36 Welcoming Exterior House Colors
From traditional to modern, these exterior paint color schemes will instantly boost your home's curb appeal.
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The right exterior house colors can make or break a first impression. “Paint sets the tone for what you want your home to express,” Katie Burnet, an interior designer with Rumor Designs in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, says. “Paint reflects what you want to emphasize as well as what era of architecture you’re trying to represent.” But just like when you’re picking out interior paint colors, you have practically infinite options. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the decision—especially considering what a big, expensive, and highly visible undertaking painting your house can be—you're definitely not alone. That’s why we’ve put together an expert guide to help you choose an exterior color palette you love.
How to Pick Exterior House Colors
This is a scenario when it really pays to take your time and be hands-on. You’ll be living with these colors for the next decade, if you’re lucky, so try not to let anything (your contractor’s schedule included) rush your decision.
Pay Attention to Context
“Consider the surroundings, your climate, and the color of the existing windows, roof, and other elements of the exterior that will not change,” says Burnet. “Ask yourself, ‘What will the paint look like in winter when everything is white? What will it be like in summer when there's green vegetation surrounding it?’”
Sample a Few Combinations
Before you commit to a color, try out several different shades. Explore various color families and multiple options within the same color family. “I recommend actually painting several sample options on your house prior to making a selection,” says Burnet. “If possible, Photoshopping an image of your home is a foolproof way to visualize the effect a new paint color will have. White is always popular, but don't be afraid to try more saturated blues, greens, and even shades of black.”
Check It in Different Lighting
By evaluating paint colors at different times of day, you’ll get a better sense of whether or not you’ll like them in the long run. Even a little cloud cover can completely change how a color looks, turning it from a nice sage green to more of a '70s avocado. Watch how the color looks over the course of a few days or a week. That'll help you decide what exterior paint color combination works best for your style and home. Below, view some of our favorite exterior paint colors for inspiration.
For more house paint help:
Shades of Gray
Give a charming exterior a modern update with various shades of gray paint mixed with natural materials. For House Beautiful’s fifth Whole Home, the exterior was painted using Mole's Breath and Purbeck Stone by Farrow & Ball. Natural stone and architectural windows by Pella complete the Atlanta home’s fresh feel.
Jade and Olive
Allow your home to harmonize with the greenery that surrounds it by creating a jade and olive color scheme, as HGTV stars Ben and Erin Napier did for this Laurel, Mississippi, home. The siding is painted in Rookwood Jade and the porch flooring is in Renwick Olive, both by Sherwin-Williams, to reflect the natural landscape.
White and Seafoam Blue
A bright white base with seafoam blue accents is a tried-and-true color combination. It’s especially ideal for a waterfront property or beach cottage like this Florida home by designer Ashley Gilbreath as it plays into the coastal environment.
Gold
Make it feel like golden hour all the time by color drenching your home in a rich yellow hue. For his family’s Ohio guest house, architect Greg Dutton landed on a golden shade inspired by the goldenrod flowers growing in the surrounding pastures. The siding, trim, and even the stairs take on the warm color, giving the home a welcoming energy.
Related: What Is Color Drenching?
White With Black Accents
Or consider the inverse: white siding with black accents. The shutters and front door of designer Annie Anderson’s Kansas City home, painted in Benjamin Moore Black Forest Green, stand out against siding painted in a custom white. It’s a classic combination that packs a punch without being overdramatic. The black sconces and planters flanking the entry amplify the minimalist flair.
Dark Gray-Green
Go for an earthy color palette of dark gray-green paired with wood and stone for an exterior that feels grounding. For this Michigan home, Liz Hoekzema selected Rock Bottom by Sherwin-Williams. It works nicely with the walnut, oak, soapstone, and marble materials used outside and inside the house.
Off-White and Ink Black
Soften up your home’s exterior with allover off-white. Then add subtle contrast with a distinct black, as designer Shazalynn Cavin Winfrey did for her Texas home by painting the windows and doors in Jet Black by Benjamin Moore. The former parsonage's terra-cotta details and surrounding greenery complete the inviting scene.
