Choosing just the right combination of colors for your home’s exterior can completely transform the look and feel of your house.
It’s amazing how a fresh coat of paint can breathe new life into tired siding or make a quaint cottage pop.
After owning half a dozen homes and testing out countless color schemes, I’ve gathered my favorite exterior color palette ideas to share with you all.
Keep reading =)
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Opt for Soothing Hues with a Blue and Green Exterior
There’s something so soothing and charming about pairing cool blues with earthy greens on a home’s exterior.
This color scheme reminds me of beautiful seaside cottages and quaint New England homes.
Choosing light and airy shades like a robin’s egg blue with a soft sage green can give your exterior a relaxed, casual vibe.
I’d suggest painting your front door and window trim a deep navy blue to really make the blue tones pop.
Accent with white railings, shutters or other trim details to keep things crisp and bright.
For siding, go for a muted blue-gray or light gray-green to complement the main colors beautifully.
This combo would look lovely on a coastal cottage, Victorian or farmhouse style home.
Try using textured wooden siding and add tons of accent details like shutters and flower boxes in contrasting white.
A blue and green exterior color scheme conjures up images of breezy beach vacations and peaceful countryside escapes.
Embrace Classic Red Brick and White
You can’t go wrong pairing classic red brick with bright white trim and accents.
This iconic exterior combo has stood the test of time, and for good reason!
The bold red brick provides an instant sense of strength, stability and traditional charm.
Crisp white trim work makes everything pop and keeps the aesthetic light and airy.
Paint your front door a glossy shade of red to match the brickwork.
Whitewashed railings, window boxes and shutters add beautiful contrast.
For a modern twist, paint the window trim and sashes black instead of white.
This high contrast look is very on-trend.
Brick and white exteriors suit Colonial, Georgian and Victorian style homes perfectly.
Accent with black wrought iron fixtures, dark brown wood door and beefy columns for a stately vibe.
Or go for lots of cottage-style window boxes overflowing with flowers to soften the look.
Pick a Soothing Gray and White Scheme
For a relaxed, neutral exterior palette, you can’t go wrong pairing gray and white.
Cool shades of gray evoke feelings of tranquility and sophistication.
Crisp white trim provides the perfect counterbalance.
Go for light grays like dove, ash or fog for a soft, welcoming vibe.
Charcoal gray trim on windows and doors adds bold definition.
For siding, try tonal variations like light gray siding with white corner boards.
Paint your front door navy or black for dramatic contrast.
Accent with black fixtures and white planter boxes bursting with colorful blooms.
A gray and white scheme works well on Craftsman bungalows, Cape Cods and contemporary homes.
And it’s easy to dress up for the holidays with festive seasonal decor against this neutral backdrop.
Contrast Classic Black and White for Drama
If you want your exterior to pack a dramatic punch, go for the classic black and white combo.
The super high contrast looks bold, striking and timeless.
Black siding, trim and accents pops against crisp white walls.
Reverse it by painting siding and corner boards crisp white and using black window/door trim and accents.
Wrought iron railings, window boxes, lighting and hardware should be black.
Add brightness with a cherry red door.
For a modern edge, paint your front door jet black and use black window sashes instead of white.
Black and white exteriors add historic charm to Victorian, Colonial and Greek Revival homes.
Just take care that it doesn’t end up looking too stark or extreme.
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Pick Charming Shades of Yellow and White
Yellow is such a cheerful, inviting color for a home’s exterior.
Pairing vibrant yellow with white trim results in a cottage-style exterior brimming with charm.
Go for lively pastel yellow, buttery yellow, or deeper golden yellow shades.
Soft cream trim provides a crisp contrast.
A bright red door is the perfect unexpected pop of color.
Add window boxes and planters overflowing with yellow and white blooms to complement the exterior walls.
Yellow with white oozes cottagecore appeal.
It’s perfect for quaint older homes, Cape Cods, cottages and craftsman bungalows.
Try On-Trend Earth Tones for Organic Appeal
Earth tones like sandy tans, warm taupes, and rich browns have an organic, welcoming vibe.
Pairing varied earth tones together results in texture and visual interest.
Go for lighter earth tones like sand, oatmeal, or tan on siding.
Use chocolate brown on front door and trim for striking contrast.
Accent with textural elements like stone veneer, stacked stone walls, or reclaimed wood details.
Add pots of ornamental grasses, succulents and other earthy plants to complement the nature-inspired scheme.
These earthy hues give off a relaxed, down to earth appeal on craftsman, prairie, and farmhouse style homes.
Pick Timeless Red and White for Curb Appeal
Red and white is such a lively, timeless combo for home exteriors.
The bold red instantly draws the eye while bright white adds contrast and brightness.
Go for a true red or bluish-red brick.
Paint trim and accents crisp white.
Black window sashes add striking definition.
