The 15 Best Exterior Home Color Combinations

Olive green artisan house with front porch.

Selecting a single color for your home’s exterior can be difficult enough, but trying to find two or more colors that work well together in the entire home’s color scheme can make the decision even more challenging. Makes it. Whether your aim is to highlight architectural details or simply find a complementary shade to shutters and trim, the choice is an important one.

“Color can have a big impact on the look of a home,” confirms architect Jim Rill, a principal at . Ril Architects In Bethesda, Maryland. For inspiration, consider the style and scale of your home as well as the specific architectural styles of your neighborhood and area. “The best outdoor colors are in harmony with their environment,” says Rill. Here, find 15 color-scheme combinations that fit the bill.

1. Two-Tone Olive

Olive green artisan house with front porch.
Photo: Rill Architects Photo: rillarchitects.com

Deep natural colors that blend into the landscape are typical of Craftsman-style homes. For this renovation, Rill Architects chose a pair of Benjamin Moore olive greens: gloucester sage (HC-100) and dakota woods green (2139-20). The yellow-orange stain on the front door adds a pop of color. “Front doors should always have character and draw subtle attention,” says Rill.

Connected: Best accent colors for your home’s exterior

2. Straw and Sage

A straw-coloured bungalow house with a brown roof and a front verandah.
Photo: Kerree Kelly Photo: kerree Kelly.com

“A balanced look always provides plenty of appeal,” says interior designer Kerry Kelly, principal at . Kerry Kelly Design LabIn Sacramento, California. “Starting with a neutral shade in straw yellow sets a welcoming palette, while accents in sage green give a vibrant look to traditional architecture. This combination is a year-round classic.”

3. Putty and Gray

putty and gray
Photo: highmark-builders.com

Old neighborhood dwellings guided the color selection for this Midwest home. “We chose a soft neutral color for the home’s texture, which would make it stand out while also matching the other homes around it,” reports Kristen Schamel, interior designer. Highmark Builders In Savage, Minnesota. “This exterior is simple, traditional, and flattering!”

Connected: 7 no-fail exterior paint colors

4. Red and black

A red house with black decorations on the windows.
Photo: Gross Muellers Design Photo: grossmuellers.com

“Red is a classic color,” says interior designer Cindy Grossmueller McClure, owner of . Grossmueller’s design consultants in Washington, DC “I love using it in small homes because they handle color so well. Black colors like front doors and shutters look great when decorated with white trim.”

5. Gray and blue

A light gray and blue house with a front porch, white decorations and bushes.
Photo: Sherwin-Williams Photo: sherwin-williams.com

“Grey is a great neutral that can match any style of home and is a beautiful complement to brick,” says Jackie Jordan, former director of color marketing for Sherwin-Williams. “Slightly more saturated shutters and doors provide a sophisticated accent and bring in tones of sky and sea.” Sherwin-Williams can be found here Comfort Gray (SW6205) And Rain (SW 6219).

Connected: How to Paint Vinyl Siding and Make Your Home Look Like New Again

6. Green, cream and burgundy

A painted woman's Victorian house is painted green with yellow and red.
Photo: Behr Photo: behr.com

“The combination of green, cream, and burgundy is a favorite for Victorian-style homes,” reports Erica Woelfel, vice president of Color and Creative Services at Behr Paint Company. “The bold color scheme gives this home a dramatic yet warm look.” Here are the trio of Behr colors used Ivy Wreath (QI-46), Terra Sol (QE-20)And Country Lane Red (QE-07).

7. Charcoal and Lime

A mid-century modern house, painted dark brown with a lime green front door.
Photo: Anna Williamson Architect Photo: awarchitect.com

A great way to make a bold color statement on modern homes – even the smallest homes – is to start with a strong neutral and add a bright pop of color to the front door. This house, designed by anna williamson architect In Menlo Park, California, a mix of two Benjamin Moore colors: Gunmetal (1602) for siding and Tequila Lime (2028-30) At the door.

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8. Greige and Teal

A gray house with a screen porch and teal-colored window shutters.
Photo: Andrea Rugg via Getty Images Andrea Rugg

If those colors aren’t for you, you can still achieve a modern look without using shocking colors. Here, gray—that’s gray and beige—puts a modern spin on the traditional neighborhood house with teal doors and natural wood and stone accents. This combination still looks warm and welcoming without feeling dated.

9. Blue, red and brown

The veranda of a house with high wood-paneled ceilings, blue walls and brown furniture.
Photo: Ashley Avila Photo: ashleyavila.com

Blue is a popular exterior color for homes in seaside areas like this one. Adding red and brown to highlight trim and architectural features was an attractive choice by the designers new urban home builders In Grand Rapids, Michigan. The trio of colors also gives the lakeside complex a Scandinavian feel.

Connected: How much does it cost to paint a house?

10. Black and white

A farmhouse style home that is painted white with black trim and window treatments.
Photo: Greg Bethmann via Getty Images

Black and white never goes out of style. Whether you have an old home or new construction, it Classic Combo Always looks fresh—plus it really pops against a green lawn.

11. Black and taupe

A traditional colonial home with taupe siding and black window features.
Photo: David Papazian via Getty Images

Black and white never goes out of style. Whether you have an old home or new construction, it Classic Combo Always looks fresh—plus it really pops against a green lawn.

12. Yellow and blue

A yellow thatched house with a verandah and a stone path to the dark blue front door.
Photo: Dennis Panyik-Dale via Getty Images

Some may think a double dose of primary colors is too bold for a home, but when executed smartly, it’s truly eye-catching. Here, aqua blue and light yellow match each other for a singular effect.

13. Brown and sand

A natural brown house with a large front yard and a fireplace.
Photo: Neiman Taber Photo: neimantaber.com

Nearby homes inspired the color scheme of this charming home. “The sandy color at the top contrasts the generally muted tones on the neighboring homes,” says architect David Neiman. Neiman Taber Architects In Seattle, Washington. “Brown is a dark complement that provides a strong visual base. Red window frames add an extra touch of color.

Connected: 12 Exterior Paint Colors That Will Help Sell Your Home

14. Turquoise and white

turquoise white
Photo: Triton Builders; unique images

Turquoise is a fun choice for those who live in warm climates; It reminds of sunny skies and sea. If you’re nervous that it’s too bold a color for your neighborhood, tone it down with white accents. When used in combination, the palette is bright and cheerful.

15. Taupe, red and white

taupe red
Photo: istockphoto.com

Honor your home’s history with a simple palette. The white columns maintain the charm of the old house, but the soft browns and reds give it a 21st-century twist.

Get HGTV by Sherwin-Williams Paint at Lowe’s

Get Benjamin Moore paint at Ace Hardware

Get Behr Paint at Home Depot

A version of this article first appeared bobvilla.com On 11 June 2018.

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