The exterior color palette of your home should feel inviting while also complementing your architecture and surroundings. With so many paint colors on the market, selecting the right hue of paint can feel overwhelming. However, the stress is worth it in the long run. According to HomeLight, you can experience up to a 152% return on investment by painting your home’s exterior. Luckily, exterior painters can help. Here are some tips from our painters that can help you select the right external paint hue for your home.
Historical and Regional Influences
When selecting paint colors, consider historical architectural influences in your area. In the Pacific Northwest, many homes showcase earth tones that blur into the predominant gray skies and evergreen forests. Spanish mission styles in the Southwest commonly feature sand colors like tan or cream paired with terracotta accents. Each regional tradition can provide inspiration for exterior palettes. Popular historical home colors also cycle back into fashion. Combinations like black trimmed windows over mint green siding recall 20th-century charm. For a trendy yet time-honored home palette, look to historical hues that suit your architecture.
Popular Exterior Color Trends
Today’s popular exterior color trends put a fresh spin on historical combinations. Mix-and-match siding that features multiple complementary colors has grown in popularity. This more lively external palette works well on newer construction. Farmhouse chic styles also gain an updated look from black-framed windows dressing up neutral gray or white panel siding. Not stuck on gray? Sage green exteriors with contrasting white trim give off an earthy elegance. For contemporary homes, deep purple grays pair strikingly with highlights of black trim and natural wood accents. For a bold yet classic statement, black with red brick accents channels turn-of-the-century traditional styles.
Neutral Tones for Timeless Elegance
Sometimes, a sublime neutral palette has the most staying power. Soft cream or taupe siding, for example, pairs effortlessly with white trim and conveys subtle sophistication. Crisp white or light gray colors refresh homes from colonial to craftsman and beautifully show off vibrant landscaping colors and rich exterior stain hues. Understated neutral paint colors also minimize showing dirt and wear, especially on highly exposed areas. That practicality pairs perfectly with the versatility to coordinate with future design choices. For long-lasting exterior appeal, classic neutral tones always merit consideration.
Bold and Vibrant Choices
Feeling adventurous? Then perhaps a bold color statement suits your style best. Vibrant teal or emerald green exteriors with bright white trim pop against natural surroundings. Sunny yellow siding conveys a quirky cottage charm. Vivid red front doors provide an eye-catching focal point against neutral backdrops. Deeper, intense shades can also make bold statements in more subtle ways. Think deep blues, jewel-toned violets, or spicy oranges that catch the light. When balanced thoughtfully against exterior neutrals, vibrant accent colors boost curb appeal and convey personal style.
Harmony with Natural Surroundings
The structures and scenery surrounding your home also impact the vibe created by exterior paint choices. For harmonious appeal, consider colors found naturally in your environment. Earthy brown and green hues blend with wooded or garden landscapes. Sky blue or seaside gray capture the mood along waterfronts. In desert climates, paints echoing the colors of surrounding terrain and foliage transition homes into the broader landscape. Even for suburban homes, echoing natural surroundings through color helps downplay architectural edges for smoother environmental transitions. Whether fostering continuity with wooded foothills or complementing prairie grasses and desert blooms, nature-inspired exteriors convey organic elegance.
Consideration for Architectural Features
When planning paint projects, factor in how color can interact with key architectural features. Lighter hues make exterior spaces appear larger and more airy. Darker colors lend an intimate, sheltered impression better suited to smaller cottages. Bright accent shades pop dramatically against neutral backgrounds. Exterior tones in the same color family showcase interesting natural textures like brick or stone. Strategic color pairings also highlight specific detail work. For example, contrasting hues on window trim and pane recesses frame picturesque views. Complementary colors on shake siding and corner trim boards emphasize craftsmanship. A single vibrant shade transforming the front door into a focal point conveys a personalized welcome. Thoughtfully balancing and blending colors spotlights design elements reflective of your home’s unique structural beauty.
Testing Samples and Lighting Considerations
With endless inspiration driving color selection, how do you narrow options to make that final forever-home choice? Test out samples! Paint companies offer free sample-sized versions of exterior shades specifically for this purpose. Paint these directly onto siding or material swatches. Observe how the dried samples look in the morning, midday, and evening light. Sunlight intensity fades colors, while evening light lends extra saturation. Seeing shades at different times ensures you don’t select a paint that will appear subtly, or sometimes dramatically, different than intended. Testing painted samples first is the best way to guarantee long-term color satisfaction. Exterior painters can help.
Balancing Multiple Colors
Many contemporary home palettes artfully blend multiple exterior colors across siding, trim, accent walls, and doors. When combining shades, maintain cohesion through value and saturation. For example, softly tinted gray-blue siding coordinates beautifully with crisp bright white trim and weathered blue-gray brick accents. The shared cool undertones and mid-range value unify the scheme. Likewise, a lighter neutral beige siding maintains harmony with chocolate brown trim by sharing subtle warm undertones. Had the trim been painted a stark black instead, the overall palette would appear disjointed and unbalanced despite analogous earthy hues. Skillfully blending values and saturation intensity ensures eclectic exterior palettes reinforce rather than compete with one another.
Choosing Durable and Weather-Resistant Paint
When designing your ideal exterior color scheme, also evaluate practical factors like paint formulation and application method. Not all paint can withstand years of sun, wind, rain, and snow exposure without fading. Different architectural materials like stucco, concrete, and shake siding require specially formulated paints to fully adhere. Seeking professional guidance from professional painters helps identify durable exterior paint types engineered for local climate challenges and your home’s unique materials. Certain paint options also feature primer and finish coats formulated together for extra longevity. Investing a bit more upfront means enjoying vibrant, resilient colors that heighten curb appeal for years to come.
The curb appeal conveyed through a home’s exterior paint colors and textures may seem purely aesthetic. However, in reality, they set expectations about how welcoming and personalized the interior will feel as well. By thoughtfully selecting finishes harmonizing with architectural style and surroundings, the home becomes an extension of self to savor for years of welcoming hellos and fond farewells. No matter what your personal aesthetic is, there are many paint colors that can take your home from drab to a modern sanctuary. All you need to do is select the right paint to convey the look you’re going for!
If you’re ready to paint the outside of your home, let our exterior painters at Westlope Painting help. We have many years of experience helping homeowners such as yourself achieve their dream home through careful painting and color selection. We believe that paint has the power to instantly transform a home, and we take that seriously. Contact our team at Westlope Painting today to learn more about our exterior painting services. We look forward to working with you!