Sunrise Yellow and White
If you have a Spanish Mediterranean Revival home, revive the exterior with a shade of yellow that’s reminiscent of a sunrise. It’ll instantly create a welcoming atmosphere. Paint any ornate details white to spotlight those special characteristics, as designer Maggie Cruz did for her Florida house.
Pale Yellow and White
A pale yellow home with white accents is sure to make all who enter, and even those who pass by, smile. For his family’s Florida vacation home, designer Doniphan Moore chose to paint the classic Georgian’s columns in white to contrast with the light yellow walls. Palm trees and bushes make the setting even dreamier.
Golden Yellow
A golden yellow exterior will transform the whole neighborhood’s energy for the better. That’s exactly why Cortney and Robert Novogratz used the shade to revive the exterior of their five-story Art Nouveau building in New York City. It’s much more energizing than the original bubblegum pink exterior.
Ruby Red and Navy Blue
Red and blue can look elegant if you select deep, rich shades rather than vibrant ones. Take inspiration from the New York City building where designer Eliza Crater Harris resides. The ruby red brick exterior features a navy blue painted door, white windows, and a brownstone entry frame. The traditional combination can easily be replicated with red, navy blue, white, and brown paints.
Cream and Burnt Orange
A cream and burnt orange color palette looks especially nice on a Spanish-style home, like the 1926 Los Angeles residence of designer Justina Blakeney. The burnt orange window trim and roofing bring out the warmth in the off-white siding. Lush tropical greenery enhances the welcoming feel.
Warm Gray
If you’re looking for a cross between light and moody, opt for a warm gray exterior paint. It’s not as bright as a soft white or heavy as a jet black. Then add character with clay barrel tile roofing, lantern sconces, and a double-door wrought iron gate, as seen on this home.
Charcoal
Bold, moody, and versatile, charcoal black will never go out of style. As an exterior paint color, it’s sleek and hides any dirt or debris buildup. For the Wyoming home of Emily Janak, the designer chose a black protective coating to update the previously mint green and white one.
Forest Green and White
Take immersing yourself in nature to the next level with a forest green home exterior color. To avoid blending the home into its environment too much, paint the top half forest green and the lower half white, as Marshall Watson Interiors did on this Michigan home.
Bright Yellow, Blue, and White
Yellow and blue are two of the happiest colors. Pair bright versions of them as exterior house colors, and your home will exude a lively energy that’s simultaneously calming. For this San Francisco Victorian, Kelly Finley used Benjamin Moore Imperial Yellow to blend the garage and siding, and Bedford Blue to cover the stairs and front door. White trim helps the architectural details stand out.
Royal Blue, Turquoise, and White
Dabble in subtle color blocking by painting the trim in turquoise, the window shutters in royal blue, and the siding in white. For this São Paulo home, designer Maria Augusta “Guta” Louro chose Calca Jeans on the window shutters and Banho de Espuma on the door and window frames, both from Suvinil. The summery colors play off the charming hanging chairs. It's clean, sophisticated, and fun.
Dovetail and Glacial Green
Bring a fairy-tale-like cottage in the woods to life through dovetail gray siding and glacial green accents. Artist Frances Schultz’s Bee Cottage in East Hampton, New York, is a prime example. The dark brown front door and landscaping (especially over the doorway!) enhance the dreamy locale.
Light Gray, Plum, and White
Keep it classic with a light gray exterior. Use white paint to highlight shutters, and let the star of the show be the front door painted in a plum color. The deep purple, like on this Berkshires ranch house of designer Annie Selke, has a lasting warmth that’ll make anyone who enters feel welcome.
Soft Gray
A soft white paint with gray undertones paired with white accents makes an excellent alternative to an allover white exterior. Paint the siding in a delicate shade, and add slight contrast with stark white accents and a green-blue front door—just as designers Kristin Fine and Analisse Taft-Gersten did for their shop slash event space in the Hamptons.
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