For a playful twist, opt for a teal blue front door versus basic red or black.
White columns, railings, shutters and other accents keep everything looking light and airy.
Red and white exteriors have fantastic curb appeal.
They suit many home styles but especially popped on stately Colonials and brick ranches.
Try Unconventional Purple for Whimsical Cottage
For a whimsical, fairy tale exterior, an unexpected color like purple is just perfect.
Pair a light lilac purple with white trim and accents for a playful scheme full of cottage charm.
Soft muted purples read as a neutral but pack way more personality than basic beige.
Accent with brighter door colors like cherry red, turquoise or emerald for an extra pop.
Add climbing vines, flowering bushes, window boxes and planters in complementary shades of purple and pink.
This charming, unexpected combo is ideal for cottages, Victorians and storybook style homes.
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Go Bold with Retro Teal and White
For a cheerful, retro-inspired exterior, try pairing bold teal with bright white trim.
This combo feels both nostalgic and fresh at the same time.
The vibrant teal instantly livens up siding while crisp white details keep it looking light.
Paint your front door white and add lots of matching white accents.
For contrast, go for black window sashes and door hardware.
Add old-school touches like a classic carport, vintage patio furniture and checkerboard tile steps.
Teal and white exteriors transport you back to the 1950s.
They look darling on mid-century ranches, cottages and beach houses.
Have fun dressing it up with kitschy decor and bold landscaping.
Try Timeless Blue and White Combination
You really can’t go wrong with the classic blue and white exterior color scheme.
Crisp white siding offset by navy blue accents will always be timeless and trendy.
Go for a light airy blue on the front door and window boxes.
Use a darker navy for the shutters, trim, railings and other accents.
For contrast, make the window sashes crisp white except for the front door which should match the door color.
Soft robin egg blue adds a charming, beachy vibe.
While bold navy gives off nautical sophistication.
The pairing looks sharp and crisp on Georgian, Victorian, farmhouse and cottage style homes.
Dress up your blue and white exterior with bright blooms and cheery decor.
Pick Punchy Red and Black for Contemporary Edge
If you want your exterior to make a bold, contemporary statement, the pairing of red and black is sure to impress.
Strong shades of true red and jet black provide incredible contrast.
Paint the siding, front door, trim, railings and accents black.
Go for a glossy finish for major drama.
Use white only on window sashes so the black really pops.
Then pick one wall, door or accent to paint a bright true red.
This eye-catching combo pairs well with modern materials like steel, concrete and wood siding on contemporary homes.
Avoid overdoing ornate details, instead opt for clean lines and minimal embellishments.
Embrace Nature with Soothing Green and Brown
If you want your exterior to feel connected to the outdoors, earthy greens and browns are the perfect color pairing.
Go for muted sage, olive or forest greens on siding or trim.
Use chocolate brown on the front door, accent details and trim for warm contrast.
Touches of reclaimed wood, stacked stone and plants in urns enhance the organic vibe.
Opt for wrought iron light fixtures and hardware for an aged effect.
Try distressed wooden shutters or beams for added texture.
These soothing earth tones help craftsman, prairie, tudor and rustic cottages embrace the great outdoors.
Avoid bright oranges, reds or yellows that might feel out of sync with the mellow green and brown palette.
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Pick Modern White with Pops of Color
For a clean, contemporary exterior go white on white with bold pops of color.
Crisp bright white siding and trim looks impeccable and polished.
Then pick an unexpected bright hue like orange, chartreuse, purple or hot pink for the front door.
Black or gray window sashes add definition without taking away from the color pop door.
Continue the fun colors on outdoor furniture, planters and landscaping.
Favor modern materials like steel, concrete and large expanses of glass.
This simple but unexpected combo works on modern farmhouses and contemporary homes.
Keep ornamental details minimal and let the bold colors do the talking against the white backdrop.
Embrace Romantic Pastels for a Cottage Feel
Dreamy pastels with white trim result in an exterior with tons of storybook cottage charm.
Go for soft hues like lilac, mint, peach, sky blue or buttery yellow.
Crisp white trim, railings, window sashes and accents keep everything light and bright.
Paint the front door a deeper tone like navy, olive or rust for contrast.
Wooden window boxes, vine covered arbors and cheerful garden plantings enhance the romantic charm.
These sweet colors make quaint cottages, Victorians and Cape Cods look like something from a fairytale.
Embrace details like window flower boxes, weathervanes and bench swings.
The pastel palette feels welcoming, cheerful and nostalgic.
I hope these exterior color palette ideas sparked inspiration for your own home’s makeover!
Remember that the colors you pick should complement your home’s style and architecture.
Combine colors thoughtfully, don’t just pick hues at random.
Test out colors on siding samples and front door swatches first.
Exterior colors can look very different in person than they do on those tiny paint chips.
Be bold and have fun designing your dream exterior palette!
