There’s no right answer to “what color should I paint my house?” It’s your home, and the colors you love are the right ones. What we can help with is the process, so the color you pick on a tiny chip still looks right on the whole house.
Start with what won’t change
Your roof, brick, stone, and driveway are staying put. Look at them closely before you look at paint chips: they usually lean warm (reds, browns, tans) or cool (grays, blues, black). Siding and trim colors that share that warmth or coolness tend to look like they belong.
Pick three colors, not one
Most exteriors use three:
- A main color for the siding.
- A trim color for windows, fascia, and corners.
- An accent for the front door and shutters.
The trim and accent are where you can take a chance: a bold front door is easy to repaint if you change your mind.
Test samples on the house
Colors shift a lot outdoors. A gray that looks soft on a chip can turn blue in shade or wash out in full sun.
- Paint large samples, at least a couple of feet square, rather than judging tiny chips.
- Put them on more than one side of the house, including one that gets sun and one that doesn’t.
- Look at them in the morning, at midday, and in the evening.
Colors usually look lighter and brighter on a whole house than on a chip, so if a sample feels too pale, try a shade darker.
Look at the neighborhood
You don’t have to match your neighbors, but it helps to see how your choice sits next to theirs. Driving around neighborhoods you like is one of the easiest ways to find a color combination you’d never have picked from a fan deck.
Check your HOA
Many neighborhoods have a homeowners’ association that has to approve exterior colors before you paint. Find out whether yours does, and allow time for the approval before you schedule the job.
Any brand, any color
We mostly use Sherwin-Williams, along with Benjamin Moore and, less often, BEHR, and we can match any color from any brand. If you’ve found a color you love, we’ll match it.
Ready to see it on your house?
Browse our work for ideas, read about our exterior painting, or get a free estimate.
