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 pick paint colors! Check out “How to Pick 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
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!
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
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
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