While the color choices of our home's interiors get so much attention year-long, it's important to give as much thought to our home's exterior paint colors too. Responsible for setting the first impression of your home, exterior paint colors are important to get right.
While neutral options are the safe bet, in 2024, there's good reason to venture away from these predictable hues and channel something more exciting that nods to the decorating style of your home's interior.
So, what are the best exterior paint ideas? Striking a balance between stylish and respectable to your home's surroundings, there are endless ideas to consider. We asked designers and paint experts for the best exterior paint colors, which we've rounded up below.
11 exterior paint color ideas
Along with the best exterior paint trends, experts share below their top tips to land on a color that not only aligns with your style but also considers practical considerations while most importantly, respecting your home's features and unique surroundings.
1. Create a timeless look with soft neutrals
Here we are talking about going bold with your external paint ideas and the first suggestion is a soft neutral. But bold doesn't need to mean bright colors and clashing shades, because you do want your home to look classic and welcoming, and for some styles, a softer shade just works best.
But we say follow the color trends of 2024 and shift away from using a brilliant white as so many homes do, and choose a softer, gentler color like the palest of yellow, a soft beige, or a cream.
As Bailey Oates, color expert at Earthborn Paints explains, 'Neutral tones are a great choice when it comes to paint for the exterior of a property – offering a clean, timeless look that will stand the test of time. Alternatively, for those looking for a more playful result, pastel colors like baby pink and lemon yellow will shine in sunlight, and look beautiful when flowerbeds or bushes are in bloom.'
2. Consider exterior colors as you would inside your home
'Don’t let decorating the exterior be an afterthought, as well as weatherproofing and protecting your home, it’s a fantastic way to add design personality and curb appeal.' explains Ruth Mottershead, Creative Director of Little Greene. And we couldn't agree more.
'Gone are the days of only being able to find masonry paint in limited colors; our Intelligent Masonry Paint is available in the extensive Little Greene color palette, so homeowners can really create a unique exterior design scheme. In the same way you would look at paint colors alongside curtain fabrics and furnishings, consider the architectural elements of your exterior too: do you have red or yellow tone bricks, limestone or granite walls, what color are your roof tiles? Build these into your design scheme to ensure your paint choices are complementary.'
Helen Shaw, Director of Marketing and color expert at Benjamin Moore, agrees, 'Whilst much of our focus is centered around our interiors, the front of your home can – in comparison – feel like an afterthought. Painting the exterior of your house not only looks good but also offers practical benefits; it ensures the woodwork is protected against the natural elements and extends the life of your woodwork. Although the go-to paint is often a white or off-white, choosing a bolder color is a great way of creating a feature, especially if you have beautiful doors or windows in your property.'
3. Consider the right paint finishes
As well as considering paint colors for the exterior of a house, it is also important to think about how to paint a house exterior.
'Painting an exterior is not just about choosing the right colors, it’s also about choosing the right paint finishes, after all, this finish needs to protect the building as well as decorate it!’ says Ruth Mottershead.
‘Exterior paint is essentially your home’s protection from the elements, so it’s vital to select paints that not only look fantastic and have a superb finish, but that are also durable, practical, and formulated to withstand the test of time, harsh weather conditions in winter and the baking UV light of mid-summer.’
‘For brick, stone or rendered walls, a masonry paint is required, extremely durable and water-resistant, it offers effective protection from the elements, and benefits from being highly dirt-resistant, with its anti-fungal and anti-aging properties ensuring it looks good for longer,’ continues Ruth. ‘If you’re unsure about choosing the right paint finishes for your home, consider an all-surface primer.'
4. Keep it classic with white
Classic and timeless, you can't go wrong with a white home exterior, suiting many different house styles from modern homes to farmhouses.
For this home's exterior, DG Design Group used Benjamin Moore's White Dove OC-17, achieving a clean look that withstands the latest interior design trends.
'Coupled with black accents like the entry door, garage door, and black fiberglass windows, it offers a striking contrast that enhances curb appeal and adds a sense of sophistication,' says Diana George, founder and principal of the California-based design-build firm.
'This exterior color combination suits both traditional and contemporary designs, elevating the overall aesthetic of the home.'
5. Select red for farmhouse vibes
If you have a farmhouse or even farm-style barns on your property, then red is a classic house paint color. While it would make a bold statement in the city, in the countryside, red is a timeless choice.
Red is the traditional color for farmhouses. Before paint was readily available, farmers would seal their barns with linseed oil which was often mixed with red iron oxide to seal the barn's exterior and kill any fungi. This addition turned the barn a rich red color. Today's red house paint color is an attractive nod to the tradition.
'Throughout New England, the Midwest, and other dairy farming regions, the farmhouse trend of weathered red as an exterior color (with white trim) still earns powerful nostalgic reactions from homeowners and especially their guests,' says Baron Christopher Hanson, luxury South Florida Realtor at EchoFineProperties.
6. Brighten a timeless gray exterior with white accents
Gray is one of the most elegant and durable paint colors for the exterior of a house. However, if you select the wrong shade it can look dark and unappealing. Therefore, if deciding on gray for the exterior of your home, also factor in ways to brighten the look.
Select a gray with warmer, silvery undertones and pair it with a clean white gloss for the trim, porches, window frames, and door frames to catch the eye and brighten your home's exterior.
