10 of the best exterior paint colors according to designers
Settling on an exact paint color for your home’s exterior can be a lengthy process that involves much deliberation. While generally, it’s most common to play it safe with neutral hues, unless your home is listed and local laws stipulate so, there is no rule book shackling you to a limited palette of white.
A good place to start is with the best exterior paints recommended by designers. Knowing that a specific paint color has been tried, tested, and loved can make you more confident that you’re not going to make a potentially very costly mistake. Because once you have decided on the colors for the exterior of a house, the next step is getting the exact paint.
‘Decorating the exterior not only weatherproofs and protects your home, it’s also the perfect opportunity to add design personality to an outdoor space, which is often left as an afterthought once the interior is completed,’ explains Ruth Mottershead, Creative Director at Little Greene So, with that in mind, don’t let the first impression guests get of your home be an afterthought, and get creative with the exterior of your home.
Here, we’ve rounded up ten of the best paints from tried and trusted brands like Sherwin-Williams and Benjamin Moore, as chosen by a whole host of experts.
10 best exterior paints, according to designers
It’s clear that shades of off-white paint are the most popular for exterior paint trends, so if you’re looking for the perfect shade, these paint ideas have you covered.
‘Exterior decorating trends are very much following those we are seeing in interiors, with rich warm hues and earthy natural colors being embraced alongside joyful year-round sunny yellows,’ explains Ruth Mottershead. That said, it is worth considering the longevity of your color choice, and if you will love it in five years as much as you do today, since it will take more than a lick of paint to switch out.
‘Choosing an exterior paint is tricky because the placement of angled lighting or sun will make the color vary throughout the day,’ warns interior designer Eugenia Triandos, Principal Designer at Hibou Design & Co.
‘It is very important that you test a large swatch prior to committing. Keep in mind that every small undertone becomes much more apparent on the exterior, so nothing too bright should be used.’
1. Jackson Tan, Benjamin Moore
Design by Stephanie Larsen. Paint: Jackson Tan, Benjamin Moore
(Image credit: Laura Moss)
For this home set in the Arizona desert, interior designer Stephanie Larsen wanted to ensure the building worked harmoniously with the natural landscape beyond.
If you’re wondering how to decorate with earthy colors, don’t forget your home’s exterior is a great opportunity to weave in warm, rustic tones reminiscent of the natural world.
‘We love to mix brown and blue for exterior painting as we did for this Sedona home, where we used Benjamin Moore Harbor Fog 2062-70 paired with Benjamin Moore Jackson Tan HC-46, which reflects both sunrise and sunset in the desert,’ explains Stephanie
2. Rose Petal Pink, Dulux
Design by Rebekah Higgs. Paint: Rose Petal Pink, Dulux.
This joy-sparking pink home was designed by Rebekah Higgs, when she decided that her Canadian city would not benefit from another neutral house.
‘Halifax, Nova Scotia, is a city of colorful houses – a kaleidoscope of blues, yellows, and, most joyfully, pinks,’ explains Rebekah ‘For years, I’d pass certain iconic pink homes in my neighbourhood and feel an instant lift. There’s something about the shade that radiates warmth and whimsy, a quiet rebellion against the ordinary. So when it came time to paint my 1922 Craftsman, I knew I wanted mine to join that beloved list. So I threw caution to the salty coastal wind and coated the entire exterior in Rose Petal Pink by Dulux.
‘The transformation was a pure delight. Against the white windows and gray stone foundations – a nod to the home’s heritage – the pink glows like a seashell at sunrise and matches our sunsets. Copper gutters added warmth, while a light wood door keeps it grounded. Now, when passersby smile or pause to take pictures, I feel it: my house has become part of Halifax’s pink legacy. And that’s the thing about color, it doesn’t just cheer you up; it stitches your home into the story of a place.’
3. Wedgewood Gray, Benjamin Moore
Walls: Wedgewood Gray HC-146 / Door: Hawthorne Yellow HC-4 / Shutters: Hazy Skies OC-48, all Benjamin Moore
(Image credit: Benjamin Moore)
Wedgewood gray is bizarrely not a gray paint at all, but a pale blue reminiscent of the utterly iconic Wedgewood Jasperware we all know and love.
If you’re a big fan of the Nancy Meyers aesthetic and adore the fresh and timeless blue and white coastal color schemes, Wedgewood gray is the embodiment of this look, and a failsafe option to go for. Far from a fleeting paint trend, this classic color will have plenty of longevity for years to come.
‘Wedgewood Gray is a soft and serene hue that balances between blue and gray,’ explains Arianna Barone, Color Marketing Manager at Benjamin Moore. ‘It has just enough blue to bring a soothing touch of color, and its gray undertones provide added versatility. I love to use this color on exteriors. Pair it with a crisp white trim for a coastal vibe or opt for a traditional look when paired with more neutral trim and accents.’
