You might think of tan as the color of sand or a really light version of brown. In reality, tan covers a bit more ground than those notions. However, it’s important not to confuse tan with similar colors like beige, greige, taupe, khaki, or even some off-white shades. People tend to interchange tan and beige, but there are some notable differences between the two. Where beige has subtle gray tones, tan does not, and instead has yellow undertones. Still, when it comes to tan house color schemes, there are instances where you can use some of those similar hues to achieve a tan appearance. Check out some of our recommended palettes below.
Selecting a paint color for your home’s exterior is no easy feat. And when you start to think about accent colors and materials, it can begin to feel downright daunting. That’s where we come in. Partnering with our expert designers will make the process seamless. Learn more about our virtual exterior design services.
9 of the Best Tan House Color Schemes
#1 // Manchester Tan + Grand Teton White
#2 // Jogging Path, Shoji White, + Fawn Brindle
Sherwin Williams’ Jogging Path looks incredible on any style of home, and is a favorite greige paint color of ours. With strong khaki undertones, this mid-range greige gives off a refreshing vibe above, where it’s paired with Sherwin-Williams’® Shoji White, a go-to warm white tone for our designers. The design also has a bit of earthiness to it with wood accents and shutters in Sherwin-Williams® Fawn Brindle — a greige hue with green undertones. The result is one of the most inviting tan house color schemes on this list.
#3 // Universal Khaki + Wood Accents
When it comes to tan house color schemes, it’s not just about paint colors. If your home has striking landscaping and hardscaping, like that shown in the rendering above, and you want to embrace natural elements and neutral shades for an earthy vibe, you might consider a palette that pairs Sherwin-Williams® Universal Khaki with wood accents. The combination creates a warm and welcoming aesthetic with a rustic flare.
#4 // Wool Skein + Fawn Brindle
Looking for tan house color schemes on the softer side? Sherwin-Williams® Wool Skein is a subdued beige/tan paint color that’s full of warmth. Our designers used Wool Skein to paint the brick on this home and opted for trim in Fawn Brindle. The black front door and shutters add a dash of contrast to the design.
#5 // Grant Beige + Midsummer Night
With muted green undertones, Benjamin Moore’s Grant Beige is a tried-and-true neutral that works well on any texture. When paired with Benjamin Moore’s Midsummer Night — a deep mahogany color — the neutral hue leans into its warmer side. This saturated-paired-with-subdued combo is one of our best tan house color schemes yet.
#6 // Bleeker Beige + Iron Ore
For this modern mountain home, our designers implemented one of our boldest tan house color schemes. We went stark and saturated with Sherwin -Williams® Iron Ore on the shake siding and trim. Then, our designers chose Benjamin Moore’s Bleeker Beige on the horizontal siding to bring in depth and contrast. The deep tones of both of the paint colors are enhanced by the natural wood and stone on this façade.
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.
#7 // Anonymous + Felted Wool
This classic Tudor was ready for a refresh. Our designers chose Anonymous by Sherwin-Williams® for the brick and stucco. Anonymous is considered a darker neutral; however, many times we notice greenish gray undertone or a tan undertone, depending on the fixed elements and colors surrounding it. It’s a harder color to pin down because of these undertones that peek through in some cases. We often times pair Anonymous with Felted Wool as shown above or Shoji White, if you’re wanting to go a little lighter. The red brick also has many shades to draw from. Anonymous works well with most red brick. If you’re looking for another color to pair with red brick Wool Skin is another favorite in the tan khaki family.
#8 // Manchester Tan + Avorio White Limewash
As one of our tried-and-true tan paint colors, Manchester Tan is making yet another appearance on this list. For this rendering, we painted the brick and siding with Manchester Tan and used Benjamin Moore’s Pale Oak — a light greige that functions as the perfect warm neutral — on the trim. The pairing of Manchester Tan and Pale Oak meshes beautifully with the stone on the home, which is rendered in Avorio White Romabio limewash.
#9 // Jogging Path + Caviar
A neutral hue celebrated for its versatility, Jogging Path works well with light or dark colors. For this design, we went bold in pairing it with Sherwin-Williams® Caviar, which we enjoy so much we included it on our round-up of the best Sherwin-Williams® paint colors for 2022. The warmth of the wood front door and garage doors make for a multidimensional design.
Color schemes to inspire you
Tan can be viewed as nude, light brown, sandy, and more. The bottom line is that tan is a neutral hue. These paint colors are adaptable, for any type of home and with any design style. Whether you want something subdued and inviting or deep and earthy, there is a tan house color scheme out there for you.
Searching for the right paint colors or redesigning other exterior elements? Either way, our team of expert exterior designers is here to help you visualize your home’s potential. Get started today.
FAQs About Tan House Color Schemes
Is tan a good exterior house color?
Yes, tan is a great exterior house color if you want something warm, neutral, and easy to pair with other materials. It can feel soft and inviting or deeper and more earthy depending on the shade you choose.
Designer Tip: Tan is especially useful when your exterior already has natural stone, wood, or other warm fixed elements. It can help pull everything together without feeling too busy.
What colors look best with a tan house?
Warm whites, black, charcoal, deep brown, wood tones, and earthy greiges all pair beautifully with tan. The best combination depends on how light or dark the tan is and what other materials are already on the home.
What is the difference between tan and beige?
Tan and beige are similar, but tan tends to have more yellow or golden undertones while beige often includes subtle gray. Both are warm neutrals, but tan usually reads a little warmer and more grounded.
What are some good tan exterior paint colors?
Some of our favorite tan and tan-adjacent exterior colors include Benjamin Moore Manchester Tan and Grant Beige, along with Sherwin-Williams Universal Khaki, Wool Skein, Jogging Path, and Anonymous. Each one has its own undertones, so they can read differently depending on the light and surrounding materials.
Does tan work with black accents?
Yes, tan and black can be a really strong combination. Black doors, shutters, trim, or other accents can give a warm tan exterior more contrast and definition.
Designer Tip: You don’t need to use black everywhere. A few well-placed dark accents can be enough to keep a tan exterior from feeling flat.
Does tan work with wood accents?
Yes, tan pairs beautifully with wood because both bring warmth to the exterior. Wood front doors, garage doors, shutters, and other accents can make a tan palette feel even more natural and welcoming.
Does tan work with stone?
Yes, tan can work especially well with stone, particularly when the stone has beige, brown, cream, or gray variation. A tan paint color can help connect those tones and create a more cohesive exterior.
Designer Tip: Let the stone help lead the palette. If it already has several warm tones, choose a tan that supports them instead of trying to match one exact color.
Can tan exterior paint look dated?
Tan can feel dated if the shade is too yellow, too flat, or paired with other dated colors and materials. Warmer, more complex tans and greiges tend to feel more current, especially when paired with natural wood, stone, or darker accents.
What house styles look good with tan exteriors?
Tan works well on traditional homes, Tudors, modern mountain homes, rustic exteriors, Craftsman homes, and plenty of other architectural styles. Its versatility is one of the reasons it works so well across different looks.
Should I sample tan exterior paint colors before choosing one?
Yes, always sample tan exterior paint colors before committing. Natural light, undertones, fixed materials, and even the landscaping can change how a tan or greige shade looks once it’s on your home.
Designer Tip: Test the color next to your roof, stone, brick, wood, and trim. Tan can shift warmer or cooler depending on what surrounds it, so the whole exterior needs to work together.
