Embracing Bold Color for a Standout Exterior
By: Hannah Warne
Classic shades like gray, white, and navy are solid options for your home exterior. But don’t forget there is an entire color wheel at your disposal! Instead of sticking to neutral hues, consider a bold color alternative for your exterior to make an eye-catching statement.
From vivid yellow-greens to true blues and everything in between, we’ve rounded up our top statement-making shades. Read on to explore our favorites.
At brick&batten, our expert designers can help you curate any color palette. From bold combinations to neutral pairings, we’ll help you customize your exterior design to suit your preferences. You’ll even get a photorealistic rendering to help you envision exactly what it will all look like in the end. Learn more about our virtual exterior design services.
Our designers only use and recommend products that we know, love, or would use on our own properties. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission, at no cost to you.
Bold Exterior Paint Colors You’ll Love
#1 // Yellow Bisque by Benjamin Moore
Bright and cheerful shades like yellow may not be the norm for home exteriors. They are, however, a bold option for those looking to make a statement. If you’re looking for something unexpected, Yellow Bisque by Benjamin Moore strikes the perfect balance between classic and contemporary.
With a light reflective value of 65.89, this mid-toned hue has beige undertones to keep it from looking too highlighter-yellow. Instead, the result is a warm, welcoming, pastel hue that looks beautiful on traditional homes like Victorians or colonials. To keep your color palette simple, consider pairing it with a creamy off-white. Or, if you want to go all-in on your bold look, you can consider a more contrasting pairing with a sage green shade like Evergreen Fog by Sherwin Williams.
#2 // Tricorn Black by Sherwin Williams
There is arguably no color bolder than black — and one of our favorite black hues is Tricorn Black by Sherwin Williams. With an LRV of 3, this remarkably moody hue is almost as dark as it gets. The true black shade has neutral undertones, allowing it to pair easily with almost any other color. This maximizes its versatility and allows you to easily curate your dream color palette.
While this chic color is a natural fit for sleek, modern homes, it also works well with more classic architecture, too. Your imagination is the only limit to what you can create with this beloved shade!
#3 // Wasabi by Benjamin Moore
If you want an exterior that’s well outside the box, Wasabi by Benjamin Moore is your answer. This vivid, yellow-green color makes a vibrant statement when used on home exteriors. Almost the exact shade as its namesake, Wasabi has an LRV of 37.35, allowing you to create both light and dark color palettes with this mid-toned paint.
While you can use Wasabi as your primary exterior color, that isn’t a decision for the faint of heart. For those looking to add a bright pop without committing to an entirely electric exterior, opt instead to incorporate it as an accent color. It beautifully complements a classic black-and-white color palette like in the example above to add an unexpected and modern twist.
#4 // Real Red by Sherwin Williams
For a bold, attention-grabbing exterior, consider Real Red by Sherwin Williams. Though typically reserved for barns (or barndominiums) and classic homes like colonials, a true red hue never goes out of style.
This energetic shade will instantly liven up your home, and the LRV of 13 helps ensure it doesn’t come across as too neon (even in direct sunlight). Though it skews on the darker side of the spectrum, it still walks the middle ground, allowing it to match with light and dark shades. Opt for an off-white or light gray accent color to keep things classic. You can also add a darker shade like charcoal gray for a bolder finish.
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.
#5 // Green Umber by Benjamin Moore
Inspired by the green buds of spring, this cheerful shade will lighten and brighten any home. The perfect bold complement to traditional architecture, Green Umber has an LRV of 58.88 that strikes the ideal middle ground between light and dark. It also appears more green in indirect light and more yellow in direct sunlight, giving it a chameleon-like quality that adds drama and dimension to any exterior.
To keep the attention on this vivid hue, keep the rest of your palette classic. Creamy off-whites like Greek Villa or Pure White by Sherwin Williams perfectly complement this warm and welcoming color.
#6 //Bold Blue by Benjamin Moore
This inky navy shade is true to its name. Bold Blue by Benjamin Moore is an unabashedly dark color that offers a little more flair than go-to hues like black or charcoal gray. Instead, this almost-navy-blue color has hints of indigo to give it a brighter, denim-inspired finish.
Though the color looks more muted in direct sunlight, it has a vivid blue finish in ambient light, giving it richness and warmth. If you’re intimidated by using it as the primary color for your entire exterior, don’t worry. It also is a beautiful accent hue that pairs wonderfully with crisp whites and other blues like the cheerful sky-blue Bluebelle by Benjamin Moore as in the example above.
#7 // Extra White by Sherwin Williams
Though some may not consider white paint bold at first glance, a brilliant white shade makes just as much of a bold statement as a dark and moody hue. Though Extra White isn’t highly reflective thanks to an LRV of 86, it still is undeniably vivid — but is softened slightly by subtle green undertones.
To maintain a bold, neutral look, consider finishing your entire exterior in this classic shade. Siding, trim, and accents in a monochromatic color palette help make a cohesive and bold statement. Or, if you’re looking for something more unique, consider pairing Extra White with one of our other bold shades like Real Red or Bold Blue for a high-contrast finish.
#8 // Salamander by Benjamin Moore
If you want a dark hue for your exterior but are also looking to avoid black, consider Salamander by Benjamin Moore. An unusual mix of black, blue, and green, this deep shade appears different depending on the light. This gives your exterior a color-changing effect depending on the time of day. But with an LRV of 5.72, it always has a dark and moody finish.
To amp up your bold look even further, consider creating a one-of-a-kind color palette to complement this beautiful hue. Pairing it with the vivid yellow-green tones of Wasabi and a deep lilac shade like in the example above plays to Salamander’s different undertones and results in an exterior that is bound to stand out.
Choose a bold color to begin your exterior transformation
If you’re ready to ditch neutral and earth-toned color palettes in favor of something that stands out, these shades are meant for you! Whether you prefer the bold, striking look of Tricorn Black or the playful finish of Wasabi — or something different altogether — any of these unique colors will deliver an eye-catching result for your home exterior.
However, choosing the perfect shade can be a challenge. If you can’t decide between a few favorites, or you’re unsure where to start, the experts at brick&batten can help!
Our team will work with you to understand your style and your vision. From there, we’ll partner with you closely to bring your dream home or business exterior to life.
Start your project today!
Subscribe for more content like this!
