Choosing the right exterior house paint colors can make a huge impact on your home’s curb appeal. With so many paint options to pick from, it can be tricky to settle on a palette that enhances your home’s architecture and blends well with the surrounding landscape. We’ll walk you through the process of selecting the ideal exterior paint scheme for your home.
Factors to Consider When Choosing Exterior Paint Colors
When brainstorming exterior paint ideas, keep the following factors in mind:
Architectural Style of Your Home
Select exterior paint colors that complement the existing style of your house. For example, if you have a Victorian-style home, stick to a traditional color scheme versus modern, trendy hues.
Geographic Location and Climate
Consider your home’s climate and geographic region. In warmer climates, lighter and brighter colors tend to work best. Darker, bolder hues are ideal for cooler regions.
Color of Surrounding Landscape
Take note of the natural surroundings of your home. Complementary hues from nature can inspire your exterior color palette. For instance, earthy greens and browns for a woodsy landscape or ocean blues if you live near water.
Existing Exterior Features
Factor in exterior elements like the roof, trim, and accents when deciding on a color scheme. You’ll want exterior paint colors that enhance these existing features.
Personal Preference
While trends come and go, choose exterior paint colors that appeal most to your own style. Opt for hues that make you feel happy and reflect your personality.
Popular Exterior House Paint Color Schemes
Now that you know what to think about, here are some of the most popular exterior house paint color combinations:
Monochromatic
For a cohesive look, stick to various tones and shades of one single color. Adding texture through changing paint finishes prevents monochromatic exteriors from appearing flat.
Analogous
Analogous schemes use hues located right next to each other on the color wheel, creating a harmonious blend. Triads with three neighboring hues work too.
Complementary Colors
Vibrant contrast occurs when complementary colors are combined. Typical pairings include blue and orange or yellow and purple. Use the bolder hue sparingly for accent.
Neutrals
Timeless and versatile, earthy neutrals like tan, gray, and brown blend seamlessly into natural surroundings. Mixing neutral shades adds dimension.
Black and White
For modern farmhouses or cottages, a classic black and white exterior adds striking visual contrast. Accent with another bold hue.
Exterior Paint Color Ideas by House Style
Tailoring your exterior paint colors to your architectural style creates a cohesive, polished look. Here are exterior paint ideas for common home styles:
Craftsman
Earthy hues like sage green, brown, tan, and terracotta reflect the natural vibe of Arts & Crafts style homes. Trim and accents in white or black provide contrast.
Farmhouse
Traditional farmhouse exteriors are white or light gray with black shutters and accents. For modern farmhouses, black or gray siding with bright white trim offers a dramatic flair.
Colonial
Colonials look stately in versatile hues like navy, burgundy, forest green, or beige. White or black trim and shutters keep the look classic.
Victorian
Since Victorians have intricate detail, avoid busy patterns. Stick to 2-3 colors like purple, olive, navy blue or soft yellow. White or black trim pops.
Mediterranean
Mediterranean style homes shine in warm, sunny shades of yellow, peach, terra cotta and sage green. Accent with navy blue for contrast.
Ranch
Earthy reds, browns, tans and sage greens complement the long, low profiles of ranches. For contrast, use white or black only on trim.
Cottage
Cottages look charming and inviting painted white or light gray with a navy, green, red or yellow door for a pop of color.
Exterior Paint Sheen Recommendations
Choosing the right paint sheen is key for exterior surfaces:
- Siding: Opt for satin, eggshell or matte paint. These provide some sheen but minimize imperfections.
- Trim/Shutters: Semi-gloss or high-gloss adds vibrancy to trim and shutters. The glossier finish is durable and easy to clean.
- Front Doors: High-gloss paint makes a statement on front doors. Satin is also suitable. Match sheen to shutters.
- Windows: Semi-gloss is ideal for windows – it resists moisture and wears well.
- Garage Doors: Eggshell or satin paint works on garage doors as it hides flaws but avoids looking too glossy.
Top Tips for Exterior Painting Projects
Follow these tips for stellar results:
- Properly prep surfaces by cleaning, scraping, sanding and priming before painting. Better adhesion leads to longer-lasting paint.
- Paint in dry weather when temperatures are between 50-90°F. Avoid painting in direct sunlight.
- Use high-quality exterior paint designed to withstand the elements. Invest in primer too.
- Paint from top to bottom and do trim work first. Use painter’s tape for clean lines.
- Apply two coats of paint minimum for full coverage and color accuracy.
- Maintain your paint job by washing annually, touching up worn areas, and full repainting every 7-10 years.
With the right exterior color scheme and painting technique, you can give your home amazing curb appeal! Use these color ideas and tips as a guide when planning your next exterior painting project.