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Outdoor paint colours for house


70 Exterior Paint Colors For a Better Looking Home

Upgrade your curb appeal with paint color ideas that range from neutral to bold

By

Kristin Hohenadel

Kristin Hohenadel

Kristin Hohenadel is an interior design expert who has covered architecture, interiors, and decor trends for publications including the New York Times, Interior Design, Lonny, and the American and international editions of Elle Decor. She resides in Paris, France, and has traveled to over 30 countries, giving her a global perspective on home design.

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Updated on 12/09/22

The Spruce / Almar Creative

Deciding what color to paint your house is a big decision that will have daily consequences for years to come. Choosing a light neutral exterior paint color such as white, beige or gray is a safe bet that won't upset the neighbors and will ensure that your house remains buyer-ready if you don't plan to live in it forever. Darker neutrals such as charcoal or black are a popular choice with a bit more edge but require more elbow grease to repaint if you or your real estate agent decides it's time to brighten the mood.

Timeless, crowd-pleasing colors like blue, yellow, red, or green are go-to exterior paint colors that add a hint of personality without stealing the show. And if you love bold color, live in a place where you are allowed to paint your house any color that you want, and are looking to make a statement, there is a world of vibrant hues to choose from that will give your home some stand-out personality and unforgettable curb appeal.

Here are some wide ranging exterior paint color ideas on a variety of houses in a range of styles and settings that will give you some inspiration for choosing a paint color for your home. Remember that paint colors look different in online image galleries and on paint store swatches than they do in real life, where everything from the time of day to the orientation of your home and the light quality where you live will have an effect on the overall look.

To save yourself from disappointment and unnecessary expense, architect Jimmy Crisp of Millbrook, NY-based Crisp Architects offers this wise piece of advice: "Always paint samples on the exterior before ordering the paint."

Here are 70 exterior paint colors to inspire you.

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What to Consider When Picking a Paint Color for Your House

There are several factors to consider when choosing an exterior paint color, from the history and architectural style of your home to the construction materials used on the facade, to the natural setting and surrounding landscape. It's up to you to decide whether you want an exterior paint color that blends in or provides a vivid contrast, whether you live in a beachfront cottage, a suburban new build, a cabin in the woods, or a historic country farmhouse. While painting the house red can give it a whole new lease on life, keep in mind that you can also create a new mood with something as simple as changing the door color.

FAQ

How to Choose an Exterior Paint Color

What exactly should you keep top of mind when selecting exterior paint for your home? According to designers, there are several factors that you'll want to prioritize before committing to a new color. After all, exterior paint is more of a long term commitment than indoor paint, and we all know the importance of our homes making an excellent first impression from the street. If you're preparing to paint your home in the near future, you won't want to miss reading the following tips that will ensure the process goes smoothly.

Anastasia Casey

Look to Your Surroundings

The next time you step outside, focus in on the homes around you and examine their hues. This can be useful whether you're looking to have your house blend in with neighbors' homes or if you wish for your place to make an unexpected statement. "If there are a bunch of white and gray homes, then a navy blue could be a nice color to stand out," says Linda Hayslett of LH.Designs. "That way, you don't look too similar to other homes in your area."

This concept doesn't just apply to nearby homes, though. Hayslett also finds it helpful to closely examine the surrounding landscape. "Depending on what the natural elements are, you can use the colors of plants and scenery to help determine if you want the exterior to blend in to nature, or pop and stand out," she says. "A home in the desert could blend in with a nice creamy sand color or a house could stand out in the mountains with a nice rich black exterior paint color to go with the thick of the woods and branches. "

Examine Your Interiors

While scoping out the neighborhood can be helpful, you'll also want to evaluate your interiors. "Look to the inside of your home to see what would go with the exterior paint choice," Hayslett says. "It's nice to have a cohesive feel with the interior when it comes to an exterior color." After all, your exterior paint color is what makes a first impression! "It helps set the narrative," Hayslett states. For example, she adds, "If you have dark greens throughout your house then considering something in that family will make your exterior really feel homier."

Plus, in some cases, you may be able to see your exterior paint from indoor rooms, and you won't want the overall result to clash. "In my home, the porch ceiling and columns are visible from my living room, so I made sure to select colors that looked great from that vantage point as well," says Bethany Adams of Bethany Adams Interiors. "Your inside and outside needn't match, just pay attention to bold color choices and make sure you can literally live with them if need be. "

Your decorating style may also play a role in shaping what exterior paint color is best suited to your home. If your style is traditional, Tracy Morris of Tracy Morris Design suggests going for warm neutrals alongside a deep green, black, or navy door and shutters. Transitional decorators may wish to opt for cool neutrals paired with charcoal or purple-based black doors and shutters, and contemporary enthusiasts will want to keep neutral tones in heavy rotation outside, Morris adds.

Greg Powers for Tracy Morris

Test Your Swatches and Make a Mockup

As Anastasia Casey of IDCO Studio states, you won't want to commit to an exterior paint color without giving it a test run first. "Exterior paint colors often appear several shades lighter when applied to the entire house," she shares. "Make sure to test paint swatches and check them throughout the day as the sun shifts."

Creating a mockup that showcases your exterior paint before it is applied is also essential, says Lauren Sullivan of Well x Design. "Seeing everything together first in a small section makes it much easier to visualize and make adjustments—rather than after you've had your entire home painted in a color that doesn't quite work," she explains. Still, renderings are not the end all be all—swatches are still essential. Sullivan notes, "In the end nothing replaces seeing an exterior paint option in real life in the space where it will live."

Paint colors for outdoor use

When choosing paint colors for the facade parts of a building, it is necessary to determine the objectives. If you harmoniously fit the structure into the natural landscape, green and brown tones will do. If, on the contrary, you need to highlight a private house against the background of the surrounding nature, you can use red or orange paint. Correspondence to the architectural tasks of different groups of colors will be discussed below.

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