Painting your home is a big investment, so you want to choose a color that will work for years to come. Exterior paint colors tend not to be trendy, but just as we’ve embraced organic elements in our food and clothing, there’s been a shift toward earth-inspired shades. “Natural hues and textures—from the soft grays of natural stone to understated lichen gray-greens to warm red clay tones—provide inspiration for exterior color,” says Melissa Birdsong, vice president of trend, design and brand at Lowe’s. And people are considering more saturated colors. “There has been a shift toward browns with a deeper red undertone, and driftwood grays,” says Mary Lawlor, color stylist for Kelly-Moore paints. But don’t despair: Even if you stick to a “safe” color, the way you treat the trim can pull it in a different direction. Victorian homes usually have high contrast between the trim and the body of the house for a traditional look. If you want to downplay that, use a trim color with less contrast to make those traditional elements blend in for a more modern look.
One place it’s easy to experiment with color: the front door (which can be repainted in a weekend). “Inject some personality there,” says Sonu Mathew, senior interior designer for Benjamin Moore. A few colors to try: Kelly- Moore Timeworn Terracotta KM3623-3 (shown here); Benjamin Moore Wrought Iron 2124-10 (a deep charcoal); Behr Kingfisher 520F-7 (a complex teal); Sherwin-Williams River Rouge SW6026 (a dusty purple).
Where Do You Live?
When it comes to your home’s exterior, almost every color expert tells you the same thing: Your paint color is influenced by your neighborhood, environment and region. Here are some expert favorites:
When it comes to your home’s exterior, almost every color expert tells you the same thing: Your paint color is influenced by your neighborhood, environment and region. Here are some expert favorites:
Northeast: “Traditional Cape Cod architecture calls for tried-and-true colors like slate or barn red,” says Jackie Jordan, director of color marketing at Sherwin-Williams. Try: Olympic Sheffield Grey D51-5 (shown), Sherwin-Williams Accessible Beige SW7036, Benjamin Moore Gray Mirage 2142-50
Northwest: “The Northwest’s gray skies make natural earth tones, grays and browns the most popular,” says Jordan. Try: Sherwin- Williams Harmonic Tan SW 6136 (shown), Kelly-Moore Granite Cliff KM3933-2, Behr Aloe
Thorn UL210-5
Southeast: Lighter, brighter colors and strong pastels work with the take-it-easy attitude here, say experts, and warmer tones can camouflage the region's red clay-filled mud. Try: Behr Cinnamon Cake W-F-220 (shown), Benjamin Moore Healing Aloe 1562, Olympic Belgian Waffle B14-2
Southwest: “Tuscan architecture’s muddy golds and browns are used in many areas,” says Jordan. “But California is all over the place, with more colorful Victorian and Craftsman homes.” Try: Benjamin Moore Rustic Taupe 999 (shown), Olympic Dusty Trail D13-3, Kelly-Moore Earth Stone KM3972-2
Painting Your House
Unless you’re confident in your ability to do it, hire a professional to do exterior painting. “It’s a very difficult do-it-yourself project to take on,” says Steve Revnew, VP of product development for Sherwin- Williams. For DIYers, here’s how to get started:
Unless you’re confident in your ability to do it, hire a professional to do exterior painting. “It’s a very difficult do-it-yourself project to take on,” says Steve Revnew, VP of product development for Sherwin- Williams. For DIYers, here’s how to get started:
• Prep the house. You’ll need at least a full day to scrape and power-wash. “Otherwise you’ll have a pretty color over a horrible surface,” says Mathew.
• Remove everything you can, especially house numbers, lights and plants that touch your home.
• Make sure you have the right equipment: ladders, sprayers, stirrers, cleaners, drop cloths and brushes.
• Estimate how much paint you’ll need. Measure your home and ask an expert at the paint store, or try the calculator at BenjaminMoore.com. Plan for two coats.
• Rally a crew. “You’ll need help with all that work, so gather your most enthusiastic friends,” says Mathew.
• Check the forecast. “Avoid painting when it’s really cold or when there’s high humidity,” says Mathew.
• Ensure that the paint is mixed properly and all your tools are in place.
• Consider paint with built-in primer (like Benjamin Moore Aura Exterior, Behr Premium Plus Ultra Exterior or Sherwin-Williams Duration Exterior) to save a step.
• Start first thing in the morning. “Begin in a shady area, and move around so you’ll always be out of the sun,” says Revnew.
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