Suggested Exterior Home Paint Colors

Neutral Color Schemes

• If your home has a great deal of architectural detail, a neutral color scheme lets the shapes and shadows created by the details stand out and presents a timeless appeal. Select an eggshell brown or candlelight yellow for the walls and a sage green for the trim. If you prefer cooler colors, choose a dusty gray for the walls and a dark blue for the trim. To add a pop of color to either color scheme, go with a deep red for the front door.

Contrasting Color Schemes

• White walls and black trim with a navy blue door add punch to a home whose architecture may lack detail. Exteriors with contrasting colors stand out and provide opportunity for bringing in lots of color in the landscaping. Yellow walls with maroon trim, green walls with red trim and blue walls with orange trim all create contrast and visual interest. Use the same color as the trim for the front door to maintain balance, or add a wood stain to the door for added color.

Environmental Color Schemes

• Your surroundings are filled with color, whether it is urban, suburban or rural. Look to either the natural landscapes or man-made settings to find color combinations for the exterior of your home. Slate gray walls with brick red trim and a black door reflect urban settings while mossy green walls with sunny yellow trim and a white door blend well with rural landscapes. Suburban areas are often a mix of the two. Sky blue walls with slate gray trim echo that mix. Complement the scheme with a black or red door.

Monochromatic Color Schemes

• Selecting various shades of the same color makes for a visually calming appeal. If your home is surrounded by a color-filled landscape, a monochromatic scheme is more likely to stand out amid the myriad of colors and textures. Select one color, and paint the walls with either one of the lighter shades of that color or one of the darker shades. Paint the trim the opposite shade. For homes with little architectural detail or that sit low to the ground, paint the walls the darker color. If the home is larger or more detailed, use the darker shade for the trim and the lighter shade for the walls. With either combination, paint the front door a contrasting color to give the scheme a visual pop.