When Sarah, the blogger behind The Estate of Things, bought this North Carolina home, she knew she needed to change up the dingy beige exterior to make the historic charm really shine. What she didn't know was that she'd play Goldilocks to get the job done.First, she painted the home a hue called Mushroom, which turned out to be too muddy and dark. Then she did a total one-eighty, and decided on a pale blue called Rainwater, which came off flimsy and not-so-handsome. But finally, Sarah found a sturdy, stately color that was just right: a deep navy called Outerspace from Sherwin Williams.Paired with a brand new portico (which offers the exterior an architectural lift) and a new sunny yellow door (Benjamin Moore's Showtime), this fixer upper is now the star of the block.Take a look at it now:See even more of this home's transformation (including the interior!) at The Estate of Things.TELL US: What do you think of the new look?More Home Ideas:• An Uninviting Patio Gets the Tropical Treatment

• A Bland Kitchen Gets a Seriously Colorful Update • 8 Closets That Aren't Closets AnymoreWhat are the most used exterior house colors? Home & Garden | The house is looking a bit drab these days. So, ­you're thinking about sprucing it up. A new coat of paint, or hey, a whole new color might do the trick. But how can you make the best decision possible when choosing that new color? In general, most people tend to play it safe with their choice of house color. They tend to pick colors that are light. Today, and in recent history, white is the most popular trend in home coloring. White is almost always a sure thing as it's a clean color that shows up well and has the potential to be personalized with vivid borders. When taking shutters and trim into account, white and blue has proven to be a household favorite for years [source: Behr]. The combination makes sense as white is already popular on its own and blue is such a versatile companion. There are hundreds of shades of blue, all of which match white well.

Deciding among them depends on two main factors. home decor paris franceOne of these factors is your preference, along with the mood you're trying to create. christmas tree decorations classicThe second depends on your climate. christmas tree with blue decorationsIn the south, bright vivid blues work well in the more open and bright landscapes. diy living room ideas on a budgetUp north, deeper grey-blues fit into landscapes populated by evergreens and match the skies of the seasonal weather [source: Behr].best color to paint house exterior

Other popular colors of house exteriors are cream, beige, yellow and light-hued versions of grey, blue and green. home decor stores in hamiltonAmong darker colors, brown is quite popular. You may want to keep a few things in mind when you're choosing your exterior paint color. While it's OK to stand out and have a look of your own, you certainly don't want to clash with the surrounding homes. Not only will this hurt the value of p­roperties in your neighborhood, but it could also result in disgruntled neighbors. Light trims are good for reflecting the sun's heating and lighting effects. Also, if you have a large home on a small lot, as is the case in many tight suburban subdivisions, light-colored homes can make this size difference even more dramatic. Darker tones can help balance the home and land [source: Sherwin Williams]. ­So whether you want to blend in with the style of the area, or stand out in a sea of homes, you now know what colors are mainstream and what factors you should take into account when making your decision.

Now get out your roller and start painting. For more home improvement information, check out the links on the following page.When painting a home, we often think of neutral as the perfect exterior paint color because neutral is safe. Neutral exterior paint colors are good choices—they mimic natural hues like those found in bark and stone. However, there are other sources of inspiration in nature that inspire bolder color choices: the sky, trees and sunshine. When polled, time and again, people choose blue as a favorite paint color. It’s a beautiful exterior paint color to consider, especially since it’s a hue seen so often in the sky and water. If you choose blue, a crisp white trim and manicured landscaping will add to the overall curb appeal. Consider Mayflower Blue, Brittany Inn and Village Blue as a few options for your home. Green is always a desirable hue. It picks up on the botanical colors found in grass and trees. I’d recommend a deeper forest green or a brighter, mid-tone green.

It’s best to choose muted hues and stay away from anything too saturated. Try samples of Celery Garden, Green Woods or Deep Forest Pine on your home’s exterior. Photo via Old House Online A home with a yellow hue always looks happy! Victorian or stucco exteriors look especially good in a shade of yellow. Consider Glidden’s Honey Frost, Crisp Ginger Ale or Prairie Grass Gold for an exterior refresh. Note how beautiful black iron and bronze fixtures look with a yellow-painted exterior. Take a look at Glidden Exterior Paint to find a great color palette for your home. For big projects, it’s best to hire a professional painter to get the job done right. This post is sponsored by Glidden® paint, a PPG brand. All thoughts and opinions are my own.Color CrownsvilleGray HcGrey CapeGray NavyFrontdoorsBlue DoorsThe DoorsҒroɴт DoorsArched DoorsForwardexterior paint color Crownsville Gray HC-106 by Benjamin Moore - Nice door overhang! These colors match our house. We used Storm Cloud Gray 2140-40 and Baby Seal Black 2119-30 for the door with white trim.