Home Exterior Paint Colors That Work

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Are you still looking to paint your home’s exterior but just can’t commit to a color? We get it! You need home exterior paint colors that work. Choosing exterior paint from a little paint chip, while rushing through the hardware store, is nearly impossible. Many of our brick&batten clients come to us because of this very reason. It’s too big of a commitment just to wing it.

That said, our color experts are always on the hunt for the perfect exterior paint color. Whether you’re drawn toward light colors, earthy shades, or ready to go dramatic dark, we have discovered home exterior paint colors that work and ones that don’t!

Whites that work

Simply White

Simply White is gorgeous but is not a true plain white…. What white is? It has a slight yellow undertone creating a warm feeling. With an LRV of 91, Simply White is reflective and will pick up surrounding colors. So, if you’re looking for a soft white, this is a strong contender. 

Simply White
Simply White

Seapearl

Seapearl is in the white family but depending on the direct sunlight you may see a gray undertone appear. It’s a calm color and doesn’t put off any stark or blue vibes. Seapearl has become a favorite because it’s easy to use on many different house styles. 

Simply White

Light Pewter

In my opinion, Light Pewter is an underrated white.  It is beautiful for the inside or outside of your home. With an LRV of 68, Light Pewter isn’t too reflective and stays true to its hue. Whether your home is in direct sunlight or shade, Light Pewter won’t appear too dark or dead. 

Light Pewter
Light Pewter before&after

Earthy shades that work

Revere Pewter

Revere Pewter used to be thrown around all the time as the perfect “greige.” It is beautiful? Yes. It pairs well with just about anything… brick, stone, aged copper, metal; therefore, it’s used often on home exteriors. That said, if your house exterior is shaded, Revere may be a tad too dark. 

Revere Pewter
Revere Pewter

Accessible Beige

I was on the search for the perfect earthy shade when I came across Accessible Beige by Sherwin Williams. For my own home I wanted earthy, warm, inviting, pairs well with black, and wood accents. Accessible Beige was the color I landed on to paint my brick. I’ll say it again…to paint my brick.

Accessible Beige

Cape May Cobblestone

Cape May Cobblestone is a classic, elegant gray with a warm undertone. When you’re feeling like you’re not sure which way to turn, Cape May Cobblestone is always a great place to start testing because it’s considered a rather neutral shade. In my experience, Cape May works well in direct sunlight and appears darker in areas of low sun. 

Cape May Cobblestone
Cape May Cobblestone

Dramatic Darks that work

Wrought Iron

Slightly lighter, Wrought Iron is a deep, dark, soft, gray.  If you aren’t fully committed to black, Wrought Iron is a great choice.  It still adds drama and interest but isn’t as deep as other shades. Great for trim, doors, and often used on the popular modern farmhouses.  With Wrought Iron, you can’t go wrong.

Wrought Iron
Wrought Iron

Bracken Slate

We are loving Bracken Slate by Benjamin Moore. With a blue green undertone, Bracken Slate evokes a feeling of happiness and is more dynamic than a typical black.  We see this color often on houses with a Nantucket beach feel.  Looking beautiful with white trim and wood accents Bracken Slate is another go-to dark in our color pallet.

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.
Bracken Slate
Bracken Slate

Urbane Bronze

Urbane Bronze is darker gray with a brown undertone. Because it’s highly saturated, Urbane puts off a cozy vibe and brings a warmer feel. I’ve seen Urbane on house siding as well as an accent color on doors and garages. 

There is so much that goes into finding the perfect paint color for your home’s exterior. LRV, fixed elements, and undertones come into play in a major way when deciding on exterior paint. You need home exterior paint colors that work. Our brick&batten designers are color experts and trained to see what you may miss standing in the hardware store.

We’d love to partner with you on an exterior home design and take the worry out of your selection. Get started today.

Author

Cassie co-founded brick&batten in 2017 with her sister, Alli, but her love of home design was born years earlier. Cassie’s passion for design can be traced back to her childhood, when she’d accompany her parents on road trips through small towns in search of inspiration for properties they would buy, fix up, and sell. Prior to launching brick&batten, Cassie worked as a fourth grade teacher, but her love of design, architecture, home renovation, and open houses inspired her to pursue a new career. When writing for brick&batten, Cassie aims to empower homeowners to make the best informed decisions for their property. She knows from experience how challenging home renovation can be, and when she writes, she puts herself in the shoes of every homeowner with similar frustrations. Cassie currently lives in Florida with her four children, an old dog, and her loving husband. When she’s not working, Cassie is most likely checking out a nearby open house or traveling to learn about the latest house trends.