Exterior paint colors for your existing home or new build can be the most difficult decision a homeowner can make. The choices are endless and overwhelming. Homeowners with existing homes are limited by their hard finishes (roofs, bricks and stone. A production (tract) builder will usually give you choices that are curated so they don’t clash with each other, but there are still pitfalls.
Exterior Finishes are the first decision home owners make after they contract a new home, and are usually required for the building permit. My family recently started a new build, so we will take you through the process in this New Build blog series. We chose Richmond American (not a blog sponsor) as our builder because they have a great reputation in our area, and their quality is fantastic.
Home Exterior Definitions
Soffit – Area under the eaves
Fascia – Wood under roof line
Siding – Wood, shingles or composite planks that cover the exterior walls
Rainware – Gutters and downspouts used to carry water away from the house when it rains
How to Pick Exterior Paint Colors and Finishes
Guidelines for New Builds are the same as existing homes. The difference is that for new builds you need to pick hard finishes such as the roof and stone or brick. For existing homes, you are limited by the roof and stone or brick.
–Start with a Pinterest search, and look for houses in the neighborhood with color palettes you like. Keep it simple. With many elements, you could pick a combo that clashes. If you have samples, look at them together in natural daylight.
–For a new build, pick your roof and stone or brick first. Limit your choices to one busy finish. For example, pick one stone only, even if two are included in the price. Pick either stone or brick, but not both. Don’t feel that you have to pick stone or brick at all. Just because it’s included doesn’t mean you need to use it. If your stone is busy, pick a solid colored roof.
–Match paint to one of the colors in the stone. If you choose brick, check out “The Best Exterior Colors for Brick Houses (and what not to do)“.
–Pick light trim colors for white vinyl window frames. Most production builder window frames are white vinyl. With a light color, the frames disappear into the trim. A dark window trim with a white vinyl window accentuates the white vinyl and can look cheap.
–Limit paint colors to one trim, a door color, a primary body color, and occasionally a second body color. If you pick a secondary body color, use it to highlight architectural features such as a gable, or for a second body material such as shingles.
–Fascia should be the same color as the trim. A dark fascia color can make the roofline look heavy.
–Exterior colors near windows can affect the light in your interior.
–If possible, paint soffits and porch ceilings the lightest color to keep the interior bright.
–Black or charcoal gray roof colors are the most classic.
–Make sure your color choices coordinate with your neighbors. Don’t repeat their colors, and try to stick with the neighborhood theme.
–Pick a fun door color!
6 Gorgeous Exterior Finish Palettes
This is the Sherwin Williams exterior color combination that we picked for our new home build. It’s neutral and lovely, and we can’t wait to see it.
For red brick houses, I love a neutral paint scheme. This Sherwin Williams elegant color combination can’t lose.
Dark blue is gorgeous with a red brick home. Instead of whites, use Benjamin Moore Classic Gray for the trim. It will be more subdued that white or cream, in a good way.
If your builder allows it, go crazy with these dark dramatic paint colors – these are the colors for our house today. You don’t need to pick brick or stone. You can just use siding, or add textural interest with stucco. If you are a gardener, the Benjamin Moore Tulsa Twilight dark purple is a gorgeous backdrop for a flower garden.
Check out this lovely Sherwin Williams blue green palette for a new home build for our client in Eastern Colorado.
The Verdict
As long as you follow some basic guidelines, you can pick beautiful exterior finishes for your existing home or new build. The process is the same for an existing home, except that you pick your hard finishes first. For new or existing homes, the paint color should tie in with your hard finish colors.
If you have an existing home, please don’t forget to test your paint colors! Check out “How to Test Paint Colors Like a Pro“.
Need Help Picking Paint Colors?
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The Best Exterior Paint Colors for Red Brick Homes (and what not to do)
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Great post Michelle! Very informative and I love the color combos you shared. 🙂
I’m really glad you enjoyed it!
Michelle
I agree!
Thank you..it is very helpful..
You are welcome!
I am looking at a home that recently had a new brown roof put on. I’m trying to pick colors for the siding. I want something unique.
Hi Robin,
Its hard for us to make recommendations without photos. The best way for detailed help is to purchase one of our Color Your House packages. Thanks!
This is super helpful!
So glad you enjoyed it!
