Choosing the right exterior paint colors can significantly boost your home’s look and feel. From creamy whites to earthy greens, these hues will make your home welcoming to all visitors.
Selecting a perfect and timeless exterior color is no easy task. We’ve gathered insights from color experts on some of their top paint choices.
Farrow & Ball’s Patrick O’Donnell recommends earthy green hues for trim and shutters, particularly alongside a classic white like School House White. He suggests these earth tones work well, including mossy greens, earth reds, and drab browns.
Amy Crane, a color consultant for Amy Krane Color, highlights warmer whites, like Benjamin Moore’s Swiss Coffee, as timeless options with historical appropriateness. She expresses admiration for deep, muted golds and describes the Historical Collection from Benjamin Moore as a treasure trove for exterior colors.
For a softer look, O’Donnell favors creamy whites such as Farrow & Ball’s Dimity, which can enhance austere stone exteriors by blending with the mortar’s warm tones.
Moving away from basic gray, Crane recommends shades with complex undertones like Knoxville Gray from Benjamin Moore. These colors, she states, are inviting and lively.
Those ready for something bold might consider Farrow & Ball’s Reduced Green, a deep green shade with a modern edge. O’Donnell emphasizes this hue’s charm in transforming traditional styles into something more sophisticated.
Woodstock Tan by Benjamin Moore is recommended by Crane for those looking for an elevated neutral. Such colors bridge various color families, offering hints of gold, khaki, green, and brown.
Olive greens remain a fresh yet neutral choice for longevity, with Benjamin Moore’s Tate Olive suggested as an excellent pick for exteriors.
Consider testing paint swatches on your home to see how they look in different lighting, advises O’Donnell. He encourages moving beyond the ordinary shades of gray and beige towards warmer, rich colors.
No matter the home style, whites remain a versatile choice. Choosing warm whites can add a sense of freshness and suitability. Door and trim colors offer an area for dramatic choices – bold yellows or contrasting colors—theatrical yet tasteful.
A serene, traditional aesthetic can also be achieved by matching trim to the body color, notes Crane. However, don’t shy away from bold choices like a lively door color—muted turquoises, deep reds, or mustards can inject personality while maintaining harmony with surrounding colors.
To find the perfect hue, consider your home’s environment. Imagine the tones of the natural world and integrate them with your home’s exterior elements for a cohesive look, suggests O’Donnell.
