Selecting a single color for the outside of your house can be difficult enough, but trying to find two or more hues that work well together 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, 9 combinations that hit the mark. 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. "A balanced look always provides plenty of curb appeal," says interior designer Kerrie Kelly, principal of Kerrie Kelly Design Lab, in Sacramento, California. etsy home decor blog"Starting with a neutral shade in straw yellow sets a welcoming palette, while accents in sage green give a lively look to traditional architecture. commercial christmas decorations discountThis combination is an approachable classic year-round."low budget decorating ideas living rooms 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!" "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." "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). Green, Cream, and Burgundy "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).

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. 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." Blue, Red, and Tan 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.

If you are interested in more about painting, consider: 8 Exterior Paint Colors That Might Help Sell Your House Pro Tips: What Type of Paint Is Best for Exteriors? The Do's and Don'ts of Choosing a New House ColorExterior Paint Colors You Will Love! Stand out from your neighborhood with these exterior paint colors! You shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, but what if a really great book has a cover that doesn’t do it justice? The outside of your home can set the tone for what visitors can expect from the rest of your space, so be sure it makes the right statement. Take some cues from these hues if you’re looking to update your home’s exterior. Enter your email address below and we will send you a new temporary password if you have an existing account with us. Enter your information to make a color account of your own. You'll be able to create personalized projects, save your favorite colors, use our color visualizer tool and print your organized shopping lists all in one place!

Confirm Your Email Address Password must be a minimum of 8 characters and contain at least 1 Letter, 1 Number and 1 Special Character Warm vs. Cool Colors Warm colors evoke excitement. Cool colors are relaxing and calming. How many colors should I use on my home? The number of colors used in an exterior color scheme depends on the home and how many details there are to highlight. Typically, traditional homes have three colors: body, trim and accent. Newer architectural styles (and occasionally larger houses) can benefit from more than three colors. By adding a second body or trim color, you can make your home more visually appealing. These additional colors should be close to each other on the color wheel, with a slight change in value. If your home has no natural way to divide colors, don't force it. Go for a less complex color combination. Tip: Don’t forget your roof. If it’s in good shape and you like it, then make sure the color of your siding goes with it.

If you plan on replacing it soon, then don’t worry too much; choose colors you love, and your roof will follow suit. Should my trim be a lighter or darker color than the body of my home? Lighter trim colors are usually the best choice, since the eye goes to the lightest color in a combination first and, in most cases, you are using trim to emphasize your house’s most interesting architectural features. (This technique of guiding the eye from light to dark was often employed on Victorian houses, making one color look like a shadow of the other.) Keep in mind that not all trim has to be the same color. If you have horizontal or vertical banding, you may want to choose it in a different color than the trim surrounding your windows. You may also want your soffits and eaves to be a different color than your window trim. See our photo showcase for inspiration. Will a dark body color make my home look smaller? A house looks smaller as a result of strong contrast in colors or using light and dark colors together.

This is not always a bad thing and can actually enhance design. If you like deeper colors and don’t want your house to look smaller, then don't use white trim; instead use a mid-tone-color trim to make the main color look brighter. What if I don’t want to use color—am I being too boring? As much as color can add to a house, sometimes it looks best not to use any at all. Don't be afraid to have an all-white house. White reflects light and will actually appear to vary in tone throughout the day. Plus, you can always play with the color of your door and other visual elements such as landscaping or porch furniture that come together to create the overall look. Should my garage door be the same color as my front door or trim? In most cases, no! It only draws attention to the least attractive part of your home. Also, an accent color can throw off your house’s balance, making the garage look larger than it actually is. To help it blend in, select colors that are either the same as the body color, or slightly lighter or darker.