'Aesthetically paint will highlight outstanding features,' explains Helen Shaw. 'As well as your windows and doors consider the soffits, barge, and facia boards where the roof line meets the brickwork. You can opt for one tone for the whole of the exteriors or pair two complementary colors and pick out the features in the bolder shade. Don’t forget the finishing touches, a new coat of paint for your fence, front gate and metal guttering can make all the difference.'
7. Select a color to help your house sell faster
If you are looking to sell your home, then when it comes to picking paint colors for the exterior of a house, the advice is the same as that for painting the interior of a house.
Painting your house white inside and out is always the best way to sell any property faster. White is also a neutral color that reflects light, allowing landscaping and trim colors to stand out whilst making every room of your house look bigger and reflect even more light indoors.
'White is also a tabula rasa color that allows buyers to envision their own color palette, artwork, and furnishings. If buyers wish to paint a room or wall or door or shutter any different color, white as a base coat is always best,' says Baron Christopher Hanson. 'The advice we give to every seller in any market is simple: paint it all white, inside and out, with one pop of color, and your home will appeal to far more buyers.'
For this property, Vernich Interiors opted for Sherwin-Williams' Shoji White across the home's exterior, a go-to, classic white paint.
8. Select a sunny shade to bring year-round cheer
Yellow is a cheery shade that will brighten any home. A favorite shade for interiors – you can't beat yellow room ideas – it also looks great on the exterior of your home.
However, if considering yellow paint colors for the exterior of a house, it is important to carefully consider tone. There is a lot of color variation with regards to decorating with yellow, from a creamy off-white through to vibrant lemon. When choosing paint colors for the exterior of a house, opt for a lighter shade, with mustardy undertones and avoid anything garish – temper the look with a clean white trim.
'With its bold nature, yellow is a fantastic shade to couple with soft greys as it adds class and intrigue to any outside space. Mixing these shades together through exterior paint can create an immediate, contemporary, and on-trend exterior space with minimal effort,' adds Matthew Brown, color consultant at Sadolin & Sandtex.
For this home designed by August, a soft yellow shade is used across the exterior, complete with muted green shutters. 'You always want to paint the exterior of a house in the context of its architectural style and it is key to think about the location, the surrounding landscape, and the community you are in,' says Karolina Wierzbicka, Head of Design at August. 'Take cues from the nature that surrounds and reflect similar colors in the front and backyard for an inviting finish.'
9. Choose blue for an uplifting welcome
Blue is one of our favorite paint colors for the exterior of a house. While it is still a fairly neutral shade, drawing on the same tones of whites and grays, it will still stand out on your street.
'The rule of thumb is typically to paint your house with colors of your surrounding environment. For instance, you’ll see many beach houses painted a light blue, whereas in the mountains you’ll see a lot more brown,' says Matt Woods, co-founder and CEO of SOLD.com.
'In fact, many Homeowner Associations have rules that their homes must be painted to match their surroundings. This goes for aspects of the exterior such as the trim and the shutters, and is meant to help your home look more natural in its environment.'
10. Opt for on-trend griege
Greige, a mix of gray and beige, is having a real moment. The beige-gray color trend is taking interiors by storm and is also one of the best paint colors for the exterior of a house. Greige works well with many different styles and is an interesting, yet neutral shade.
An added benefit of selecting greige paint colors for the exterior of a house is that it leaves you free to be more creative with your front door color ideas. Every color from warm reds, pinks, and oranges through to cooler greens and blues will look great set against a greige house.
When it comes to landing on the right exterior neutral paint, Benjamin Moore's Sail Cloth is recommended by interior designer Nadia Watts. 'Sail Cloth has enough pigment to create a beautiful contrast when paired with white. It’s classic, timeless, and will always be in style, working really well with all the other neutral colors that are often used as exterior paints.'
11. Choose a dramatic yet soft off-black
For a modern look, consider dark paints for the exterior of a house. However, you need to be careful when opting for darker shades, especially if you live in a warm part of the country.
Dark colors absorb both light and heat and as such will make your home feel warmer. While this is a great choice if you live in a cooler place where you are actively trying to increase the insulation of your home, dark colors should be avoided if you want to keep your home cool. For these houses, light colors are better as they help to reflect light and keep your home cool.
'Trend-wise we have seen a move towards darker exteriors in more urban environments. Off blacks and deep grays have become very popular and are often used on all exterior woodwork making the property stand out in a subtle way,' explains Helen.
For this modern home exterior, designer Betsy Wentz opted for Benjamin Moore's Iron Mountain, an off-black paint color that's dramatic without being too intense.
FAQs
How many colors should a house exterior have?
The house exterior should have at least two colors, one for the trim and one for the body. However, don't go overboard. ‘Excluding the roof, the exterior of a house should have no more than three colors,’ recommends Melanie Hartmann, owner of Creo Home Buyers.
What exterior colors make a house look bigger?
Bright, neutral colors like whites and pale colors will help to make a house look bigger. Just as when it is used for interiors, bright, light colors such as whites, light grays, and even pale yellows will reflect light and help to make your property appear larger.
Once you've decided on the best color scheme for your home's exterior, whether that's pared-back neutrals or bolder hues, it's worth considering adding accent colors to complete the look. Here, we explain how to choose the best exterior color combinations to ensure a timeless look.
