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Modern paint colors for house


Top 10 Modern Paint Colors From an Expert

Shades to Update Bedrooms, Kitchens, and Living Rooms

Graphic by Cristina Cianci

These days, the word "modern" means a variety of different things, especially when it comes to embarking on a new interior paint project. Some think pure white paint is modernity incarnate, while others picture deep, dramatic hues. But the truth is that both types of colors have the ability to take lifeless spaces to new style heights, depending on where, and how, they're used. Modern colors aren't necessarily reserved for modern architecture, either, explains Benjamin Moore's Andrea Magno. Rather, "they capture a modern sensibility," she explains.

While Magno acknowledges that in recent years, folks are straying from the dated idea that a modern room is one that's staunchly bright-white, she also admits that variations of white and gray—neutrals—are actually the forerunning color trends proliferating today's painting projects.

Consider using one of these ultra-versatile paint colors to give your space a quick pick-me-up.

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Benjamin Moore 

"The captivating, upbeat power of red brings energy into every room," says Magno. Bold and energizing (and with brown undertones), Caliente completely transforms any space, whether covering an entire room or used as a simple accent. "Red never fails to make a statement," she adds, "and you can show off your color-confidence with this classic, dramatic hue."

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 Emily Henderson Design 

Some colors never go out of style, like this versatile, bright off-white. "White Opulence is crisp and clean with just the slightest touch of pink," Magno says. Use it anywhere you want to evoke a serene, tranquil feeling, such as a bedroom or bathroom.

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Devon Grace Interiors

To create depth and a dramatic effect, paint walls black. "It's a chic way to elevate other colors, and it makes a strong style statement," Magno says. Black Beauty is a warm, modern, rich tone that that pairs well with any hue, but especially whites, deep greens, pinks, and metallic tones.

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Phil Crozier; Design by Reena Sotropa In House Design

Another off-white, White Heron is a crisp variation with blue undertones that's particularly nice on trim, casings, and millwork. On walls, white is the perfect backdrop via which to show off artwork and decorative elements. Pair it with warm and cool shades—both work with it because it isn't too stark.

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Benjamin Moore

"Sophisticated and subdued, Excalibur Gray has a slightly violet cast that's ideal in a bedroom or bathroom," says Magno. We love this romantic, moody shade that breathes new life into basic gray.

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Devon Grace Interiors 

As its name suggests, Moonshine isn't quite white nor is it a full-on gray—it falls somewhere in the middle. "A pale gray with a tinge of green, Moonshine is a subtle color that complements many materials and textures; it's versatile and nuanced," says Magno.

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Benjamin Moore

The statement-making Wolf Gray is cool, with strong blue undertones. It looks beautiful on kitchen cabinetry, built-in bookshelves, millwork, and yes, walls. Earthy neutrals, such as muted yellows and greens, and bolder colors, like cobalt and indigo, complement its richness.

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Benjamin Moore

"This pale slightly-green gray is tranquil and elegant," says Magno. She recommends using Silver Marlin in a living room, bedroom, or bathroom and pairing it with soft, metallic accents such as antique brass or brushed nickel.

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Benjamin Moore

Sharkskin reads as a deep, gray-green and is "a versatile color that pairs easily with pastels, and bolder colors, too," Magno says. Mustard and deep red accents will pop against its verdant undertones. Consider it for the exterior of your home, as well.

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Heidi's Bridge; Design by Jersey Ice Cream Co.

According to Magno, Balboa Mist is one of Benjamin Moore's most popular grays due to its ability to freshen and modernize any space. "It works beautifully with a wide range of other colors, and stands up well on its own," she says. Consider ceilings, trim, and walls.

20 Beautiful Interior Color Schemes Designers Have on Repeat

Article Sources

MyDomaine uses only high-quality, trusted sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial guidelines to learn more about how we keep our content accurate, reliable and trustworthy.

  1. Elliot AJ. Color and Psychological Functioning: A Review of Theoretical and Empirical Work. Front Psychol. 2015;6:368.doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2015.00368

10 Modern Exterior House Colors for 2022

There are clear trends when it comes to modern exterior house colors, but modern color schemes are not necessarily one-size-fits-all. Depending on your design style, you might lean toward a sleek aesthetic or something more striking and bold. Furthermore, small details, like the color of the front door or trim, make all the difference with modern homes. Whatever your tastes might be, we have tons of color ideas below to inspire you.

We stay up-to-date on the latest trends so you don’t have to. Our team can help you transform your exterior and make your home stand out. We focus on understanding our clients’ design goals to recommend intentional, impactful updates. Learn more about our virtual design services.

