Primitive Home Paint Colors

Whites

• One of the earliest paints was simply whitewash, which is a mixture of lime, salt and water. Although not permanent, whitewash was all some homeowners had access to. It left wood with a bit of grain showing through, in an almost pickled effect. More layers were added to achieve an opaque look. Interiors and furnishings were routinely painted with milk paint, which has a surprisingly hard and durable finish that is possible to reproduce in your kitchen with lime, water and milk. Milk paint also has a matte finish that is sometimes sealed with oils or varnish for sheen. The progression of adding sealers softened the bright white look of milk paint into warmer, creamier hues. A range of whites and soft creams were born from recipes for basic white paint. Although white is arguably not a true color, varying shades of white soften interiors, creating a soothing atmosphere, explains Apartment Therapy. White on the exterior of your home is classic.

Reds

• Homeowners added material for color to white paint, using whatever was in large supply. Many reds developed from the addition of livestock blood. Oxblood paint is usually considered a shade of deep, brick red, but its name is derived from the blood of oxen which colored the paint. Brilliant, vivid red paint was not widely available until modern times. Further back into history, red pigment was obtained from crushed insects by the Aztec culture, but it was expensive, making it cost-prohibitive for painting a house. Later, but prior to 1875, red iron oxide was crushed and ground into linseed oil, becoming an early, oil-based red paint, explains The National Park Service. Deep reds, often with undertones of blue or brown, are considered historically accurate paint colors for some of the oldest homes in America.

Grays

• Black-toned minerals have been used to create tones of gray for centuries, and many are the same minerals found in modern makeup. Although somewhat solemn in appearance, gray is historically accurate and lends itself to many American architectural styles from Colonial to Victorian. Pale shades of gray were common in the mid-1800s, according to American Bungalow. Older gray homes, especially those situated along the coast, are often unpainted, and the wood has weathered to a silvery patina.

Blues, Yellows and Browns

• Blues, yellows and browns are also traditional colors, with many primitive tones leaning toward dark brown, soft tan, rich mustard and dark gray-blues. Certain blue pigments were derived from metals and minerals while yellows often used metallic salts for color. Dark, coffee-toned brown reflects the somber nature of 17th-century colony homes in America. Vivid blues and yellows, along with brighter tones of many other colors, are usually reserved for formal Victorian homes.