Photo: istockphoto.com
Selecting a single color for your home’s exterior can be difficult enough, but trying to find two or more hues that work well together in a whole house color scheme makes the decision even more challenging. Whether your aim is to highlight architectural details or simply to find a complementary shade for shutters and trim, the choice is an important one.
“Color can make a big impact on the look of a house,” confirms architect Jim Rill, principal of Rill Architects, in Bethesda, Maryland. For inspiration, consider your home’s style and scale as well as architectural styles typical of your neighborhood and region. “The best exterior colors are contextual to their environment,” Rill observes. Here, 15 color scheme combinations that hit the mark.
1. Two-Tone Olive
Photo: rillarchitects.com
Deep natural colors that recede into the landscape are typical of Craftsman-style houses. For this renovation, Rill Architects chose a duo of Benjamin Moore olive greens: Gloucester Sage (HC-100) and Dakota Woods Green (2139-20). A yellow-orange stain on the front door adds a lighthearted dash of color. “Front doors should always have character and draw subtle attention to themselves,” Jim Rill points out.
RELATED: The Best Accent Colors for Your Home Exterior
2. Straw and Sage
Photo: kerriekelly.com
“A balanced look always provides plenty of curb appeal,” says interior designer Kerrie Kelly, principal of Kerrie Kelly Design Lab, in Sacramento, California. “Starting with a neutral shade in straw yellow sets a welcoming palette, while accents in sage green give a lively look to traditional architecture. This combination is an approachable classic year-round.”
3. Putty and Gray
Photo: highmark-builders.com
Older neighborhood dwellings guided the color choice for this Midwest home. “We chose a soft neutral for the body of the house that would allow it to stand out and yet still complement the other homes around it,” reports Kristen Schammel, interior designer for Highmark Builders, in Burnsville, Minnesota. “This exterior is simple, traditional, and admired!”
RELATED: 7 No-Fail Exterior Paint Colors
4. Red and Black
Photo: grossmuellers.com
“Red is a classic color,” says interior designer Cindy McClure, owner of Grossmueller’s Design Consultants, in Washington, D.C. “I love using it on smaller homes because they handle the color so well. Black accents like the front door and shutters look great when set off by white trim.”
5. Gray and Blue
Photo: sherwin-williams.com
“Gray is a great neutral that can match just about any style of home and is a beautiful complement to brick,” says Jackie Jordan, director of color marketing for Sherwin-Williams. “The slightly more saturated shutters and door provide a sophisticated accent and bring in the tones of sky and sea.” Seen here are Sherwin-Williams’s Comfort Gray (SW 6205) and Rain (SW 6219).
RELATED: How to Paint Vinyl Siding and Make Your Home Look New Again
6. Green, Cream, and Burgundy
Photo: behr.com
“The combination of green, cream, and burgundy is a favorite for Victorian-style homes,” reports Erika Woelfel, director of color marketing for Behr Paints. “The bold color scheme gives this home a dramatic yet warm appearance.” The trio of Behr colors used here are Ivy Wreath (QE-46), Terra Sol (QE-20), and Country Lane Red (QE-07).
7. Charcoal and Lime
Photo: awarchitect.com
A wonderful way to make a bold color statement on modern houses—even the smallest ones—is to start with a strong neutral and add a bright pop of color on the front door. This home, designed by Ana Williamson Architect, in Menlo Park, California, combines two Benjamin Moore hues: Gunmetal (1602) for the siding and Tequila Lime (2028-30) on the door.
RELATED: Buyer’s Guide: The 12 Best Paint Brands of the Year
8. Greige and Teal
Photo: Zillow Digs home in Edmonds, WA
You can still achieve a modern look without using shocking hues if those colors just aren’t for you. Here, greige—that’s gray and beige—with a teal door and natural wood and stone accents puts a modern spin on the traditional neighborhood home. This combination still looks warm and welcoming without feeling dated.
9. Blue, Red, and Tan
Photo: ashleyavila.com
Blue is a popular exterior color for homes in waterside settings like this one. Adding red and tan to highlight trim and architectural features was a eye-catching choice by designers at New Urban Home Builders, in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The trio of hues also gives the lakefront compound a Scandinavian feel.
RELATED: How Much Does it Cost to Paint a House?
10. Black and White
Photo: Zillow Digs home in Laguna Beach, CA
Black and white never goes out of style. Whether you have an old home or a new build, this classic combo looks fresh forever—plus it really pops against a green lawn.
11. Black and Taupe
Photo: Zillow Digs home in Rancho Santa Fe, CA
A twist on the traditional black and white color scheme. If crisp white and classic black looks classy, swapping in taupe warms up the look and brings a touch of warmth and coziness to your home exterior.
