21 Painted Houses to Inspire You in 2021

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Painting your home’s exterior can definitely feel like a big commitment; however, with the right paint, it’s a game changer for curb appeal. We’ve curated 21 of our favorite painted houses to get you inspired to grab a paint brush! As you will see in these home transformations, the end result can be absolutely spectacular. We created this list for those on the fence to nudge you in the “pro paint your brick, siding, and stucco” direction and to give you some color ideas that will make you glad you took the leap.

While paint color is a key part of any exterior home remodel, it is just one piece of having a cohesive look. Get it right the first time with brick&batten’s exterior home design service. See your home transformation before you commit to costly changes on your largest investment!

21 Painted Houses: Before & After Transformations

#1 // Monochromatic Whites

The first of our 21 painted houses is simply beautiful. The paint completely updated this home without taking away from its charm and architecture. Seapearl is our brick&batten color of the year. It’s such a fresh update and works well on all types of home styles.


#2 // Dark Is In

The name of this paint, Black Beauty, certainly doesn’t disappoint. We love these dark colored homes, especially when nestled in natural surroundings like by a lake or in the woods. The color helps highlight the natural beauty of a home’s surroundings. Earthy colors are in, and the home above fits the bill with the wood accents and updated stone.


#3 // Charcoal Done Right

Iron Mountain is another earthy shade that deserves a second look. It may be our new favorite dark gray with brown undertones. It’s not too dark and works well when paired with contrasting elements like the wood garage and light colored brick in the photo above.


#4 // Try a Blue

If your home was originally gray or white, try a new look with James Hardie siding in Evening Blue. With the home above, our designer kept the traditional vibe by using a Craftsman door but added some modern flair with the horizontal railing and wood columns.


#5// Same House, Different Color

If you’re not sure what color to choose, you have a partner in home design with brick&batten. We give you the option to see two color options before you commit. Earthy shades are big this year. Darker blues and sage greens are stealing the show. Check out this James Hardie siding in Neighborhood Park.


#6 // Let Them Stare

If you really want to be the show stopper on the street, don’t stop with just a new door. Updating windows, adding wood accents, painting with Romabio, and a fireplace in the backyard — definitely a place we want to be! Beware, you may catch neighbors standing on your sidewalk and staring at your home in amazement.


#7 // Go All White

When different materials and colors on your home’s exterior compete against instead of complementing one another, giving it all a busy look one solution can be to paint everything the same color. This allows the textures to bring depth and interest without being visually overwhelming. The results in the example above are simply outstanding.


small home painted in black magic with white trim

#8 // Bold Black

This brick&batten client wanted to go black, which is coming out in full force again this year. We lightened it up with white windows, Xeriscape, and Corten steel planters.


#9 // Olympic Mountains

The paint used on this home, Olympic Mountains by Benjamin Moore, carries with it the strength and sophistication the name of the color embodies. With a midrange LRV, there is balance, keeping a home from becoming too white.


#10 // Lovely Gray with a Statement Door

It’s amazing the difference painting brick can make. If you can’t decide between painting your home charcoal or an off-white, why not try Chelsea Gray with a statement door? It did wonders for this home.


#11 // Two-Tone Home

Exterior design trends in 2021 are all about mixing things up: using a variety of materials, multiple colors, borrowing from multiple styles, you name it. Along with it, adding an accent wall or color to your home is totally on-trend.


#12 // Lean Into Your Home’s Architecture

If you have a contemporary house, lean into the architecture. Consider going for large hung panel cladding, as in the project above. This home also includes a beautiful, simple entryway and wood accents that fit its style.


#13 // A Grand Makeover

Are you ready to get rid of the Old English look and update your home with a Studio McGee type makeover? Check out this stunner for inspiration!


#14 // Light Base, Dark Accents

A great way to add depth to your home’s look is to go with a light base color and create contrast by painting your windows, doors, and garage in a dramatic dark color.

We always recommend sampling and testing paint colors before committing. Factors such as natural lighting, undertones, and your property’s fixed elements will have a significant impact on how a color will appear on your exterior. Our friends at Samplize offer extra-large 9 x 14.75 inch peel-and-stick paint samples of the colors we love for exteriors. Order your ‘Real Paint, No Mess’ samples from Samplize here.

#15 // Looking for a Farmhouse?

The farmhouse trend is still in full swing. Wood accents, white paint, an X porch railing, and a farmhouse double front door did the trick on the virtual home design above.


Coastal modern home painted in Hale Navy

#16 // Hale Navy. Hale Yes!

Hale Navy by Benjamin Moore is another excellent color choice if you’re looking to go dark and dramatic without committing to black. Paired with white accents and green landscape, Hale Navy becomes a beautiful backdrop.


#17 // Create Depth

A lot of times a painted brick home isn’t reaching its true potential because of one thing: lack of visual depth. Adding depth doesn’t necessarily mean adding a front porch (although it might). It’s about adding visual depth that draws they eye to a focal point, rather than quickly scanning a flat surface, unsure where to look first. This is what intentional design is all about.


Home with big entrance with columns, Italian door, arched wooden carriage house garage doors

#18 // Find Your Roots

This client was looking for an exterior design update that reflected their Italian heritage. You don’t need to settle for just painting your brick and cedar. Why not try using new materials, like stone and siding? The arched, wooden front door with a speakeasy window and wooden garage doors with hardware fit the style perfectly. Our designer added modern twists like removing the bay window and adding a Corten steel planter.


#19 // Embrace the Beach

This California client wanted to transform their bungalow and embrace the beach. A coat of Yarmouth Blue by Benjamin Moore, a new front railing, and a fun weather vane did just that.


#20 // Keep the Character

Even when going with dark base paint color, nothing says your trim must be white. Try using a trim color like Revere Pewter by Benjamin Moore, as in the example above, to add beautiful contrast without looking too stark. Here, the design draws all eyes to the doorway with a teal jewel-tone — another on-trend paint color for 2021.


#21 // Limewash

Last but not least of our 21 painted houses is a limewash finish. If you are still not ready to commit to painting your brick home, consider a compromise. Limewash allows the brick to still show the through while brightening up the home. Checkout Classic Finishes to get inspired… and be sure to tell them brick&batten sent you.


Inspired to Paint Yet?

From dark to light and everything in between, painted brick, stucco, or siding can make your home simply beautiful. If you’re not ready to commit to painting your house, consider painting your front door to add curb appeal. Just remember to keep your home’s architecture, as well as the fixed elements surrounding the house, in mind when choosing the perfect shade.

If you’ve looked at all these inspirational before-and-afters but are still having a hard time visualizing what your home will look like when it’s completed, you’re not alone. That’s why we started this company! Partner with the exterior design pros at brick&batten, and order a custom home design online. We provide custom exterior design services and help our clients visualize their home’s transformation, with a realistic rendering as shown in the example above. We also provide links to our suggested resources, making you the expert when working with local contractors or giving you the confidence to work on the project yourself. Get started with your own exterior design makeover today!