Recently I had to review shingle options when we replaced the roof on our house. It amazed me all the choices that are available today. While doing this, I thought of the times people have asked me whether they need to coordinate their home’s outside appearance with how they decorate the inside.

Maybe. Here are some guidelines to consider:

ROOF COLOR

You have a lot of flexibility in the choice of the color for your shingles that should be based on coordinating them with the main building material used on the exterior of your home. Brick is generally used for traditional style homes and is set off by shingles of black or gray values. However if you have a transitional or contemporary brick home then you may opt for shingles in an earthy red tone also. While stucco or vinyl exterior in non-neutral colors are best set off with greys and blacks. The black, earthy red tones and gray shades of the roof do not have to be continued inside.

SHUTTERS

In homes with white shutters and trim, you do not have to paint interior walls white. Your interior trim, moldings and door casings will be a sufficient use of white. And there is no need to continue black inside if you have black shutters. The focus of your shutter color is to compliment your home’s building materials.

FRONT DOOR

Your front door is the one place that you can make a decorative focal point. For example, if you chose a painted red door, then you need to have some color and strong focal points in your interiors. A red door will feel out of place if your interiors are soft neutral colors with subdued focal points.

WINDOW TREATMENTS AS SEEN FROM OUTSIDE

Although I see homes that have all their window treatments identical, to give a symmetrical look from outside, I do not feel this is best. It is far better to have your window treatments suit the way you have arranged the furniture and furnishings in each room. For example, in some rooms you may want to include sheer draperies and other room you may not need them.

COLORS OF FLOWERS

Because of the limited range of colors that flowers come in, you do not have to continue your flower colors inside. Take advantage of whatever color palette you like from the millions of shades that are available for paint colors, furniture and furnishings inside.

Teal Michel ASID, is a licensed full-service interior design firm specializing in residential interior design and renovation-remodeling design throughout the Carolinas. Teal has won awards from ASID for interior spaces and furniture design and from the Home Builder’s Association of Charlotte Excellence in Remodeling for remodel design and interior renovation. She has participated in HGTV’s “Designer’s Challenge” and her work has been featured in several books. www.tealmichelasid.com.