Picking the Perfect Exterior Paint for Your Home

The front facade is by far the most visible part of your home. Neighbors see it every day, it sets the tone for guests, and potential buyers often decide at first glance if they’re interested. No wonder, then, that choosing the paint for your home's exterior is a key decision. The right color will highlight architectural features, elevate the overall aesthetic, reflect your personal style, and enhance your home's curb appeal. 

Factors to Consider When Choosing Exterior Paint

Start by considering the type and size of your home and what kind of color will put it in its best light (more on that below).

It’s worthwhile to take note of the colors of the homes around yours. While you shouldn’t feel pressure to match them, choosing complementary colors can create visual harmony in the neighborhood, which can help with overall curb appeal.

It’s also wise to consider climate when selecting paint colors. For example, in hotter climates, colors that absorb less heat can make a home more comfortable and save energy—two factors potential buyers will take into account. 

With all that in mind, let’s look at some of the color possibilities to consider for your home’s exterior. 

Simplifying the Exterior with Neutral Paint Tones

Neutral paint tones like soft whites, warm beiges, and subtle grays offer a timeless and sophisticated aesthetic. These “quieter” tones blend seamlessly with natural surroundings and harmonize well with different architectural styles, allowing other design elements to stand out. 

They’re a great choice for longevity, since they hold up to changing trends. What’s more, they offer practical benefits such as heat reflection, which can help maintain comfortable temperatures indoors. 

Brightening Things Up with Light House Colors

Lighter colors like pale blues, gentle greens, and creamy whites can add a sense of warmth and serenity to your home’s exterior. They create a fresh and inviting ambiance, reflecting sunlight and making spaces appear more open and airy, making them great for smaller properties.

Lighter colors can go a long way in making your home feel welcoming to visitors. They complement grass and gardens beautifully, and aren’t likely to go out of style any time soon.

Making a Statement With Dark Exterior Paint Schemes

On the bolder side of things, deep shades like charcoal, navy blue, or forest green exude sophistication and modernity. They make a striking statement that commands attention, while also making your home appear larger, suggesting depth and dimension.

Going dark with your exterior creates opportunities for contrast, making surrounding elements like greenery or unpainted stone stand out. It’s a great choice if you want to add a bit of personality without going trendy.

Highlighting Details with Accent Paint Choices

Choosing an accent color for your doors, trimming, shutters, or other architectural elements is a great way to add depth and visual interest to your home's facade. It’s all about contrast. If your main color is lighter, a good accent color could be a deep red, sage green, or slate gray. If your main color is dark, you could add accents of lighter colors.

An accent color draws attention to the details of your home, causing the eye to linger and enhancing your overall curb appeal. It’s an effective way to express your style and personality, adding character to your home's exterior.

Welcoming Entrances: Front Door Color Ideas

Front door color is a key decision in painting your home’s exterior. It’s the part of your facade that guests will get closest to and interact with. Not only does it impact the look of the exterior, it also sets the tone for your home's interior aesthetic. Here are some ideas to consider.

Vibrant hues like cheerful yellows, bold reds, or tranquil blues exude warmth and welcome, signaling hospitality. These colors also serve as focal points, drawing attention to the entryway.

Alternatively, classic neutrals such as blacks, grays, or whites offer a more understated yet elegant tone. These versatile shades can create a sense of sophistication while still conveying welcome.

You might also go with nature-inspired tones, like earthy greens or warm browns, which blend with outdoor surroundings and evoke a sense of tranquility.

What Are Some Colors Not Recommended for a House Exterior?

The color you paint your home is a personal decision and should express your desired aesthetic. That said, there are some colors it’s generally best to avoid.

For example, extremely bright or neon colors can appear garish and out of place, overwhelming the facade and turning off potential buyers.

On the other end of extremes, overly dark shades, especially on larger facades, can absorb too much heat and give your home’s exterior a gloomy vibe.

Trendy or unconventional colors can make a statement, but they may also quickly become outdated, diminishing curb appeal.

How to Choose Exterior House Paint with Samplize

We make testing paint for your home’s exterior simple with peel-and-stick samples. Each is made with two layers of real paint from premium brands, and we deliver them to you overnight. Here’s how you can use Samplize to find the perfect color.

Step One: Choose Your Samples

Head here and browse 1000s of colors, all from premium paint brands. You can order bundles or handpick a stack of samples in just a few minutes. Finish your order, and we’ll get busy making sure your samples arrive at your doorstep the next day.

Step Two: Peel and Stick

Start by testing one sample on an inconspicuous spot on your home’s exterior. Make sure that spot is clean and free of debris. Once you’ve tried one, feel free to stick on various colors side by side.

Step Three: Take at Least a Day to Decide

Part of the reason we use real paint on our samples is so that you can see how that color behaves in various conditions. See how it looks in the morning, at high noon, in the evening, and at night. Notice what it does in cloudy weather and in direct sunlight. By the time you’ve done all that, you should be in love with one color. If not, just repeat steps one and two until you find the perfect color or colors for your home.

Ready to Get Started?

Finding your perfect colors is simpler with Samplize. Click here to start exploring 1000s of possibilities.