18 Exterior House Colors That Add Major Curb Appeal
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Exterior house colors may not be the sexiest part of your renovation efforts, but choosing the right exterior paint color can make a big difference. “Repainting the exterior of your home is one of the most impactful and budget-friendly ways to enhance curb appeal,” explains Nina Lichtenstein, founder of Custom Home Design by Nina Lichtenstein in Thornwood, New York. “A new coat of paint can completely refresh the look of your property, creating a polished first impression and potentially increasing its value, especially if you’re preparing to sell. Not only does it improve aesthetics, but it also protects your home’s exterior, making it a smart investment that can last for years.”
Consumers have seemingly embraced this ethos and are taking their paint budget outside. According to Marine Sargsyan, a staff economist at Houzz, upgrading a home’s exterior paint is a top priority during outdoor projects. In fact, according to the 2024 US Houzz Outdoor Trends Study, nearly three in five homeowners upgraded their home’s exterior wall surface (58%) this past year.
Ahead, here are 18 exterior paint color ideas that are sure to delight and dazzle along with answers to frequently asked questions.
What is the most popular color for a house exterior?
Among homeowners painting exterior wall colors, Sargsyan shares that the 2024 US Houzz Outdoor Trends Study found neutrals are the top choice, specifically white (23%), gray (19%) and beige (10%). “This is reflective of what we’re seeing in interior spaces, creating a consistent palette for the whole house,” says Sargsyan, who concedes that some homeowners still embrace colors such as black (8%), green (8%), blue (4%), red (3%), yellow (3%), and even orange (1%). “Popular trim colors include white (28%), black (22%), and green (13%),” she adds, pointing out that, perhaps surprisingly, the majority of renovating homeowners (71%) choose a wall color that contrasts with the trim color for their exterior wall color scheme.
Echoing that sentiment of neutral color preferences, Lichtenstein shares that one of the most popular exterior house colors right now is a soft, warm white like Benjamin Moore’s White Dove or Sherwin-Williams’s Alabaster. “These shades are gaining popularity not just inside homes but also for exteriors, as they strike the perfect balance between a clean, modern aesthetic and a warm, inviting feel,” she explains. “The versatility of these warm neutrals allows them to complement various architectural styles, and they pair beautifully with darker accents, which adds to their appeal in contemporary and classic designs alike.”
Similarly, Eva Lindsell Andersen, principal of Gilded Antler Interiors in Greenville, South Carolina, states that she’s seeing a tremendous amount of white as of late. “Even beyond the modern farmhouse look, clients still want that crisp, traditional exterior. Most are selecting Sherwin Williams Pure White or Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace for this clean, bright look,” she says. Emily Kantz, color marketing manager at Sherwin-Williams, agrees that Pure White is popular among homeowners. It’s a “versatile, bright white has the slightest yellow undertone that keeps it from appearing too stark.” She also suggests Greek Villa SW 7551, which she describes as a “sunny white that comes to life in natural light, making it the ideal color for exterior, especially on trims to make other colors pop.”
According to Kantz, this hue would be fun to pair with a different front door color for a pop of personality. You might want to consider painting your garage door a different color, too. (While painting your entire home exterior may be out of the question, painting your door trim a bright shade or adding white trim around windows may make for a quick weekend DIY project.) Lindsell Andersen also believes that colors with warm undertones work well for the exterior, and suggests shades like Sherwin Williams’s Accessible Beige or Benjamin Moore’s Revere Pewter.
What color is best for the outside of a house?
The short answer: The best exterior paint color for your home depends on the aesthetic you seek.
The longer answer: The best exterior paint ideas will depend on a number of factors, ranging from the location of the house to its architectural style. What works for a seafront villa in a warm climate won’t necessarily work for a rustic barn-style home in the woods, a suburban Victorian, or a townhouse in the city.
