Choosing the perfect exterior paint color for your home is one of the most important design decisions you’ll make. Choosing the right color can boost curb appeal, increase resale value, and even make your home more energy-efficient but with so many options, how do you make the right choice?
In this guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to consider from architecture style to regional climate, landscape, and trending color palettes so you can confidently choose the best exterior paint colors for your home.
1. Consider the Architectural Style of Your Home for Exterior Painting Colors
Your home’s style plays a huge role in which colors will look appropriate and timeless.
Traditional Homes (Colonial, Cape Cod, Victorian)
Optimistic Colors: We like to see bright and dark colors that contrast well with the surrounding environment. However, some of these colors might be classic whites, muted blues, grays, deep reds, navy, and forest green. Finding a contrast to these colors come down to a few details!
Details Matter: Accentuate trim, shutters, and doorways with complementary colors that really help break your main exterior paint color to display trim accents and accessories that make your home shine!
Historic Homes: Research period-accurate color schemes, or use color consultation tools from historic preservation groups that can help aid in finding the best exterior paint colors! We always say to be optimistic with your color choices and pick something that matches your character and vision! Never settle for norm and always stick to your own personal goals!
Modern & Contemporary Homes
Earth Tone Colors: Blacks, whites, charcoals, dark blues and bold contrast like black & wood-tone all can be a great vision when trying to blend modern style to your exterior paint project. Take into consideration your environment, how your neighborhood looks, and the landscape surrounding your home. Each detail plays a vital role when picking the best exterior paint color for your modern home!
Tip: Use texture and materials (like metal or stone) to influence the paint selection. We see everything from T&G Cedar siding to accent stone that really play a huge part on the curb appeal of your home. Finding colors that blend well with these details are crucial and can really set the standard to awesome exterior paint job!
Craftsman & Bungalow Styles
Common Colors: Earth tones like olive green, rust, brown, and muted gold. Never be afraid to think outside of the box when picking colors for your exterior paint job. These colors are a great start for seeing what possibilities are out there.
Mediterranean & Spanish Style
Themed Colors: We tend to see warm tones such as terracotta, soft yellows, sandy beiges, and cream on the exterior of these homes.
Roof Consideration: Match or contrast nicely with red clay tile roofing is a big deciding factor when painting the exterior of a home with tile roofs. Considering how bold some of these colors are we need to take the roof color into consideration when painting the exterior of your home!
Farmhouse Style
Common Colors: Crisp white, soft gray, black trim accents, and sage green all look good on the exterior.
Modern Twist: