Selecting the right exterior house colors can be a major decision when it comes to a new build or home renovation. A project’s outer shell serves as a vital first impression and can be a statement in and of itself. Though classic neutral exterior paint colors will never go out of style, there’s something to be said for a bold, saturated hue. AD PRO asked a few professionals from across the industry to share the exterior house colors they tend to use over and over again. Keep reading for their selections—and our tips—for choosing the best exterior paint color. (Looking for even more house color inspiration? Let the AD archive be your guide.)
What are the best exterior house colors?
The truth is, there’s really no one-size-fits all solution. 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.
What are the most popular exterior colors in 2023?
It may come as no surprise that understated neutrals make extremely popular exterior house colors—a short drive through the suburbs makes that clear enough, with shades of white, beige, and gray being very common. Earth tones like olive or sage green and variations of brown also appear prominently in exterior color palettes.
Fall Sale: Become an AD PRO member today and save 40% on an annual membership.
For bolder hues, primary shades (red, yellow, and blue) can work well, depending on the kind of home you’re painting. Craftsman homes, for instance, often feature primary colors, as well as secondary shades like green. In the Mediterranean and in coastal areas, pinks and ochres are popular. Even on homes painted in neutral tones, a bold accent shade on the exterior trim, front door, window frames, garage door, or shutters can offer a delightful pop of color, as you can see in this Normandy-style compound on the California coast. There, French blue window frames and doors help offset the otherwise white exterior.
What exterior colors increase home value?
We’re seeing exterior house colors trend towards more vibrant shades, but 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 PRO 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!” 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.
House Colors to Consider
It’s hard to go wrong with a white exterior, as the versatile color works equally well on historic homes and stark modern ones. “My firm favors Fine Paints of Europe’s Eurolux Housepaint for the quality of the finish, durability, and environmental-friendliness,” says Peter 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.”
For a classic look with a subtle hint of warmness, consider an off-white or ivory paint job. “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.
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.”
Dark blue and blue-gray can be excellent house color ideas for homes in colder climates. “Darker colors are having a moment, especially for home exteriors. Our favorite is French Beret by Benjamin Moore, which blends rich gray and navy for a timeless effect,” notes Dee Elms of Dee Elms Interior Design. “For classic homes, a deep, saturated color will accentuate architectural details like the layering of shingle patterns. On contemporary homes, a dark color can further simplify the form.”
Another great option is Van Deusen Blue by Benjamin Moore. “The Benjamin Moore Historical Color Collection is a staple in our studio, especially given our Boston roots,” says Matthew Woodward of AD PRO Directory–listed firm Hacin. “This particular blue is a foundational shade that works well in both classic and contemporary projects. It pairs beautifully with off-black trim such as Benjamin Moore’s Onyx.”
Pale blue can work in many different contexts, including urban and suburban homes with exteriors in stucco or wood siding. This vibrant 19th-century home in Mérida, Mexico, which was renovated by Chip Bohl of Bohl Architects, features Farrow & Ball’s Parma Gray.
Depending on the context, a black house can either blend in or stand out. In an urban setting, for example, a black townhouse may look bold and unconventional, but a black A-frame house surrounded by pine trees may seem to become one with the forest.
“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.”
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.”
Popular in the Mediterranean, ochre imbues 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.
A pink house may stick out in a place like New York City, but the color is common in coastal areas, including parts of the Mediterranean and the Caribbean—for instance at an eye-catching cottage in the Bahamas. It can work in somewhat surprising locales as well, like the Loire Valley in France, where this charming historic home has a pale pink facade.
Sunny yellow can make for a cheerful house color, especially along the coast. Take, for example, this Palladian-inspired villa in San José del Cabo, Mexico, designed by Marshall Watson Interiors and Stephen Morgan Architect.
Woodward of Hacin recommends India Yellow by Farrow & Ball as “a bold shade that’s not too sunny or sweet.” He adds that the color “has a nostalgic, sepia-toned photo quality that would be perfect for a saltbox Cape house with a weathered gray shingled roof.”
Golden yellow can also be an appealing option for an exterior. The color gave a name to Casa Amarela, a Portuguese colonial-style mansion in São Paulo renovated by Sig Bergamin for Vogue Brazil editor Donata Meirelles and media mogul Nizan Guanaes. Thanks to its warmth, this color is especially appropriate in balmier climates.
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. A paint color like Benjamin Moore’s Caliente—the company’s Color of the Year from 2018—can offer a similar classic shade.
A warm shade of terra-cotta—somewhere between ochre and orange—lends itself well to the color scheme for a home in a Mediterranean or similarly sunny climate. The color works beautifully on this penthouse in a 1930s palazzino in Rome designed by Milan-based designer Cristina Celestino. It also recalls the traditional adobe architecture found in the southwest and some areas in Central and South America.
For wooden houses, it might make sense to stain the exterior siding to showcase the wood, but some muted brown paint can work wonders too. Such is the case at this former Boy Scout camp in Wisconsin, which got a luxe remodel courtesy of architect R. Michael Graham and designer Bruce Fox. As the owner Jennifer Litowitz told AD, “One of my inspirations was a childhood memory of going to family lodges in northern Michigan in the summer.”
Woodward calls London Clay by Farrow & Ball “a go-to color for an earthy, subdued brown with a bit of mystery,” adding, “There is a touch of magenta pigment in the formulation that gives this color a playful ambiguity as the light changes throughout the day.”