First, you’ll need to check to see if there are any restrictions on the house paint colors in the area, which could be the case in historic districts or gated communities. You should also consider the materials used to construct the home, such as brick, wood shingles or siding, stone, or terra-cotta roof tiles. You may also want to take the neighbors into account so that the home doesn’t stick out too much from theirs—unless that’s the goal, of course.
“The best color for the outside of a house depends on the style, location, and personal preference,” Lichtenstein echoes. Overall, she, like other designers we tapped, believes that neutral tones like soft grays, whites, and beige tend to be the safest bets. “These colors create a timeless look, enhance curb appeal, and are generally appealing to a broad range of potential buyers,” she says. “Neutrals also provide a great backdrop for bolder accent colors, allowing for flexibility in how you style the exterior with doors, shutters, or landscaping. Additionally, these shades reflect light, making homes look larger and more inviting.”
Lindsell Andersen suggests “neutral colors that are appropriate to your particular region.” To that point, she believes warm beiges with brick or stone accents, soft charcoals, and greens are always a beautiful choice. From a practical perspective, Kantz notes that homeowners who live in warm climates year-round might consider going for lighter colors to avoid heat retention that could make the interior of a home warmer and result in higher cooling costs. In general, Kantz also recommends sticking to neutrals, such as whites, grays, and blacks when it comes to exteriors, and adding a touch of your own personality through trims, front doors, and outside decor.
What exterior colors last the longest?
Another case for applying whites or lighter neutral colors to your home’s exterior: “White paint colors have the longest longevity for exteriors,” says Kantz. “With its ability to coordinate with a variety of architectural styles from modern to traditional, white exteriors have an almost chameleon quality to them because they work with so many different exterior finishes and just about any color combination.” White exterior colors such as Pure White SW 7005, Alabaster SW 7008, or Snowbound SW 7004 are often preferred colors of many that live in the sunnier climates due to the constant sun exposure, she adds.
Neutrals have staying powers too. “The lighter colors reflect light and tend to hold up better, whereas a darker color absorbs heat and will fade and age faster than a lighter one,” says Lindsell Andersen. “Darker colors show more pollen and dirt and have to be cleaned more frequently.” Talk with your contractor about any specific concerns various paint colors may present in your area and to get a sense of what hues may have the best durability.
What exterior colors increase home value?
A classic white or other neutral may be the safer bet when it comes to resale value. Jennifer Patchen, a broker at Opendoor, shares with AD that “neutral and warm tones” are preferred exterior shades right now for houses on the market. “As a general rule, the exterior color of the home should complement other homes in the neighborhood,” she says. “Otherwise, it might stick out like a sore thumb!” For those looking to sell, she suggests opting for a beige, tan, or camel color that will act as a neutral canvas that can create a positive first impression for buyers. And according to data from Opendoor, the preference for subdued shades extends to the front door as well, with 44% of homeowners valuing white, gray, gray-blue, and gray-green at an entrance.
What exterior paint colors should you avoid?
Again, that’s a matter of personal style preferences so there’s no hard and fast rule for house paint colors that are off the table.
Still, paint experts like Kantz recommends keeping this important guideline in mind: “Since exterior painting projects often take up a lot more time, effort, and resources than an interior project, I would recommend homeowners avoid picking colors that they aren’t 100% sure they can see themselves enjoying for more than a few years,” says Kantz. “For this reason, I’d steer clear of colors that seem too trendy at the moment, such as bold or bright shades, and stick to those that have stood the test of time,” she elaborates. If someone feels strongly about adding a bright color to their exterior or one they’re less confident it, she suggests saving that for the front door, which can easily be swapped out over a shorter period.
