Tips for selecting the right house color.

• Position: YOUR LIFE - Brief article

A successful color scheme is one that is pleasant to live with and reflects the moods and personalities of the people residing in it, advises Mary Lawlor, color stylist at Kelly-Moore Paint Company, Inc., San Carlos, Calif. She offers several suggestions that can help homeowners find the right palette for their exteriors:

* Take fixed colors into account (such as the roof, brick, stonework or any stained wood), and make sure they all look good together.

* Be kind to neighboring properties. Choose hues that will not clash with the immediate vicinity.

* A large, boxy house can be broken up by using a trim color that contrasts the body color. A small home will appear larger if the trim is painted the same color as the body of the house.

* Light colors will help keep a home cooler in warmer climates because they absorb less heat. Dark colors will help keep a home warmer in cooler climates because they absorb more heat.

* While color preferences have gone darker in the pest...