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Home / Can Exterior Paint Be in Bright Colors

Can Exterior Paint Be in Bright Colors

Painting your home is a big investment and there are a lot of exterior house colors to choose from. Because of this, it can be hard to choose what color to paint your home. But we're here to help. We've compiled this list to not only get you excited about painting your home's exterior, but to also help guide your thinking process.

Though we can't tell you what color to paint your home, we can give you the tools you need to make the right decision. Good luck!

Exterior house colors that will make you want to paint in 2021

Here's a list of the trendiest house paint colors that will inspire you to move ahead with your painting project. You'll notice we also included a Pinterest link so you can get an idea of what these best exterior house paint colors look like in real life.

White

White wooden house, flowers blooming around front porch

Phillip Spears / Getty Images

There's a lot of debate over the perfect white for your home's exterior, but you can't go wrong with a classic, crisp shade, especially with a pop of color on your front door.

  • Pinspiration
  • Our color suggestion: Clare Fresh Kicks

Ivory

Front yard of upscale, ivory-colored home

LifetimeStock / Shutterstock

A shade of ivory for your exterior paint gives you the sleekness of white without its harshness.

  • Pinspiration
  • Our color suggestion: Farrow & Ball Old White

Taupe

Front of multi-level taupe home with tile roof and stone entrance

Dana Hoff / Getty Images

Taupe paint comes in a range of tints, like green or grey, making it easy to totally customize your home's exterior.

  • Pinspiration
  • Our color suggestion: Benjamin Moore Vintage Taupe

Light gray

This is a single family home that is new construction cottage style house with hardy board and a partial metal roof. It is grey with a teal door and there is great curb appeal. The house has a double front entrance and it is on a large lot.

UC Page / Getty Images

One of the most on-trend colors, a light gray exterior gives your home an ultra modern look.

  • Pinspiration
  • Our color suggestion: Sherwin Williams Modern Gray

Dark gray

Second Story of Traditional American Home

LOOK Photography / Getty Images

Just as popular as light gray, but opting for a darker shade gives your home an elevated level of sophistication.

  • Pinspiration
  • Our color suggestion: Farrow & Ball Charleston Gray

Gray-blue

Exterior of blue-grey modern house

Artazum / Shutterstock

Picking a gray-blue gives your home more warmth and whimsy than a typical gray.

  • Pinspiration
  • Our color suggestion: Sherwin Williams Misty

Turquoise

Pool outside of turquoise house

stock SK / Shutterstock

A deep, greenish-blue, turquoise paint makes your house stand out on the block.

  • Pinspiration
  • Our color suggestion: C2 Paint Tempest

Sage green

Exterior of sage green house with plants in front

Artazum / Shutterstock

A sage green home presents an earthy tone that lets you accentuate other things like trim and landscaping.

  • Pinspiration
  • Our color suggestion: Valspar Sparkling Sage

Mint green

Exterior of mint green house

Artazum / Shutterstock

Mint green provides a cool tone that still feels rich and completely on-trend.

  • Pinspiration
  • Our Color Suggestion: Clare Two Scoops

Gray-green

Exterior photo of house painted gray-green

Ursula Page / Shutterstock

A gray-green hue fits any style of home, making it a safe choice that still lets you feel like you're stepping outside of your comfort zone.

  • Pinspiration
  • Our color suggestion: Benjamin Moore Nantucket Gray

Butter yellow

Facade of light yellow house in Maine

Jon Lovette / Getty Images

A pale yellow offers warmth without being overbearing or marking you as the odd house out on your block.

  • Pinspiration
  • Our color suggestion: Valspar Saffron Ivory

Mustard yellow

Rooftop detail with decorative fretwork

Rixipix / Getty Images

For a real pop of color, consider a shade of mustard yellow, which works well on both historic and modern home exteriors.

  • Pinspiration
  • Our color suggestion: Sherwin Williams Nugget

Pale blue

Pale blue house exterior with white trim and brown door

David Papazian / Shutterstock

For a light and airy effect, choose a pale blue for your siding. You don't have to worry about fading and can enjoy both a traditional vibe and a whimsical one.

  • Pinspiration
  • Our color suggestion: BEHR Helium

Colonial blue

Taupe and Blue house exterior with landscaping

Imagenet / Shutterstock

No matter the style of your house, a shade of colonial blue is both classic and timeless.