Michelle
Hi! The front of our colonial is red brick. I have black shutters and a black front door. Garage is body color but am wanting to paint garage door black to bring black to other side of house. Thoughts on this? Thank you! Kathy
Hi Kathy,
I think that a black garage door might be a little bit heavy. If you don’t like garage door the body color, have you considered painting it your trim color if its white?
Michelle
Nothing for us who love classic white modern exterior homes. 🙁
Classic white homes are lovely!
That’s me! Everyone calls me old fashioned!
Would you use the same colors if the roof were onyx black? Are dark grey and black roofing interchangeable? We are picking a roof color but have no clue what siding colors will be for a small 900 sq ranch cottage. I see more estate grey than black roofs. Thanks for any info on one versus the other.
Hi Diane,
Yes, I would. An onyx black roof has the same undertones as a dark gray roof. They are both really classic, and look sharp, but my preference is the gray because its a little less heavy. In terms of siding colors, there is so much that goes into picking an exterior color! Your neighbors, the look of the neighborhood, and the other nearby hard finishes such as brick or stone. If you are looking for more details, please consider purchasing one of our exterior paint color packages!
Michelle
looking for color recommendations to compliment (Siding (primary and secondary), trim, front door) williamsburg slate shingles (grey tones with some reddish/burgundy and green undertones (although my husband says it’s more blue than green).
Hi Nicole,
Our Exterior Color package would be perfect for you!
https://thecolorconcierge.com/downloads/color-your-house/
It’s hard for us to make recommendations on this detailed a project without seeing the photos.
Thanks,
Michelle
I really need some assistance/advice. We have a brick ranch house that looks very dated because it’s various shades of yellow,gold and orange. We are trying to decide on a paint color to bring it up to date. I would love to share a photo with you if I may, to get your opinion.
Hi Laura,
We would love to help you! One of our color consulting packages would be a great way to do it, and it helps subsidize our blog.
Thanks for your understanding,
Michelle
We have dark gray roof and gray ish siding and tan bricks
Two car garage doors are grayish whatt color front double door should I paint?
Hi Yeonhee,
For a color consultation, please link to our online color consulting page. Otherwise, you might look at our Front Doors of Paris for front door color inspiration.
Thanks,
Michelle
Thank you, this is helpful. Quick question: For the colors you suggested to use on red brick homes, would shutters be considered trim?
Hi Ina,
I wouldn’t necessarily consider shutters a trim color. The most classic shutter color is black. But I love to match a shutter to a front door. For example, a Hale Navy front door with matching shutters can be lovely. You can match your shutters to your door, or your roof, or in some cases your trim. Just consider that its nice to have a contrast with your shutters and your body color. I hope that helps!
Michelle
all are beautiful but we live in FL where dark roofs are not an option — silver metal used most often — we live in an oak hammock — surrounded by beautiful greenery with a dark charcoal gray crushed granite driveway — what next ??
Hi Cheryl,
A silver metal roof is still pretty classic. Consider it similar to a medium gray roof in other parts of the country. It’s hard for me to diagnose more specifically without photos. Please feel free to reach out to us for an exterior Color Your House Package!
Michelle
What house colors would you use with a light gray roof with red brick foundation and red brick porch pillars above the banister? House is a craftsman style in the country. No neighbor house colors to consider.
Hi Linda,
Check out our blog “The Best Exterior Paint Colors for Red Brick Homes (and what not to do)”. For more specific information, please feel free to reach out to us for an exterior Color Your House package!
Michelle
Hi, thanks for providing a helpful guide on exterior paints images shared with colour combos are quite useful.
Our pleasure!
Michelle
I still need help? so I have white trim! Windows, gutters, everything! What can I do? I tried to use darker fixtures. Im lost
Hi Karen,
I would love to help you but I need to see photos. I’d like to suggest our “Color Your House” package. You can link at
https://thecolorconcierge.com/downloads/color-your-house/
Thanks,
Michelle
I am looking to paint my house. We have chosen Agreeable Grey with a Pure white trim, however we have a red roof and ideally we would like a dark navy blue front door. The HOA, does not approve the blue door becuase they say it clashes with the roof. Would you recommend painting the roof a dark grey color? or can you recommend a good door color. We also have a reddish driveway, which we could paint as well.
