Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Inspiration

Need a new color scheme for your house? Try these top-rated exterior hues

Shannon Cooper
By

Whether you’re planning to sell your house soon or it’s simply time for an update, the right exterior paint color can have a massive impact. The color you choose can improve your home’s curb appeal and help spruce up the entire neighborhood. Plus, selecting a high-value hue can make your home sell faster and earn you more money, too. But unlike painting an interior, there are a number of factors to consider when selecting your house color. Use these tips to choose the right color palette and check out some of our favorite (and most profitable) color schemes for houses.

White Cape Cod style house with red roof
Hussain / Adobe Stock

Tips for choosing an exterior color palette

Are you asking yourself, “How do I choose a color scheme for a new house?” Here are a few suggestions to help you find the right palette for your home.

Recommended Videos

Design around existing features

Unless you’re planning a total renovation, you won’t be able to alter the colors of your roof shingles or tiles, pathways, driveways, or stonework. When selecting a new paint color, keep the hues of these features in mind. Look for the undertones of these elements and select paint colors that will bring them together cohesively.

Related

Consider the house’s style

In addition to the existing elements, you should also think about the house’s architectural style. Your paint choice should feel appropriate for the type but not dated. While you don’t have to stick to historical guidelines, the color combinations can create an aesthetically pleasing look. Most paint manufacturers have historically accurate color collections to inspire you. Or you can research your home style online. Use these sources as inspiration for your palette.

Select multiple colors

Exterior paint palettes have three basic parts. The field color is the primary house color. Then there’s the accent color used for doors, shutters, and other small areas, and the trim color used for railings, window and door casings, roof edging, and other trim. Typically, the trim color contrasts with the field color. Don’t be afraid to go bold for the accent color, as long as the hue doesn’t overwhelm.

Test the paint samples

Exterior paint can look significantly different on your house than it does on the paint chip. The best way to determine if you like your paint choice is to test it on the house. Buy a quart of the paint and apply it in an inconspicuous area. Examine it at different times of the day and in various weather conditions to get a feel for how it will look on your house.

Gray-blue house exterior
Iriana Shiyan / Adobe Stock

Color combos to consider

What colors look good together on a house? Here are a few ideas to help inspire your exterior color palette.

White and dark

When it comes time to sell your home, classic neutral paint colors provide the largest ROI, thanks to their mass appeal. Stick with the tried and true classic combo of white with dark trim. You can add a pop of color with a bright accent color or increase your profit even more with a charcoal, smoky, or jet black-colored door. A 2018 report from Zillow looked at 135,000 photos of sold homes around the country and found that homes with these door colors sold for $6,271 more than expected.

Blue-gray

Shades of blue and gray have grown in popularity over the past few years. A blue-gray shade for your field color pairs nicely with neutral trim or complements natural textures like stonework and wood trim.

Green

Rich greens like sage and olive are trendy inside and outside the home, but they look especially great on the exterior of Craftsman-style homes. Match the green with beige or cream trim and a dark accent color for a stunning look.

Black

Black is a striking choice that works particularly well on modern and minimalist homes. The neutral shade works well with natural textures and most colors. You may want a lighter color for the trim and accent to create contrast, or you can lean into the contemporary look with a monochromatic gray color palette.

Go bold

While bold color choices may not appeal to all buyers, you can make your home stand out with an unexpected color pairing. You can mix and match primary colors, pair a bright field color with grounding neutrals, or select trim and accent colors that wouldn’t ordinarily be found together on an exterior color palette.

Modern neutrals

As mentioned, neutral shades are usually the safest choice for exterior paint. But this doesn’t mean they have to be boring. Choose a modern neutral like greige or peach for the field color. Match it with a classic white trim and a bold burgundy accent color.

Colors to avoid

The Zillow report found that houses painted a bright, creamy yellow sold for $3,408 less than other homes. So, if you’re looking for a new hue, stay away from this controversial shade.

There’s a lot more that goes into selecting an exterior paint than just picking out your favorite color. You’ll need to consider the unchangeable colors already on your property, your home’s architectural style, and the ROI of the paint color. With these factors in mind, you can start browsing paint samples at the hardware store, using our favorite color combos as a springboard for your own ideas. With just a little bit of effort, you’ll soon have the best-looking house on the block.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Shannon Cooper
Shannon Cooper
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Shannon Cooper has written about everything from pet care and travel to finance and plumbing in her seven years as a writer…
The 3 living room paint colors all the trendiest experts are using
Living room paint colors you need in your home
Modern Scandinavian living room style

When it comes to choosing paint color, it can feel overwhelming with all the choices available. So much depends on the amount of light in your room, whether you're looking to brighten up the space or add more character and mood, and finding the perfect shade to complement the rest of your decor. Living room colors are some of the most important in the home because this is the space where you entertain and gather.

If you find that staring at the color wheels in your local hardware store is causing you stress, you're not alone. Color can look entirely different in the store than in your home, so bring as many samples home to see them "in real life" before you buy. If you need help with what's trending for living room paint colors, keep reading.

Read more
Time for a new bedroom accent color? These are our 4 favorites for fall
You will love these bedroom accent wall colors that are perfect for fall moods
Couple posing with paint rollers in front of painted white wall

Fall is well on its way, and if you're anything like us, you're already planning all your home remodeling projects for the season. Many remodeling projects focus on the public-facing areas of your house — updating appliances, decor, and furnishings to better cater care to your guests. But it's always a great idea to use a fraction of your renovation budget on yourself. If you're looking to redecorate one or many rooms, consider transforming the bedrooms with a new coat of paint. Your bedroom is meant to be an escape from the day — a place to rest, recharge, and get some much-needed peace from the outside world. Make it your own with one of our favorite bedroom accent wall colors.

There are some inviting and fun colors that are on-trend for the cozy, cool season, and these hues are sure to revamp the space, whether you paint the whole room or just a single accent wall. These accent colors for your bedroom are bold but versatile, so they can work with most decor as long as you know what you're doing.

Read more
What colors go with gray? How to make a neutral hue pop in your home
Make gray walls work for your home decor with complementary colors
Modern living room with gray walls and yellow furniture

Neutral colors like gray and taupe are always popular options for your home's interior design. Both are versatile shades that can go with a plethora of other hues, which means you can easily change up the look of your decor with gray walls and a rotating rainbow of accessories like colorful throw pillows. With all the different shades of gray paint available, from matte to glossy, warm to cool, and brownish to blueish, it's certainly possible to find the one that's perfect for you and your home.

Of course, you can always have too much of a good thing. While gray can be a sophisticated and elegant shade, too much gray can wash out a room or make it feel dull and dingy or cold and unwelcoming. Think of gray as the neutral backdrop on a canvas that lets your color palette shine, and you can't go wrong. So, it’s important to incorporate other colors into the decor, whether it be with pieces of furniture, art, or throw blankets -- but what colors go with gray? If you're looking for the best options to brighten up your current decor, keep reading to find out how to accent this elegant tone.

Read more