearby that you don’t want accidentally covered in paint.
That means:
Covering shrubs, flower beds, and garden areas with breathable drop cloths or plastic sheeting
Taping off windows, fixtures, outlets, and outdoor hardware
Moving or covering outdoor furniture, grills, and planters
Protecting walkways, driveways, porches, and neighbors from drips and overspray
5. Paint in the right conditions
Photo by Ricky Singh
It might seem obvious that you shouldn’t start painting with a storm on the horizon, but some of the biggest mistakes happen with the best of intentions.
The best time to paint is early morning or mid-late afternoon.
Avoid starting your paint job in the middle of the day. When the sun is at its hottest and strongest it can cause the paint to dry too quickly, crack, spread unevenly, and smell.
You also want to check the weather for the next few days, not just the day you’re painting. Most exterior paints need time to cure so you want to make sure you have 24-48 hours of clear skies.
Other conditions to watch out for:
Wind: can cause dust, debris, or leaves to stick to your wet paint.
Humidity: high humidity can slow drying and affect adhesion.
Temperature: most exterior paints perform best between 50°F and 85°F. Cold nights or sudden dips in temp? Skip the job.
Pro tip: A perfect paint day = mild temps, low humidity, overcast or light sun, and no rain in the forecast for the next few days. If the weather isn’t matching up it’s always best to scrap your plans and wait it out.
Not sure if the weather's working in your favor? We’re always happy to help. Whether you’re looking for a full exterior refresh or just want advice on when to get started, contact us for a free quote or expert insight.
6. Use the right tools
Photo by Savannah du Toit
Even the best paint can’t cover for the wrong tools. Having the right equipment makes a huge difference in the final look, efficiency, and overall longevity of the project.
At minimum, you’ll need:
Drop cloths or plastic sheeting
Painter’s tape
Scrapers or wire brushes
Caulk and caulking gun
Sandpaper or sanding blocks
Extension ladder
Paint trays, brushes, and rollers
A high-quality exterior paint and primer
A steady hand and a few weekends to spare
Sounds like a lot, doesn’t it? And that’s before we talk about sprayers, scaffolding, or prep tools that pros bring to the job.
What our professional team brings to your project:
Commercial-grade sprayers for smoother, faster coverage
Extension ladders and scaffolding for hard-to-reach areas
Power washers and surface prep tools
High-efficiency sanding and scraping tools
Quality brushes and rollers made for specific surfaces
Years of hands-on experience to get the job done right (and cleanly!)
A crew that handles every detail so it goes much much faster.
7. Start at the top
Photo by Emilio Sánchez Hernández
When it comes to painting your home’s exterior, starting at the top and working down is the best way to go.
Starting high lets you work with gravity to avoid drips and splatter falling onto freshly painted surfaces below. It also gives you more control over touch-ups and helps you maintain a clean, consistent finish.
Here’s a general order to follow:
Eaves and soffits
Upper siding and trim
Lower siding and trim
Doors, shutters, and other accent features
Pro tips:
Work in sections to keep a wet edge and avoid lap marks
Paint shaded areas first if possible. Direct sunlight can cause paint to dry too quickly
Use extension poles or ladders safely, and never overreach
8. Don’t forget the details
Photo by Karl Hedin
The big stuff always gets the attention (like siding and trim), but it’s the little details that can make or break your curb appeal.
We’ve seen plenty of DIY projects stall out because it’s easy to underestimate how much time, precision, and patience those finishing touches require.
Commonly overlooked areas include:
Fascia boards and soffits
Foundation walls or concrete bases
Window trim, sashes, and mullions
Porch ceilings and undersides of overhangs
Gutters and downspouts (yes, they can be painted!)
Railings, posts, and stair risers
Accent details like shutters, doors, or decorative trim
These spots are often harder to reach, more detailed, or require specialty brushes, ladders, or touch-up tools. We've had plenty of calls from folks who started strong with the siding, then realized halfway through they didn’t have the tools, time, or comfort level to finish the fine work.
Pro tip: Plan ahead and budget time for the small stuff. Or better yet, hire a team that loves the details as much as the big picture. That’s where the professional difference really shows.
9. Two coats are better than one
Photo by Bidvine
By the time that first coat is on, it’s tempting to call it a day. But if you want professional-looking results that actually last, two coats are the way to go.
The first coat seals and absorbs into the surface, especially if you’re painting bare wood or a surface that hasn’t been painted in a while. The second coat is where the color deepens, coverage evens out, and durability kicks in.
Skipping that second coat often leads to:
Uneven color and patchiness
Premature fading
Lower resistance to weather, moisture, and mildew
Needing to repaint much sooner
How to do it right:
Always allow the first coat to fully dry: this usually takes 4–24 hours depending on the paint type, surface, temperature, and humidity.
Don’t rush it: painting too soon can cause peeling, streaking, or a poor bond between layers.
Once dry, apply the second coat smoothly, using the same method and technique as the first for consistency.
10. Clean up properly
Photo by Ivan Samkov
In Minneapolis, stormwater runoff from driveways and streets is monitored but it eventually flows directly into local lakes and rivers without treatment.
This means that rinsing paint brushes or disposing of paint improperly can introduce harmful chemicals into our waterways, affecting aquatic life and water quality.
Best practices for cleanup:
Avoid rinsing paint tools outdoors: instead, clean brushes and rollers in a sink connected to the sanitary sewer system, which ensures the water is treated before release.
Never pour leftover paint down the drain, toilet, or storm sewer: These systems are not equipped to handle paint waste and can lead to environmental contamination.
Dispose of leftover paint responsibly: In Minnesota, programs like PaintCare offer drop-off sites for unused paint. Additionally, Hennepin County provides guidelines for disposing of latex and oil-based paints
11. Maintain your paint job
Photo by Pixabay
A little attention over time can help you avoid major touch-ups or a full repaint sooner than necessary.
Here’s how to keep it looking fresh:
Inspect your exterior every year, especially after a rough Minnesota winter or storm season.
Look for chipping, bubbling, fading, or peeling, particularly on areas that get a lot of sun or moisture.
Touch up small issues quickly to prevent water damage or further peeling. A little brushwork now can save you a big project later.
When is it time for a full repaint?
Paint is faded or chalky across large areas
Cracks or peeling are widespread
The color no longer fits your taste or home’s style
You’re getting ready to sell and want to boost curb appeal
Most exterior paint jobs last 7–10 years, but that can vary based on many factors. Staying ahead with small fixes can extend your timeline and keep your home looking its best year-round.
12. Consider professional help
Photo by Blue Bird
Painting your home’s exterior is more than just a weekend project. It’s physically demanding, time-consuming, and potentially risky. From navigating tall ladders to properly prepping surfaces and following local disposal regulations, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed before you even open a paint can.
Our professional painters can complete the average exterior painting job (a 2,000 sq. ft. home) in just 3–5 days, depending on the complexity of the home and weather conditions. That’s days, not weeks, of saved time, stress, and potential ER visits.
Ready to hire a pro and ensure the job is done right the first time?
Expert surface prep and application
Safe, efficient work at all heights
Proper waste disposal that meets Minneapolis regulations
A flawless, lasting finish without the guesswork
Contact us for an all-in-rate painting quote!
We’re helping Minnesota homeowners boost their curb appeal with high-quality exterior painting. We know how to work with the weather, the materials, and the neighborhoods—and we do it all with transparent pricing and no surprise fees.
If you’re ready for an interior or exterior refresh, or just want to explore what’s possible, reach out for a free, no-pressure quote. We’ll walk you through your options and help you choose the best plan for your home, your style, and your budget.
