How to Choose Exterior Paint Colors for Your Home

Painting your house is an investment. It’s expensive, time-consuming, and not something you want to do twice. So when you’re deciding how to choose exterior paint colors, you’ve got to get it right the first time.

Thankfully, there are a handful of go-to tips to help you choose paint colors for your house. We’ve put together several of the best, so keep reading to discover how to pick the perfect exterior paint.

Consider the Style of Your House

House colors should accentuate the style of your house. A soft, lavender paint may clash against a French-country style home. A coffee-colored contemporary home may seem out of place, too.

Here’s a quick brief on exterior colors for some of the most common styles:

Cottage: complement brick and wood accents with cool, neutral colors. Think blues, purples, and greens against a crisp, white trim
Craftsman: stick to nature-inspired colors here. Greens, browns, and creams are your friend
Modern: keep things bright and neutral with dark accents on the doors and windows
Ranch: with a lot of exposed wall space, stick to warm, neutral colors

Take Stock of Your Landscape

Choosing the right color for exterior home painting also depends on your landscape. If your house is surrounded by evergreen trees, pick a color (other than green!) that complements them.

In a more desert-like climate, opt for a cooler color that will help your house stand out from the sand and brush. If you want to make your small house stand out amidst a landscape of large foliage, opt for a brighter color. To make a large house seem smaller, choose a darker shade.

Explore Color Trends

Colors, like clothing, can go in and out of style. Grey was a popular color in recent years but is moving over to brighter shades of white now.

Your location in the country may even play a role in determining which colors are trending. Pops of red, orange, and yellow may be popular in south Florida, but they don’t work as well in the Pacific Northwest.

To determine the best color for your house, try exploring current color trends. You can speak with an exterior designer or a painting contractor like Metro Painting to get their advice. You can also research trends online or take a drive through up-and-coming neighborhoods.

Bring Swatches Outside

When you decide on colors for home exterior paint, test them out. Paint a piece of wood in the color of your choice. You may have to layer the paint on fairly thick; just make sure it replicates what you’d do on your house.

Then take the swatch outside and hold it up against your house. Repeat this at different times of the day. Hold up the swatch to the front, sides, and back of your house, too.

Does the color look off to you at noon when the sun is beating against the west-facing side of your home? Or do you like it best only at dusk when the sun is lower in the sky?

You’d be surprised how different a color can look in the sun versus the shade. Find a color that appeals to you at every angle.