Photo: Scott Bergmann1/18Deep Ocean
Isn’t this shade of blue captivating? “The exterior of this home has bleached walnut and reclaimed wood accents, as well as black windows and board formed concrete,” describes Lindsell Andersen. “We wanted a color that would pull all of those contrasting textures and finishes together, and it needed to look great in all four seasons, especially the long, cold winters in Saratoga Springs [in New York].” That’s why Lindsell Andersen and her team settled on Deep Ocean Blue by Hardie Board: “The blue looks beautiful in the summer against the green leaves and trees, and it’s equally welcoming in the winter framed by gray skies and fresh white snow,” the designer adds.
Photo: Aimee Mazzenga2/18Forest Green
For this Michigan cottage, Lucas Goldbach, partner and design director at En Masse Architecture and Design in Chicago, and his colleagues achieved eye-catching results by applying Benjamin Moore Sherwood Forest 2048-10 on the siding and Benjamin Moore Onyx 2133-10 trim.
“The design opted for a home that would blend into the tree line and meadow in the lush green summer months and not distract from its lake setting. In the winter, the home is set apart from the snowy landscape,” says Goldbach. He also adds that the contrasting black trim was selected to provide articulation and to emphasize the porch-like structure. “Bringing further emphasis to the trim makes the home feel more quaint and cottage-like,” he adds.
Photo: Waleed Shah3/18Bright White
Choosing white as an exterior paint color can make a strong statement, especially when paired with contrasting trim and details. “I took a standard Palm Jumeirah, Dubai, villa and combined it with the cool, natural feel of Mykonos where temperatures can soar to similar heights. We stripped the render off the exterior walls, and curved and smoothed every single corner on the exterior with natural cement,” says Jamie Brooks, cofounder of BBH in Dubai. Then, the team at BBH painted the villa with bright white paint to reflect the sun.
Photo: Susan Teare4/18Mountain Sage
Another project of Lindsell Andersen’s, this lake house haven belongs to an artist and is located on land that had been owned by her family for several generations. “Our custom new construction home is located in a grove full of evergreens, and we wanted a color that was rich enough to stand alone, but also blend in with its surroundings,” Lindsell Andersen says. She opted for Mountain Sage Hardie Board accented by red cedar and Benjamin Moore Black Jack on the trim to “create a modern lake house [that] feels at home in its natural surroundings.”
More broadly, green paint can be a good choice in a range of contexts and architectural styles, from Craftsman-style to Cape Cod homes. “We love to work with medial colors—colors that can shift how they are perceived, like an emotion or a memory,” says James Carse of ALAO. “Decatur Street Aqua by Sherwin Williams [a color locally available in New Orleans, similar to Sherwin-Williams’s Haven] changes throughout the day—it’s warm in the afternoon sun and cool under the evening’s street lights. In a satin finish, the paint limits highlights and absorbs the shadows and [the colors of] its surroundings, giving it even greater depth.”
Photo: Pieter Estersohn5/18Yellow
Casa Verdad, a Palladian-inspired villa in San José del Cabo, Mexico, was created by Marshall Watson Interiors in collaboration with Stephen Morgan Architect. The yellow exterior was chosen to reflect the colors of the landscape.
In a similar vein, ochre is another sunny shade that can imbue a home with a romantic ambiance. A traditional version of the shade can be seen on Frédéric Fekkai and Shirin von Wulffen’s vacation home near Aix-en-Provence, which was renovated by architect Jean Paul Bernard and decorator Jean-Louis Raynaud. As Raynaud explains, they were tasked with harmonizing the lifestyle of the homeowners with “the spirit of an 18th-century Aix summer house.” A hue like Farrow and Ball’s archive shade Dutch Pink offers a similar look.
Photo: Drees Homes6/18Dark Gray
Jennifer Harkai, Drees Homes Design Center manager in Nashville, credits PPG’s Summer Shadow shade for providing an opportunity to go bold, “setting our home apart from the typical all-white modern farmhouses commonly found in the area.” Plus, says Harkai, the moody exterior, combined with warm cedar accents, Domino brick and Ironstone fascia and soffit, has been a favorite among those seeking striking curb appeal.