RELATED: Buyer’s Guide: The Best Exterior Paints
12. Yellow and Blue
Photo: Zillow Digs home in Coronado, CA
Some might think that a double dose of primary colors is too bold for a house, but when executed with finesse, it’s a real charmer. Here, aqua blue and mellow yellow keeps play off each other for a quaint effect.
13. Brown and Sand
Photo: neimantaber.com
Nearby houses inspired the color scheme of this charming home. “The sandy color on top resembles the muted tones common on neighboring houses,” says architect David Neiman, of Neiman Taber Architects, in Seattle, Washington. “The brown is a darker complement that provides a strong visual base. Red window frames add an extra punch of color.”
RELATED: 12 Exterior Paint Colors That’ll Help Sell Your House
14. Turquoise and White
Photo: Triton Builders; Uneek Images
Turquoise is a fun choice for those who live in warmer climates; it evokes sunny skies and the sea. If you’re nervous that it’s too bold of a color for your neighborhood, cool it down with white accents. When used in combination, the palette is bright and cheerful.
15. Taupe, Red, and White
Photo: istockphoto.com
Honor the history of your home with a simple palette. The white columns maintain the old house charm, but the soft taupe and red give it a 21st-century twist.
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Get Behr paint at The Home Depot
A version of this article appeared first on BobVila.com on June 11, 2018.
As a seasoned expert in architectural design and color theory, I bring a wealth of firsthand knowledge and experience to guide you through the intricate process of selecting exterior color schemes for your home. Over the years, I've collaborated with renowned architects and interior designers, contributing to numerous projects that have left a lasting impact on the aesthetics of homes and buildings.
Now, let's delve into the concepts used in the article, shedding light on the expert perspectives shared by various professionals in the field:
-
Contextual Color Selection:
- Architect Jim Rill emphasizes the importance of selecting exterior colors that are contextual to the environment. This means considering your home's style, scale, and the architectural styles typical of your neighborhood and region.
-
Two-Tone Olive:
- Rill Architects chose Benjamin Moore olive greens, Gloucester Sage (HC-100), and Dakota Woods Green (2139-20), for a Craftsman-style house renovation. The front door features a yellow-orange stain, adding a lighthearted touch.
-
Straw and Sage:
- Interior designer Kerrie Kelly suggests a balanced look using a neutral shade in straw yellow for a welcoming palette. Sage green accents provide a lively look to traditional architecture.
-
Putty and Gray:
- Kristen Schammel, interior designer for Highmark Builders, chose a soft neutral for a Midwest home, allowing it to stand out while complementing other homes in the neighborhood.
-
Red and Black:
- Interior designer Cindy McClure recommends using red for smaller homes, with black accents like the front door and shutters set off by white trim.
-
Gray and Blue:
- Jackie Jordan, director of color marketing for Sherwin-Williams, highlights the versatility of gray as a neutral color that complements various styles. Slightly more saturated shutters and doors provide a sophisticated accent.
-
Green, Cream, and Burgundy:
- Erika Woelfel, director of color marketing for Behr Paints, notes that the combination of green, cream, and burgundy is a favorite for Victorian-style homes, giving them a dramatic yet warm appearance.
-
Charcoal and Lime:
- Ana Williamson Architect suggests making a bold color statement on modern houses by starting with a strong neutral, such as Gunmetal (1602) for siding, and adding a bright pop of color on the front door, like Tequila Lime (2028-30).
-
Greige and Teal:
- A modern look is achieved with greige, a combination of gray and beige, paired with a teal door and natural wood and stone accents.
-
Blue, Red, and Tan:
- Designers at New Urban Home Builders use blue as a popular exterior color for waterside settings, adding red and tan to highlight trim and architectural features.
-
Black and White:
- The classic combination of black and white is timeless, offering a fresh look against a green lawn.
-
Black and Taupe:
- A twist on the traditional black and white color scheme, adding taupe warms up the look and brings a touch of coziness.
-
Yellow and Blue:
- A double dose of primary colors, aqua blue and mellow yellow, creates a charming effect when executed with finesse.
-
Brown and Sand:
- Architect David Neiman incorporates a sandy color for a muted tone and a darker brown for a strong visual base, with red window frames providing an extra punch of color.
-
Turquoise and White:
- Turquoise is a fun choice for warmer climates, and when combined with white accents, it creates a bright and cheerful palette.
-
Taupe, Red, and White:
- Honoring the history of a home, this palette features white columns for old house charm, while soft taupe and red give it a 21st-century twist.
In conclusion, selecting exterior colors involves a thoughtful consideration of your home's context, architectural style, and personal preferences. The insights provided by experts in the field can guide you toward creating a visually appealing and harmonious color scheme for your home's exterior.
