A few weeks a friend decided to paint an exterior shed. A standard "redwood color" was purchased at the local hardware store. The color turned out to be a disaster. The color we think of as red wood turned out to be barn red. The shed could be seen throughout the neighborhood. Luckily, I was able to change the color of the shed by mixing colorants to the remaining paint. The color was changed from barn red to a brown. The resulting color was much more pleasing.
So just a word of caution, be careful in the colors you choose. Not every color has to be an matched onsite. But don't go by the name descriptions. Even if there are samples of the color on wood. Look at the color after it is mixed. Different woods take the colors differently.
Choose a color that is subdued and not the brightest. If in doubt, purchase a small sample such as a pint or quart of the color first. Apply the paint or stain and allow it to dry. If it is the right color, then purchase a larger quantity.
However, if you are actually painting a barn and want to show it off in the neighborhood, barn red is a great color.
