Picking out house colors can feel high stakes, but you can create a more structured decision-making process for yourself with these tips from Sherwin-Williams experts Sue Wadden, Director of Color Marketing, and Kiki Redhead, Global CMF & Trend Manager in the Performance Coatings Group.

First things first, windows last a long time. “You may change the color of your home two or three times before you change the windows and doors,” Redhead said. So, if you’re trying to decide whether to pick windows that match your current exterior or windows that match your long-term vision — go with the ones that match your vision. It will save you money in the long term.

Like windows and doors, features like gutters, garage doors, and any stone or brick integrated into your façade are more permanent and serious investments. If the fixed features on your home aren’t going to change, you’ll want to consider them when deciding on a color palette.

As you look at these features, decide if they’re warm or cool in tone (generally, warm colors are stimulating, and cool colors are calming). Thinking about color temperature can help you narrow down choices and land on the right tone. Here’s an example from Wadden:

“Let’s say you’ve got foundational brick that’s a warm red. Maybe you want a forest green on your exterior,” Wadden said. And “because your siding and brick are warmer, a colored trim or a creamy white might look more cohesive than say, a white with gray undertones, which would look cold.”

Want the experts to pick colors for you? You’re in luck! Sherwin-Williams created six color palettes that work beautifully on a home’s exterior — find them in the next section.