Photo: Scott Bergmann7/18Off Black
As Lindsell Andersen shares, the scale of this home required something other than the expected white or red usually seen on a farmhouse. So, the team opted for Benjamin Moore’s Raccoon Fur. “It’s an off-black with violet undertones, which allows it to reflect light in an extremely versatile manner for a darker hue,” she says. “By keeping nearly all the trim monochromatic, we allow the stonework and the copper work to pop against the darker mass of the home,” adds Lindsell Andersen. Fun fact: This historical colonial home now sits at the crest of rolling hills on a thoroughbred farm in upstate New York, but was originally in Vermont.
Photo: Brian Madden8/18Blue-Gray
For a serene exterior paint color choice, consider a bluish gray. Or better yet, various shades of this hue. “Using different shades of blue-gray across various siding styles and architectural elements adds depth and visual interest to your home’s exterior,” says Lichtenstein. Per the interior designer, a darker blue-gray for the main body, chimneys, and prominent features draws the eye upward and around the structure, whereas applying a mid-tone blue-gray to roof peaks and beneath windows can make these elements stand out. She suggests using lighter shades as accents above or below the darker tones to provide contrast and highlight specific architectural features. “White fascia and trim strategically placed throughout enhance these distinctions, emphasizing the layered effect for a sophisticated, cohesive look,” further comments Lichtenstein.
Photo: Matthew Millman9/18Metallic Black
How about this jewel from AD Pro Directory Member David Thompson, principal and Founder of Assembledge+? This residence is clad in cement board siding, finished in a rich black hue by Benjamin Moore that imparts a subtle metallic sheen to the exterior. “The deep color adds depth, extending the perceived length of the walls and amplifying the sense of spaciousness. Accented with Western Red Cedar and framed by expansive floor-to-ceiling windows, the design exudes a refined, moody elegance, creating a captivating interplay of materials and natural light,” the designer says.
Photo: Gavin Cater10/18Neutrals
For the body of this home, Barrett Cooke, principal designer at Arterberry Cooke, an architecture firm based in Los Angeles and Austin, used Barnwood Grey by Behr complemented by Dakota Shadow by Benjamin Moore for the front door. “Both of these colors are timeless, elevated, and elegant. The two colors paired together are not too overpowering and balance each other out,” she says of the elegant yet understated color scheme. “The green door is an earthy neutral color that looks beautiful with the lush greenery that surrounds the home.”
Photo: Pascal Chevallier11/18Soft Green
The exterior of the Romany caravan that designer Jacques Grange transformed into a guesthouse at Pierre Bergé’s Normandy home is painted in a soft green, allowing it to blend into the landscape.
Photo: NativeHouse Photography12/18Beige
Lori Paranjape, principal designer of Mrs. Paranjape Interiors + Design in Nashville, wows us with this chic tan. “We selected Benjamin Moore Kangaroo AF-145 after extensive sampling,” says Paranjape, adding that she was looking for a tan that didn’t read yellow or red. “I kept coming back to Kangaroo for the rich undertones and velvety appearance,” she continues. Here, Paranjape and her team used the same hue for trim and fascia to avoid creating too much contrast. “For the shingles, we used wood with similar tones to keep the contrast low and further the neutrality,” she comments. The metal tones for the house (gutters, downspouts, windows, and doors) are bronze for a “warmth that we couldn’t get with black metal.”
Beige or other off-white hues are a favorites among other designers, too. “A particular favorite white paint is Benjamin Moore’s Swiss Coffee. It has a warmth without being creamy, which harmonizes well with both the summer landscape and also fall colors, never being too stark,” says Scott Sottile of Ferguson & Shamamian Architects, adding, “A dark green shutter is a perfect complement.” Or try White Dove by Benjamin Moore, which AD PRO Directory–listed architect Amie Sachs recommends paired with white trim in satin.
