Traditional Home Paint Colors

Greek Revival

• Greek Revival style architecture was hugely popular throughout America from 1825 to 1855. It was the first architectural style that was carried far and wide by a strong national economy, a surge in population and sharp increase in professional architects. Because of this, homes from this period can be found from the Atlantic coast to the Mississippi River. Greek Revival homes were designed with classic Greek temple architecture in mind, meaning the front-facing rooflines are shaped like triangular pediments which are supported by a series of Greek-style columns. Architects often added these elements to otherwise plain, box-style houses. Exterior paint colors were kept very simple. The most traditional choice was white with dark green or black shutters, doors and trim. When painted off-white, ochre, gray or a light earth tone, trim was most often painted a contrasting white.

Colonial Colors

• Since architects began building them before the turn of the century, colonial-style houses have been and continue to be one of the most popular home designs. Characterized by simple lines and noteworthy front doors, colonial style is the antithesis of Victorian style. This opposition is evident in the exterior paint colors. Rather than use a multitude of complementary pastels, colonial homes are traditionally painted an overall neutral or light color, like white, which is punctuated with a bright, stand-out door--such as classic red. Many traditional colonial houses have bright red doors. Colonial home paint schemes can also begin in the opposite direction, using a bright color on the house--such as classic yellow--against an austere black or dark navy door. Other traditional color combinations include light gray with dark green, light brown with red or light yellow or peach with navy blue.

Prefab Colors

• Advertised as the quintessential “modern home,” prefabricated houses were ordered from catalogs from 1908 until the 1930s. Essentially, companies offered a few basic styles that came in endless variations. Many prefab houses were designed by blending different architectural styles, such as the colonial’s boxiness with the Victorian’s ornamentation. One of the easiest way for owners to customize a prefab home and make it unique was with exterior colors. At the time they were built, exterior paint choices were much brighter and richer than today’s typical home colors. For example, a prefab American Arts & Crafts bungalow was painted a deep yellow ochre and trimmed in various colors including cream, white, gray and dark and light brown. Roof colors, like deep brown or burnt brown, typically played a role in overall color design. Although prefab houses were often painted a bold green or a terra cotta red, trim and other accent colors, like cream, light gray and celery, kept the overall look more subdued.