Color palette trends for modern homes

Modern homes encompass a variety of design styles and color preferences. Specifically, modern exterior house colors tend to follow a minimalist, neutral approach. We frequently use monochromatic color schemes and those that combine contrasting dark and light shades. Daring aesthetics that make use of bold, saturated shades of charcoal and black are on-trend, but white exteriors with darker accents cultivate a fresh, timeless appearance. Plus, another trend we can’t get enough of is incorporating a bold pop of color for the front door on a modern home. If you’re searching for the perfect color for your modern exterior, read on for some of our favorites.

#1 // Sherwin Williams’ Caviar

Despite its LRV of 3, Sherwin Williams’ Caviar is a black paint color with dimension. Caviar has deep brown undertones that give it a warmer feel. The earthy tone of this color pairs well with natural elements. In the rendering above, our designers combined Caviar siding with wooden accents, bringing in a rustic feel. Because of its quiet complexity, Caviar is one of our favorite modern exterior house colors and is on our list of the best Sherwin Williams exterior paint colors for 2022.

#2 // James Hardie’s Night Gray

Are you looking for modern exterior house colors that will add drama and depth to your home’s aesthetic? Look no further than James Hardie’s Night Gray. This sophisticated hue looks incredible with the light gray stone in the rendering above. As you can see, combining light and dark shades is a great way to bring dimension to a modern exterior. New to James Hardie? They offer a variety of siding options with different textures and tons of great color choices.

#3 // Sherwin Williams’ Black Fox

Another dark shade we recommend for modern homes is Sherwin Williams’ Black Fox. Modern designs make use of clean lines and incorporate geometric elements. Using dark colors for an exterior accentuates this sharpness. If you want to go with an almost-black shade that isn’t too stark, Black Fox should be on your radar. This brown-meets-black shade pairs perfectly with wood and copper accents, which our designers often include on modern designs.

#4 // Benjamin Moore’s Sussex Green

Looking for neutral modern exterior house colors that don’t live in the gray, black, or white realm? Benjamin Moore’s Sussex Green is a warm, deep green that pairs perfectly with natural accents like wood and stone. In the rendering above, the color is amplified by the landscaping and subtle wooden additions. This shade is so appealing that we included it in our list of the best Benjamin Moore exterior paint colors for 2022.

#5 // Benjamin Moore’s Black Beauty

We can’t talk about modern exterior house colors without including an example that uses a black-and-white color scheme. We love Benjamin Moore’s Black Beauty so much that we named it our top exterior house color for 2022. On the home above, our designers used Black Beauty for the brick, columns, trim, and other accents. Additionally, the siding is painted with Sherwin Williams’ Alabaster, one of our favorite warm white paint colors. For mid-century modern homes like this one, the classic color palette is elevated by the pop of color (Benjamin Moore’s Galapagos Turquoise) on the front door. 

#6 // James Hardie’s Iron Gray

Coming in at sixth on our list, James Hardie’s Iron Gray is a bold, elegant shade that works great for modern exterior house colors. Our designers used Benjamin Moore’s Black on the trim above, creating a daring aesthetic. The wood and stone accents give the exterior a layered look, enhancing the depth of the design. 

#7 // Sherwin Williams’ Olympic Range

Sherwin Williams’ Olympic Range is a beautiful deep forest green shade that looks incredible on modern exteriors. In the rendering above, our designers used Olympic Range on the siding to highlight the home’s sharp edges and unique structure. This home makes a statement.

#8 // Benjamin Moore’s Deep River

Next on our list of the best modern exterior house colors is Benjamin Moore’s Deep River. This saturated dark gray features blue undertones. It also has a warmth to it. Deep River pairs nicely with the walkway pavers and wooden accents on the home design above. We also love it alongside the unexpected burst of Benjamin Moore’s Wasabi on the front door.

We always recommend sampling and testing paint colors before committing. Factors such as natural lighting, undertones, and your property’s fixed elements will have a significant impact on how a color will appear on your exterior. Our friends at Samplize offer extra-large 9 x 14.75 inch peel-and-stick paint samples of the colors we love for exteriors. Order your ‘Real Paint, No Mess’ samples from Samplize here.

#9 // Sherwin Williams’ Anonymous

Neutrals are on-trend modern exterior house colors. And Sherwin Williams’ Anonymous is quickly becoming one of our favorite complex neutral shades. This mid-to-dark tone creates a sophisticated appearance on the home above. The Galapagos Turquoise front door draws the eye to the entry, and the black accents showcase the home’s sharp lines. 