4. Mopboard Black, Benjamin Moore
Mopboard Black, Benjamin Moore
(Image credit: Benjamin Moore)
For contemporary homes with architectural pedigree, painting the exterior black is a fantastic, albeit daring, choice. Although the thought of a house painted in a jet of black paint would appear very dramatic and bold, black paint can actually help a house blend into its surroundings, especially in areas with lots of greenery.
‘For cabins, or homes nestled in the woods, Benjamin Moore Mopboard Black is a favorite. It’s a deep charcoal, without feeling too polished,’ says Jen Bienvenu of J. Bienvenu Interiors.
5. Sylvan PPG Paints
The vertical board and batten around the garage area is painted in PPG – Plunge Pool (PPG1029-7) and all other exterior siding is painted in PPG – Sylvan (PPG1032-4).
(Image credit: Drees Homes: www.dreeshomes.com)
Sage green is a deeply soothing and versatile color that offers a calming and natural aesthetic that can be incorporated into various design styles and spaces. Gray is a failsafe, unassailable option for exterior paintwork. If you adore the cottagecore trend or like to think of your home as in keeping with the modern cottage style, then this marriage of the two, a creamy greenish gray paint, is the perfect exterior paint choice.
Sylvan by PPG Paints is an attractive earthy sage green paint that is remarkably versatile; it pairs well with a variety of materials and styles, including light and dark wood, white, natural stone, and other natural materials, making it easy to integrate
This attractive family home in Nashville, Tennessee is a marvelous example of the color in action, ‘We selected a sage green shade for the exterior because we wanted to choose an unexpected color, as white exterior is so popular in the Nashville area.’ explains Kristy Bauer, Senior Design Consultant at Drees Homes.
‘This home is surrounded by farmland and lots of greenery, so we felt these exterior colors would stand out from the expected while blending in seamlessly with its surroundings.’
6. Shoji White, Sherwin-Williams
(Image credit: Vernich Interiors, photography Paige Rumore)
On this home’s exterior, designer Connie Vernich of Vernich Interiors used Sherwin-Williams’ Shoji White to create a classic look.
‘It’s a beautiful light greige color that appears as an off-white,’ explains Connie. ‘It looks fantastic paired with Sherwin-Williams Iron Ore which is a dark gray paint. The contrast is beautiful.’
7. White Dove, Benjamin Moore
(Image credit: Vernich Interiors)
If you’re looking for the best white paint for your home’s exterior, consider Benjamin Moore’s White Dove, which was used at this farmhouse by Vernich Interiors. Described by Connie Vernich as ‘the perfect white’, this classic paint color seems just as popular for exteriors as it is for inside homes.
‘It’s my go-to color for both interiors and exteriors because it is not too “in your face” and has a little beige and gray in it,’ explains Connie, who continued this paint inside the farmhouse too for a cohesive look.
8. Caribbean Blue Water, Benjamin Moore
(Image credit: Betsy Wentz Interior Design/Carmel Brantley)
For interior designer Betsy Wentz, Benjamin Moore’s historical collection is full of favorite paint colors for home exteriors.
‘Any of the historical colors would work well for an exterior,’ says Betsy. ‘My personal favorite for a whole house is Boothbay Gray, and for a porch ceiling, it’s Palladian Blue.’
‘I also love to add a pop of color to the front door ideas,’ says Betsy, who opted for Caribbean Blue Water here, a turquoise color that fits perfectly for summer.
9. Revere Pewter, Benjamin Moore
(Image credit: Caroline Kopp Interior Design, photo Laura Moss)
Another take on decorating with neutrals, beige colors can be less intense than white and integrate more seamlessly into a home’s surroundings, such as Benjamin Moore’s Revere Pewter.
‘Revere Pewter is a great exterior color for those of us who like our beige to be very neutral,’ says interior designer Caroline Kopp. ‘This color is a soft warm beige but not so warm that it reads yellow. It looks great behind plantings and here we paired it with White Dove on the trim which overall reads very soft and inviting.’
10. Swiss Coffee, Benjamin Moore
(Image credit: Benjamin Moore)
Another favorite white paint for the exterior of a home is Benjamin Moore’s Swiss Coffee, which has a warm undertone, and designers say it works well against bright sunlight.
‘It has a warmth to it so it’s not a cold blue-white and leans more traditional than modern,’ says designer Sarah Latham of Latham Interiors.
Designer Bethany Adams agrees, adding that ‘anything else comes off as too stark in bright sunlight’ and that it is ‘just warm enough to cut the glare without veering towards ivory or cream’.
Looking for more help with your exterior paint colors? Take a look at designers’ rules for choosing the best exterior paint for your home which will ensure your color choices are the right fit for your home’s unique setting.
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