Photo: Andrew Wrisley13/18Brown
For this gorgeous mountain home, Sarah Latham, principal of Latham Interiors in Sun Valley, Idaho, referenced the coloring in local natural stone and wood combinations to clad the exterior in an earthy brown which offsets the dark metal roof and window frames. To better integrate the home into the landscape, “The design team utilized natural elements in the exterior color palette,” adds Latham.
Photo: Timothy Hursley14/18Red
The architectural archetype of the red barn can be found everywhere from Vermont to Sweden. Though the hue can range from bright cherry red to more muted tones of burgundy, red works exceptionally well on rustic country homes like this 19th-century barn transported from Canada to Connecticut and renovated by Russell Groves.
For the residence she designed near Lake Michigan, architect Margaret McCurry created a modern interpretation of the farm structures in the surrounding area, and the cherry exterior is a spin on the traditional barn hue. A paint color like Benjamin Moore’s Caliente—the company’s Color of the Year from 2018—can offer a similar classic shade.
Photo: Joshua McHugh15/18Black
Jonathan Adler and Simon Doonan took a cue from the Rolling Stones and painted their Shelter Island, New York, home black. According to Doonan, they were inspired by the single-story charcoal-colored structures they had seen in Japan and appreciated their ability to blend into the landscape.
Notably, all-black houses are increasingly becoming more popular. “We’ve designed many modern farmhouses and understated neutral homes, but I love an exterior color that makes a statement,” AD100 architect Nicole Hollis says, explaining that she used Black Tar by Benjamin Moore on her own abode. “I selected Black Tar for our San Francisco home to give the classic Italianate a bold, dramatic look. The dark exterior color also enhances and highlights the architectural detailing.”
Photo: Richard Powers16/18Gray
The market has a hearty crop of grays to choose from, whether it’s dove gray, greige, or a black charcoal shade. The effect can be subtle or bold, depending on the hue you choose. On the pale side, Sachs recommends Annapolis Gray by Benjamin Moore, which she says pairs well with trim in Benjamin Moore’s Sail Cloth.
But don’t be afraid to go for a deeper, more dramatic option, says Christine Gachot of AD100 firm Gachot Studios. “We have several homes right now that we are painting a very dark gray, such as Benjamin Moore’s Black Panther, the inspiration for which is a Japanese burnt-cedar technique called shou sugi ban,” she notes. “The effect is to turn a home into a graphic shadow, playing in sharp contrast off of snow or playing more harmoniously with green nature in the warmer months. It’s a statement without being a statement, because it’s a cohesive design gesture but executed in a relatively neutral tone.”
For producer Brian Grazer’s Santa Monica home, architect Mark Rios pared the existing structure down to simple barn-inspired forms and clad the exterior in cedar, which he stained gray to complement the slate roof.
Photo: Ngoc Minh Ngo17/18Pink
The pale pink exterior of this Bahamian cottage, complemented by crisp white trim, plays beautifully against the lush landscape and the striking turquoise of the adjacent pool. Designed by Andrew Raquet Interior Design, the home also features Chinese Chippendale–style furniture that complements the space’s light and airy feel. Though often associated with the Mediterranean and the Caribbean, the hue can work in somewhat surprising locales as well, like the Loire Valley in France, where this charming historic home has a pale pink facade.
Photo: Pieter Estersohn18/18White
Architect Peter Pennoyer and interior designer Katie Ridder chose classic white paint for the exterior of their Greek Revival weekend home in Millbrook, New York, and accented the crisp shade with deep blue shutters.
“My firm favors Fine Paints of Europe’s Eurolux Housepaint for the quality of the finish, durability, and environmental-friendliness,” says Pennoyer of AD100 firm Peter Pennoyer Architects. “My favorite color is 0001 White, which gives exterior walls and woodwork crisp shadows but has a mellow depth that reflects changing light and weather. The subtle transformation from soft and warm to crisp and cool off-white as it reflects the seasons and environment make it an ideal finish for country houses.”