#10 // Sherwin Williams’ Alabaster

White is timeless, classic, and works for any style of home. This is why we included Sherwin Williams’ Alabaster in this list of modern exterior house colors. It has a sleek, refreshing appearance, especially when combined with black accents. Alabaster’s warmth creates a smooth canvas for the home above, allowing the accents to stand out and elevating the curb appeal in turn.

Wrapping up our favorite modern exterior house colors for 2022

At brick&batten, our designers often work on modern home upgrades for our clients. This work almost always includes recommendations for updating exterior paint colors. And we consider every detail — from accent and trim colors to landscaping suggestions and light fixtures. Our designers will harness the right modern design elements to take your curb appeal to the next level.

Ready to transform your exterior design goals into a reality? Not sure where to start? Tell us your vision and design style, and we can help you achieve the look you’re after. Get started today!

What colors to paint the walls: tips and ideas

The choice of colors for the interior is one of the key points. It sets the mood and shapes our feelings. Therefore, the issue should be approached carefully. Our article will help, in which we give tips and ideas on what color to paint the walls in the house.

All about choosing wall paint colors

Tips

Best options

  1. White
  2. Black
  3. Brown
    4. nine0011 Pastel
  4. Violet
  5. Yellow
  6. Blue
  7. Green
  8. Red

Not sure how to choose a wall paint color and afraid that the end result will not meet your expectations? Here are 5 tips to help you decide.

1. Trust your first instinct

It often happens that you plan to paint the walls in a certain color, but then, when you see a wide range of shades in the store, you start to doubt. In this case, designers advise not to change the original decision - a spontaneous choice is likely to be not the most successful. nine0003

It's best to have a detailed room design on paper. Color combinations will already be thought out in it, and the temptation to change your choice will become less.

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2. Match the furniture

If we are talking about a full-fledged repair, it is first important to decide on most of the furniture, and only then, what color is better to paint the walls. The combination of shades in this case will be more balanced, besides, you can choose the tone, starting from the pattern on the upholstery of the sofa or chair. nine0003

Another argument in favor of this advice is that repainting the walls is cheaper than completely refurbishing the room.

3. Choose a paint with rich pigment

Regardless of the shade (it can even be very light), try to choose a paint with rich pigment. It is this finish that will ultimately give the room depth and look interesting in different lighting conditions.

This paint can be found in the assortment of foreign manufacturers Portola Paints and Farrow and Ball. nine0003

4. Don't give up on testing

Even if you fall in love with a certain tone in the store, don't buy it right away. Ask for a paint sample and test it at home under different lighting conditions. Light does wonders for color, so seeing how a particular tone looks in your room is very important.

5. Choose the right test site

When testing a paint sample, it is important to select the correct test site. Test paint next to other finishes and as far away from distracting elements in the room as possible. So you can accurately understand how the room will look after the repair. nine0003

And one last piece of advice. If you still can't wait to buy paint directly in the store, always give preference to a lighter palette. Sometimes you want to add more color to a space, but in a real room, the lightest shade will most likely look brighter than in the jar.

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1. White

The most popular choice for painting large surfaces due to its versatility. White and its shades (beige, cream, ivory) visually enlarge the space, make it lighter. White is uplifting and calming, and also helps to focus. nine0003

Any furniture and floor finish can be combined with white. If it seems that the interior looks boring, feel free to add bright colors. It can be bright furniture or an accent wall.

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But in fact, this is one of the most stylish interior solutions, of course, with the right selection of proportions and combinations with the environment.

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An interior with a black wall becomes elegant. Its depth emphasizes the details, gives expressiveness. It becomes the perfect backdrop for artwork and vintage furniture. A classic combination: black walls and light furniture or floors.

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3. Brown

Brown is the color of stability and reliability It is suitable for classic interiors, as it is considered quite conservative. Brown is also recommended to design a relaxation area, as it soothes. nine0003

In order not to make the interior too gloomy, it is recommended to combine brown with white and other light colors such as beige. This rule works both when choosing furniture and when choosing what colors to paint the walls in a room. Another good combination is brown trim and turquoise accessories in the interior.

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Instagram freshdesign_ua

4.

Pastel

Pastel colors are very diverse and look great in any interior. Pistachio, mint, soft blue, pale yellow or pink can be the main background, making the room airy and delicate, or balance a bright and contrasting wall and furniture.

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5. Purple

Violet and its shades (lavender, mauve, lilac and violet) attract attention and set the tone for the interior. They also inspire a person and have a positive effect on brain activity.

When designing an interior, it is important not only to choose the right color, but also to determine its quantity. Violet rarely decorate large surfaces. As a rule, it is used as an accent and balanced by other elements.

