12 Modern Gray House Exterior Color Schemes
By: Rachel
Gray is no cut-and-dry color. There are so many shades and undertones to consider when you’re considering gray paint, and we have a lot of favorites to recommend. If you’re looking for modern gray house exterior color schemes, we’ve got you covered. From dark and daring to fresh and simple, we have plenty of ideas to get you inspired.
Whether you’re planning to repaint or completely overhaul your home’s exterior, our expert designers are here to help you. All it takes is a photo (or blueprint!) of your home and your responses to a brief survey about what you’re looking for. Learn more about how it works.
#1 // Thunder Siding with Steam Trim
Thunder by Benjamin Moore is one of our favorite light grays to recommend for exteriors because it is such a complex, moody color. Thunder is a warmer light gray with a bit of a greige appearance. On the transitional-turned-modern home shown above, our designers used Thunder siding and painted the trim with Steam by Benjamin Moore. The soft, clean look of Steam combined with the warm undertones of the light gray siding creates a welcoming aesthetic that we adore.
#2 // Repose Gray Siding with Black Forest Green Accents
Our designers recommend Sherwin Williams’ Repose Gray for a variety of home styles. When accompanied by Benjamin Moore’s Black Forest Green, as on the home above, it makes for one of our favorite modern gray house exterior color schemes. Our designers went with the neutral Repose Gray for the James Hardie Reveal panel system and James Hardie Artisan siding. This warm gray shade has both taupe and green undertones, a multidimensionality that is drawn out by the Black Forest Green accents on the front door, windows, eaves, and soffit. The Woodtone siding enhances the depth of the paint colors and creates an earthy palette which is so appealing on a modern home.
#3 // Chelsea Gray Siding with Seapearl Stone and Trim
We can’t talk about the best modern gray house exterior color schemes without mentioning the dynamic duo that is Benjamin Moore’s Chelsea Gray and Seapearl. A sophisticated medium gray, Chelsea Gray brings depth to the home shown above. Our designers recommended Benjamin Moore’s Seapearl for the stone, trim, eaves, and soffit. The subtle off-white Seapearl is the perfect companion for Chelsea Gray to draw in contrast.
#4 // Wrought Iron Siding with Black Trim and Wood Accents
If you’re looking to achieve a more daring aesthetic, this next combination is sure to be one of your favorite modern gray house exterior color schemes. Benjamin Moore’s Wrought Iron is a saturated charcoal gray. It works best with either light or dark accents. Our designers love combining two darker colors; the effect is so appealing. In the rendering above, our designers chose Benjamin Moore’s Black for the trim. Wood siding and accents takes this home’s bold vibe up another notch and really enhances the curb appeal.
#5 // Revere Pewter Limewashed Brick with Black Beauty Siding and Accents
Looking for modern gray house exterior color schemes that incorporate greige? Look no further. Benjamin Moore’s Revere Pewter is one of our absolute favorite shades of greige. This compelling shade can appear warm or cool depending on natural light. In the rendering above, our designers opted to limewash the brick with Revere Pewter and make use of Benjamin Moore’s Black Beauty for the siding and accents. The combination of greige and black provides compelling contrast. We especially love the splash of Benjamin Moore’s Galápagos Turquoise on the front door.
#6 // Revere Pewter Brick with Graphite Siding
Not only does Revere Pewter look incredible when applied as limewash on brick, it works great when painted on brick, too. With a neutral brick, our designers opted for a darker shade for the siding to bring in some contrast. Benjamin Moore’s Graphite is an eye-catching, deep charcoal hue that is a perfect juxtaposition to Revere Pewter’s softer tone. The contrast between these two paint colors accentuates the different textures on this home, creating interesting dimension.
#7 // Kendall Charcoal Siding, Shoji White Trim, Wasabi Front Door
Some of our favorite modern gray house exterior color schemes include a bold pop of color as a companion for the gray. In the rendering above, our designers suggested Benjamin Moore’s Kendall Charcoal on the siding and Sherwin Williams’ Shoji White on the trim. Including an exciting burst of color by using Benjamin Moore’s Wasabi on the front door results in a dramatic, creative aesthetic.
#8 // Graphite Siding with Galápagos Turquoise Front Door
Are you seeking a more daring and modern vibe for your home’s exterior? Graphite is one of our favorite charcoal paint colors. It lends itself to pairings with brighter colors like Benjamin Moore’s Galápagos Turquoise. Including a pop of color on a home with a dark exterior is the perfect way to take your home’s design to the next level. Our designers also incorporated Revere Pewter for the accents on this home, proving that sometimes the best way to do a gray color scheme is to include more than one gray.
#9 // Amherst Gray Stucco with Caviar Trim
One of the best options for modern gray house exterior color schemes is a medium-dark gray with black accents. Benjamin Moore’s Amherst Gray is one of our go-to shades of gray. This hue leans toward the darker side and gives a fresh look to the stucco on the home shown above. Rather than going fully stark, our designers went with the almost-black Caviar by Sherwin Williams for the trim. The gray stone surrounding the garage adds to the monochromatic appearance of the home while still creating a layered look.
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.
#10 // Deep River Siding with Revere Pewter Brick and Trim
Gray is often thought of as the color that exists between white and black, but it isn’t that simple. There are so many different facets of gray, and not just in terms of whether the shade is light, medium, or dark. Benjamin Moore’s Deep River is truly dynamic in that it is dark and features blue undertones. In the rendering above, the intensity of the Deep River siding is complemented by the warmth of the Revere Pewter brick.
#11 // Raccoon Fur Siding with Alabaster Trim
While we love the way two darker shades work together, we also love the contrast offered by combining a darker hue with white accents. Similar to Deep River, Benjamin Moore’s Raccoon Fur is a dark, rich shade of gray that has blue undertones. Our designers chose to pair the saturated siding with the light, fresh Alabaster by Sherwin Williams. The softness and warmth of the Alabaster trim is the perfect companion for the depth of the Raccoon Fur exterior.
#12 // Gray Area Brick with Cheating Heart Siding
Sherwin Williams’ Gray Area is a warm, inviting greige that works beautifully on the brick in the rendering shown above. Our designers used Cheating Heart by Benjamin Moore siding to bring depth and some moodiness. The trim, front door, and accents feature Benjamin Moore’s Black Beauty, for even more dimension in this design’s color scheme.
Color Schemes to Get You Inspired
Gray is not just a medium tone that you get when you mix black and white paint together. It can range from nearly white to almost black. There’s greige, brownish gray, charcoal, and gray with a variety of undertones. We love the complexity of gray exterior paint! Because of its variations, gray allows for tons of incredible color scheme opportunities. Whether you want to go understated or be the house that stands out in your neighborhood, there is a color palette in the gray realm meant for you.
Painting your home’s exterior is a huge, expensive commitment. At brick&batten, we say, “It’s just as easy to paint your house the right color as it is the wrong color. So let’s get it right!” By partnering with us, you have color and design experts working to ensure you make the best decisions for your exterior. Get started today!
Curious about the color combinations that we didn’t elaborate on? The rendering we used for the image at the very top of this post shows one of our favorite gray color schemes to derive contrast. Our designers went with Iron Mountain siding alongside Seapearl on the brick. The Galapagos Turquoise front door takes the curb appeal to the next level. The last image on this page pictures siding rendered in both Benjamin Moore’s Deep Creek and Dragon’s Breath with Sherwin Williams’ Iron Ore on the trim.
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