9 Tan House Color Schemes

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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.

#1 // Manchester Tan + Grand Teton White

Manchester Tan made our list of the best Benjamin Moore paint colors for 2022, and it’s one of our go-to neutral paint colors. A soft and muted hue, Manchester Tan looks particularly inviting when it’s paired with other light shades. In the rendering above, the Manchester Tan brick exudes warmth against the cream-colored trim, painted with Benjamin Moore’s Grand Teton White. Our designers also added in some darker accents to bring in dimension.

#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 // Universal Khaki, Appalachian Brown, + Snowbound

To complement the tan-colored brick on this home, our designers chose Universal Khaki for the stucco. Universal Khaki’s warmth is elevated by the white trim, painted with Sherwin Williams’ Snowbound, one of our go-to white paint colors. Our designers suggested Benjamin Moore’s Appalachian Brown trim for more dimension. This neutral color palette also blends well with the colors of the stone on the chimney.

#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.

Author

brick&batten Contributor

Mackenzie has been writing for brick&batten for three years, and most of her exterior design knowledge comes from renovating her own home. She purchased a log home that was stuck in the '90s and the previous owners were unable to keep up with exterior maintenance. From reimagining the landscaping and hardscaping to revamping the porch and logs, Mackenzie and her family approached the entire project DIY-style. In her free time, Mackenzie enjoys cooking and spending time with her family of six on their farm, which includes cows, chickens, rabbits, dogs, and cats. She has been writing for 12 years and has explored a variety of materials from food writing to lifestyle pieces and, of course, virtual exterior design.