Hi Alejandra,
I’m not sure what materials your roof is made of, but normally a roof wouldn’t be painted. I think I fundamentally disagree that blue doesn’t match red; they get paired all the time, but its hard to understand the rationale that HOAs are using. There are so many door colors that you can use instead that are gorgeous; red, green and black are some ideas. Check out our recent Paris doors blog. Also, you might want to check our Paris Doors blog; there are some gorgeous colors there.
https://thecolorconcierge.com/front-doors-paris/
Also, please make sure that you test Agreeable Gray with Pure White before you paint. It’s a beautiful palette, but those colors end up looking pretty light outside, and you might not see much of a contrast between the two in the sunshine. Good luck!
Michelle
Hi, great insight! My bricks has an orange-ish tint.. what colors would recommend for that? I liked the 2nd pallet you listed with Peppercorn, which is cool bcuz Both of my fireplaces are already painted SW Peppercorn.
Hi,
We are really glad that you liked this post! Its hard for us to give advice without seeing photos of your space. For more detailed information, please consider one of our online color consultation packages.
Michelle
I am trying to update the creamy Siding/red brick exterior an just tested Retreat in southern west facing light. It’s a lot bluer than I expected. Can you suggest something a little more green
i wanted a gray green but don’t want a color so light that it will leach out in string sunlight
Hi Mary,
I’m really glad you tested, that is so important! Its hard for us to recommend paint colors without seeing your house and finishes. A muted green gray is SW Grizzle Gray. For more information, please consider one of our online color consulting packages!
Michelle
What color would you paint columns? Same as the trim?
Hi Emily,
There are exceptions, but normally I would paint columns the same color as the trim, especially if its white.
Michelle
Can you do up combos with a blue shingle roof? Wanting to repaint out siding and can’t seem to find a color that compliments the blue roof.
Hi Kay,
We don’t plan to update this blog post until later this summer. In the meantime, we would be happy to help you with one of our Online color consults.
Michelle
Need to paint shutters on our home. The siding is gray/olive color, white trim and the roof is brown. Currently shutters are painted green. What color would you suggest? Thanks
Hi Rita,
It’s hard for us to make detailed recommendations without seeing photos of your home and more information. We have an Online color consulting package just for shutters.
Michelle
Hi our house has a brown roof and the brick colour of our house is like cement grey brick colour and we have an oak colour garage door. What colour should we paint our front door and shutters ?
Hi Caroline,
For specific and personalized color recommendations, we ask that you purchase an online color consulting package.
Thanks!
Michelle
If your windows are dark can you do a dark trim around them with a lighter house color?
Dark Windows with dark trim can look really heavy. They look great with a lighter color trim, or even the same body and trim color is a sharp look.
I have a dark gray roof what are the best exteriors colors?
Hi Rainn,
A dark gray roof is classic and timeless, and many exterior paint colors will match. Its hard for me to recommend colors without photos, so feel free to purchase a package for more details.
Thanks,
Michelle
What do you recommend with old Chicago brick. We don’t want to paint the brick
Hi Cameron,
It all depends on the room and the condition of the brick. If the brick is in good shape, looks great and doesn’t darken the room too much, I would vote yes! Keep it. That stuff is gorgeous. People pay alot to install in their homes. Another consideration is how well it looks with the style of the home. If your gut feeling is to keep and you don’t want to paint the brick, then of course keep it! I have found that usually homeowners have a pretty good sense for what looks well in their homes, and when they have a strong feeling they should go with it.
Michelle
What color is the house painted at the top of this page? Looked thru most all the post but did not see it listed.
We’re building a classic tall narrow farmhouse with back wing. Wrap around porches here in the country.
I’m trying to decide between SW Mountain Road and SW Retreat with SW Chamomile Is the trim color to match clad windows and goes great with either one. One paint is more Smokey grey green the other is Smokey Slate Blue green, i love both, yikes! Decisions decisions.
My kitchen cabinets will be painted shade of Lighter green for bases and cream for uppers. Can cabinets be similar color to exterior paint?
Hi Sharon,
That house was painted BM Ashwood Moss (Dark green) and Tulsa Twilight (dark purple). The trim was similar to SW Greek Villa.
Cabinets can be a similar color to exterior paint, but they will look darker inside. When you take colors outside they are 5-10 times brighter and more colorful than inside.
Michelle
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