The Best Exterior House Colors To Make Your Home Feel Inviting

If you’re looking to change the outside color of your home, there are lots of different shades to choose from. From bright and vibrant shades to traditional subdued hues, you need to make sure that your color choice matches your home and personal preferences.

The Best Exterior House Colors To Make Your Home Feel Inviting

Selecting one shade for your home’s exterior can be tricky. Going through all of the options, as well as making a final choice that will define the look of your home can be a menacing task.

The job itself is also hard, so you want to make sure you get your color choice right the first time. Nobody wants to paint the outside of a home twice! 

If you’re finding it difficult to narrow down your choices, we’ve listed some of the best exterior house colors below. Whether you’re into bold shades that can be seen from afar, or classic ones to suit your elegant taste, you’re sure to find a home exterior color that suits you below.

Keep reading to discover some amazing examples of shades below! 

Why Is It Important To Paint Your House’s Exterior

Before we get into the different colors themselves, it’s important to understand why you should paint the outside of your home. 

If your house’s exterior hasn’t been painted in a while, your home can begin to appear shabby. A house has to withstand various weather conditions. Any type of material will begin to wear down if they are constantly battered by wind and rain. 

Giving your house a new coat of paint can give it a new lease of life. Depending on the paint you choose, it may also give added protection against damage.

If you want to refresh the look of your home’s brickwork, it’s best to stick to subdued neutrals. However, remember that the shade you choose will appear a couple of shades lighter outside compared to the way it looks indoors. 

This is why it’s important to choose a slightly more saturated shade than the one you initially want. 

You can also give your home’s front door a fresh coat of paint, as this can give your property added character. 

Bright shades can help your home stand out amongst the rest, but it’s best to give your door, its frames, and toplights and sidelights the same shade. This ensures your home feels more welcoming compared to having a stark frame around a bright door. 

Tips On Choosing A House Exterior Color

The best shade to paint your home’s exterior, woodwork, and brickwork should make potential buyers feel comfortable and at home. 

This is best done by choosing a color scheme where the shades complement each other. Try to limit your exterior paint shade choices to two or three shades. 

If you have a strong color in your home decor, like a distinct painting or a vivid sofa in the corner, use this shade for your front door. This makes everything feel more cohesive and planned out, making your home more attractive to possible buyers.

In the case of masonry, brickwork, and render, your home’s exterior generally looks best in a neutral shade. A mid-toned neutral that isn’t too light or too dark is a nice choice. This helps pops of colors on doors and windows stand out, helping your home stand out. 

If your home has a blend of painted render and brickwork, don’t try to cover up the brick’s natural coloring. Select shades that enhance the brickwork. 

Best House Exterior Colors

Now that you know a little more about choosing a house exterior color, here are some shades that you should consider for the job.

Neutral Shades

Neutral Shades

Neutral shades are generally the best choice to coat the outside of your home. These are subdued, relaxing, and accommodate the majority of tastes.  

Selecting slightly deeper neutral exterior shades than your home’s interior helps generate a flow from the outside to the inside.

Neutral shades on cemented walls look serene next to classic white windows and brickwork. Look for stony colors, gray-beige blends, and taupes, as these all enhance the look of brighter masonry.  

If you want to coat your windows exterior, look for a hue that’s one shade darker than your painted brickwork. This light contrast gives your home a modern look, helping your house look more vibrant as there is a greater portion of vivid color. 

If you want to use neutrals to paint your door, select a slightly darker, earth-like shade. The deeper color will create an inviting feel, but don’t forget to paint your door’s frame, as this delivers a richer feel. 

White Shades

Whites are a traditional choice for house exteriors, as they deliver a clean feel compared to other colors. White paints have been used to coat borders and windows for years. 

People used to go for warm shades of white with a gentle yellow tinge. To keep things modern, you can look for warm whites that have a light green-gray tint. This off-white will complement any green plants around your home, keeping everything cohesive. 

White exterior shades can also give your home an updated feel. For instance, if you have pale blue home decor, a sheer white paint with a hint of gray enhances these light blues. It also adds contrast against charcoal or black borders, windows, and doors.

It’s best to avoid bright, harsh white colors to paint your home’s exterior. Warmer white colors will help make your home feel welcoming. These colors also let you use brighter colors on your front door, planters, or fences to give your house some personality. 

Warmer Earth Shades

Warmer Earth Shades

Earth colors have become more popular in interior home decor in recent years, but they also look great when used as a house’s exterior. 

Dark beige, light browns, and taupes all remind you of natural textiles and surfaces, like flax, sand, and wood. They also act as a nice background against plants around your house. 

Pale taupe, warm beige, and light coffee are a nice mix of colors to use. The warmer undertones in these shades will help your house seem friendly and comforting. 

White windows against an ecru, beige, or taupe house exterior also add a nice contrast, giving your home a little radiance against the grounded earth tones. 

If you do choose earth tones for the outside of your house, remember to avoid charcoal or cool gray colors in your home. These have a cooler undertone that can appear discordant against the warmer palette.  

Blue Shades

Blue shades generally look good on a home’s windows and front door. Brighter tones, like teal and turquoise, are great for doors as they stand out, without looking too experimental.

If your home is completely made from painted brickwork, blue exterior coats can look great, especially when paired with bright white windows and borders. Look for blues with a gray undertone, or delicate, light blue shades for a gentle feel. 

Keep in mind that blue can look alienating when it’s quite deep. Blue shades that have gray or neutral undercurrents help keep a sense of calm. These also look great when paired with neutral colors around your home. 

A Bright Roof Color

A Bright Roof Color

If you’re looking to give your home more character, you can choose to use a bold, vibrant paint shade to coat your house’s roof. 

This is a nice compromise for those that want to paint their home’s exterior with a bright shade, as it adds a pop of color without overpowering the whole property. 

The contrast of white house walls with a vivid, bold roof will turn heads whenever people pass by. Navy blue, red, and emerald green can all look stunning against lighter walls. 

When Should You Paint Your House’s Exterior?

Your house’s exterior should be repainted every five to ten years, based on the amount of moisture, high heat temperatures, or pollution that affect your home. 

Faded, peeling, or cracked paint can put off potential buyers. This makes them think of the added work that needs to be done after purchasing their home. If your house’s exterior is in good shape, the buyer won’t be distracted about needing to repaint the home later on.

If you have particularly bold or saturated shades on your property’s exterior, you may need to give it another paint job. Selecting more appropriate shades will help more potential buyers dream of a future in your house. 

We advise hiring a decorator to paint your home’s exterior, as the job entails difficult tasks. Examples include using particular rollers and brushes for masonry, as well as working on tall ladders high from the ground. 

Other Ways Of Adding Value To Your House

The color of your windows, walls, and doors is important, but your furniture, gates, and fences can easily go overlooked. If these are faded or shabby, remember to use any leftover paint to add some life to them. This can help your entire property look and feel cohesive. 

Other than your exterior home paint, remember to maintain any greenery around your home. Keep them watered, pruned, and trimmed as regularly as possible. 

Use a brush to sweep any debris from your home, use a pressure washer to remove any lodged dirt, and continue with frequent de-weeding jobs. 

Making a habit of these jobs will ensure your home keeps looking as great as possible. 

If you feel like your home lacks personality, feels bare, or needs more character, add a few potted plants or planters before you begin viewings. These are affordable ways of making your home feel more attractive and comforting to potential buyers, as well as anyone that visits. 

Final Thoughts

We hope that you enjoyed learning about choosing a house exterior color, as well as some examples of shades that will look stunning on your property. 

Ida Oliveira
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