Soft and calm shades of purple can be used in classic interiors. In pop art, minimalism and hi-tech, more saturated options will look good. Against a purple background, light-colored furniture looks the most advantageous. nine0002 Instagram benjamin_mooreru

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7. Blue

Blue creates a feeling of peace and tranquility. Despite the fact that it belongs to the cold palette, the right combinations with other shades and competent lighting ensure its harmonious existence in the interior.

For small rooms, a combination of blue and white is suitable. White will visually make the room wider, and blue will bring freshness. To keep the interior from being too cold, you can use shades of blue, close to blue and turquoise, in combination with beige. Furniture in a blue interior can be neutral, wood-like or, conversely, bright contrasting colors. nine0003

The variety of green tones is so great that it can be used in any interior. Light shades will visually enlarge the room, dark ones will make the interior elegant and deep.

Green and its shades blend well with each other and wood.

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0002 Red is associated with passion and luxury. It helps to become more active and energetic, excites and attracts attention. But in order to paint a large area red, or at least make it the main accent, you will need to pay attention to furniture and accessories.

The best complement to red is white. Light doorways, doors, window frames and furniture will balance the aggressiveness of red. Also, red walls will look harmoniously with red furniture and accessories. nine0003

Paint will always look different on the palette in the store than it does on the walls at home. Of course, you can always recolor and find “your” shade, but all this is exhausting and annoying. Designer Inna Usubyan told InMyRoom about her principles for choosing colors so that in the new year you will have one less problem.

Inna Usubyan - interior designer and professional decorator, head of the Decolabs studio. She graduated from the prestigious school "Details" and courses at the British Higher School of Design. For many years he has been creating unique decor items, often decorating interiors with his watercolors and photographs. nine0003

Step #1: Set the Mood

The first step in choosing a color is to determine the atmosphere you want to create in your home. Some people want a bright and cheerful orange summer, others like neutral beige shades, and still others want coolness and gray. Analyze which side of the world the windows face and decide: do you want to make this room bright and bright or quiet, cozy and with subdued light.

Step 2: Choose a Primary Color

So you've decided what mood you want to create in your home, now think about what color represents this atmosphere for you and is it suitable for this room? For rooms oriented to the south, choose cool shades, and then in the summer this room will be very comfortable. nine0003

Neutral colors like beige, white or gray are a great backdrop for almost any interior. For example, if the windows of the children's room face north and there is not much daylight, you should not paint the walls in chocolate color: even if you add a lot of light details to the interior, this will not save the child from darkness and the feeling that the walls are "pressing". But if you organize an office with an English-style interior in this room, then the color scheme can be quite saturated.

Step #3: One Hundred Shades of White

Of course, not everything is so simple, and there are a huge number of varieties of red, blue or green flowers. Therefore, in the next step, decide on the shade of the selected color. Do you like green? Then decide how it will be - mint, light green, emerald, olive or something else.

Have you decided to make a modern interior and paint everything white? Fine! Just keep in mind that there are also a huge number of shades of white: architectural white, cream, magnolia, snowy, almond, antique and many other beautiful and delicious names. nine0003

Shades of each color can be divided into warm and cold, and this, in turn, will greatly influence the mood that you want to create in the room. In any salon you will always find a palette in which there will be colors with all sorts of shades - gray with beige, green and purple, blue with green, red with blue or yellow . ..

Do you want a neutral color, but do not want a cold sensation? Take, for example, gray with a warm undertone (gray with beige). Try to find examples of interiors with this color. nine0003

Step 4: Paint

Never paint the whole room in the chosen color at once. Even if you are sure that you have found the most beautiful shade and you are madly in love with it, this does not mean that it will remain the same flawless on the walls of your bedroom.

The fact is that you chose the paint based on a small piece of the palette in one light, and the whole room with a different light, painted with the same paint, will look completely different.

Buy samples (200g jars) of several shades of paint you like and use it on sheets of primed drywall that are at least 50 x 50 cm. Label each sheet with the name of the paint. nine0003

Step #5: Checking the Shade

Now you can check how this paint will look on different walls of the room at different times of the day. Each color sample should be held against the wall opposite the window, to the side of the window and to the wall with the window, look at the paint samples in the morning, afternoon and evening, and you will see how the color changes.

When making your choice, also take into account the ability of paint to change space. If you like the color blue, for example, then for a small bathroom where there is no natural light, a very light shade of blue is more suitable, otherwise the entire space of the bathroom will shrink and the walls will put pressure on you. nine0003

Tips for InMyRoom readers