  • Pinspiration
  • Our color suggestion: Valspar Retro-Colonial Blue

Deep blue

Luxury dark blue house exterior at night

Breadmaker / Shutterstock

A dark blue exterior paired with the warm glow of lights inside makes the perfect setting to come home to.

  • Pinspiration
  • Our color suggestion: Benjamin Moore Hale Navy

Light pink

Cottage on a hill at Sunset, Inn at Vaucluse Springs , Virginia, USA

Jon Lovette / Getty Images

Bring the beach to your home no matter where you live with a soft pink that works on any type of siding.

  • Pinspiration
  • Our color suggestion: Farrow & Ball Calamine

Barn red

This color works in the country but can also add impact in a neighborhood.

  • Pinspiration
  • Our color suggestion: BEHR Barn Red

Burgundy

Two story house with stone and burgundy paneling

Lindasj22 / Shutterstock

A deep red on your home's exterior siding gives a traditional look while still having a pop of personality.

  • Pinspiration
  • Our color suggestion: Benjamin Moore Classic Burgundy

Warm Brown

Exterior of luxurious brown house

Artazum / Shutterstock

A rich color that reminds you of your favorite cinnamon latte all year long, using a warm brown for your home's exterior is a unique choice.

  • Pinspiration
  • Our color suggestion: Glidden Cinnamon Spice

Black

Exterior of black house, with windows showing interior rooms

James Brittain / Shutterstock

For a minimal look inspired by Scandinavia, a matte black gives a dramatic impact.

  • Pinspiration
  • Our color suggestion: Benjamin Moore Onyx

Things to consider when choosing exterior paint colors

Keep these seven considerations in mind when settling on your exterior house paint ideas.

1. Landscaping

If you are active in your yard and have a variety of decorative plants, consider how your house's color will look with the yard. If you like bright, bold colors, will they contrast with your yard in the spring and summer months?

2. Neighbors

Though your immediate neighbors shouldn't dictate what color you choose for your home, you should keep them in mind. If you plan to sell your home one day, you don't want your home to stand out for all of the wrong reasons. A color that stands out, but that also complements the homes beside yours, will make your home seem more harmonious with your neighborhood. It's also a good idea to check with your Homeowners Association as they could have rules about which colors you can paint your house.

3. Your home's materials

If your home has either brick or stone anywhere on the exterior, you'll want to choose colors that don't conflict with your home's natural exterior color schemes. Both brick and stone can have colors that stand out all by themselves, so any color you choose to go beside them needs to complement those materials.

4. Your Roof

Whether you have a tin roof or a shingled roof, your home's exterior color needs to be harmonious with your roof's color. You don't need to match the roof color with whatever color you're choosing to paint your exterior – but they do need to complement one another. A good general rule of thumb is to pair warm siding colors with warm roof colors and cool siding colors with cool roof colors.

5. The size of your home

If you want your home to appear bigger, a lighter, pastel color will 'trick' the eye and make it appear bigger. If you're worried homebuyers will discount your home because of its size, go with a lighter shade.

6. Paint longevity

If it's not in your budget to paint your home every five years then you'll want to steer away from brighter colors, as these colors are known to fade quickly over time.

7. Resale value

If the plan is to sell in a few years, you don't want to pick a color that will scare away potential buyers. Your bright purple may seem perfect to you, but to other people it might seem like a giant headache.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the trending exterior house colors?

The following colors are sweeping across the nation right now:

  • Earth tones
  • Black
  • White
  • Black and White
  • Bold Red
  • Light Blue

How do I choose an exterior paint color?

You should always choose a color that excites you and comforts you. Not only should your home feel welcoming to friends and family, but it should feel the same for you. Choose a color that embodies what a home should be to you.

However, if you plan on selling your home in the near future, go with a more neutral color. Though you may find the perfect buyer if you go with a bright color, the selling process will likely be more difficult.

What colors fade the fastest?

Bright colors are more susceptible to fading because of the effect UV radiation has on them. Bright yellows, blues, or reds will fade more quickly compared to muted colors.

What colors make a home appear bigger?

If your home is on the smaller side, a lighter color will make it appear bigger. Think impressionist, pastel colors such as off-gray, milky white, and beige.

Lauren Ward is a full-time personal finance writer living in Virginia's Blue Ridge Mountains with her husband and three children. When not writing about money and real estate, she enjoys board games and gardening.

Can Exterior Paint Be in Bright Colors

Source: https://www.mymove.com/painting/guides/exterior-house-colors/