Choose paint colors that look right in Denver light, not just in the store.
Free color consultation with every Bighorn estimate. Try a palette on the house below, then let Bighorn put real samples on your walls.
Comes with your free estimate.
Tell Bighorn what you are painting, and they will bring samples to test in your own light.
Book my estimate and color consultOr call 720-912-4676
The short version
Bighorn Painting includes free color consultation with every painting estimate in Denver and the Front Range. Colors are chosen from the Sherwin-Williams and PPG color libraries, and samples are tested on the customer's actual walls or siding at different times of day, because strong Colorado sunlight can make colors read lighter or brighter than a store chip. For vinyl siding, darker colors should come from vinyl-safe collections. Call 720-912-4676.
Try it
Exterior palette ideas for Denver home styles
Pick a home style to see a popular Sherwin-Williams starting palette. Screen colors are approximate, so treat these as starting points, not final picks.
Color at 5,280 feet
Five things that change how paint colors look in Colorado
Strong, clear sunlight
Colors often read lighter and brighter outside than on a chip, so many people go a shade deeper than they first think.
Which way the wall faces
North-facing rooms get cooler light that can gray a color. South and west walls get warm, intense afternoon sun.
Fixed elements
Roof, brick, stone and landscaping don't change, so exterior colors need to work with them.
Siding material
On vinyl, darker colors should come from vinyl-safe collections to avoid heat warping.
HOA palettes
Many Denver-area communities require color approval before an exterior repaint.
Sheen
Higher sheens reflect more light and look lighter, and they also show surface flaws more.
Popular starting points
Well-loved Sherwin-Williams colors worth sampling
These are widely used colors, not a Bighorn rule. Screen swatches are approximate, and Bighorn works from the full Sherwin-Williams and PPG color libraries.
Sheen, simplified
Which paint sheen goes where
| Sheen | Where it's commonly used | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Flat | Ceilings, low-traffic walls, exterior siding | Hides flaws best, least washable |
| Matte or eggshell | Living rooms, bedrooms, hallways | Soft look with some washability |
| Satin | Kitchens, bathrooms, kids' rooms, exterior trim | Easy to clean, shows more flaws |
| Semi-gloss | Trim, doors, cabinets, railings | Very durable and washable, shows every flaw |
How Bighorn's color consult works
From "I have no idea" to a color you're sure about
Talk it through
What you love, what you don't, and what can't change, like roof, brick and HOA rules.
Narrow it down
A short list from the Sherwin-Williams and PPG libraries.
Sample in your light
Samples go up on your actual walls or siding.
Check morning and evening
You look at them at different times of day before anyone commits.
Straight answers
Paint color questions from Denver homeowners
Why do paint colors look different on my house than on the chip?
A small chip under store lighting looks different from a whole wall in strong Colorado sun. Colors often read lighter and brighter outdoors, while north-facing rooms can pull the same color grayer or cooler. That is why Bighorn tests samples on your actual walls or siding and checks them at different times of day.
Does Bighorn Painting charge for color consultation?
No. Color consultation is included free with every Bighorn estimate.
Can I paint vinyl siding a dark color?
Dark colors absorb more heat and can cause vinyl siding to warp. Sherwin-Williams offers VinylSafe colors and PPG offers SidingSafe colors made for vinyl, and those are the collections to choose from when going darker.
What paint sheen should I use?
A common approach is flat for ceilings, matte or eggshell for living areas and bedrooms, satin for kitchens, bathrooms and kids' rooms, and semi-gloss for trim and doors. On exteriors, flat or low-sheen finishes on siding and satin or semi-gloss on trim and doors are typical.
Do I need HOA approval for exterior colors?
Many Denver-area HOAs require exterior color approval. Get your community's approved palette or submit your choices before scheduling, and Bighorn can match approved colors and help with samples.
Are the colors on this page accurate?
Screen colors are approximations. Monitors and phones display color differently, so always look at a physical sample, and ideally a large sample on your own wall, before choosing.
Free, no obligation
Book your free estimate and color consultation
Tell Bighorn what you're painting and any colors you're considering. Samples get tested in your light.
Call 720-912-4676Mon to Sat, 7am to 7pm. Or ask Ramsey a quick question first.
Name and phone are all that's required.