10 Tropical Color Palette Ideas for Your Home Exterior
By: Mackenzie
From tranquil blues to muted neutral hues, tropical color palettes encompass an assortment of shades on the color wheel. These impactful paint colors draw inspiration from coastal environments, infusing exteriors with the warmth and energy of a tropical paradise. Keep reading to learn more about tropical color palette ideas we recommend.
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#1 // Soft blue with white trim
Soft, airy blue shades are ideal for a beach color palette. For this coastal home, our designers recommended Benjamin Moore’s Palladian Blue. This calm blue features turquoise tones that channel the color of the sky on a sunny day. To fully embrace Palladian Blue’s lightness, we used white trim, rendered in Benjamin Moore’s Hardwood Putty.
Bringing this tropical color palette full circle, our designers added breathtaking hardscaping. We used pavers, plants, and a fire pit area to create an oasis worthy of the paradise vibes this design exudes.
#2 // Bright pink with neutral accents
If you want to have fun with your tropical color palette, don’t shy away from brighter hues. Here, our designers recommended Benjamin Moore’s Pink Flamingo as the star of the show. The cheerful coral shade adds a bright burst to the siding. We kept the accents neutral — opting for white trim and wood elements — to ground the aesthetic. Our designers amplified the pink paint color with eclectic accents, like the rain chain, the hanging lounge chairs on the balcony, and fun foliage and flowers throughout the design.
If you want to elevate your curb appeal by experimenting with vivid shades like this coral color but are on the fence about whether a bold and bright shade is for you, our paint visualizer service allows you to reimagine the color of your home without focusing on any other exterior changes.
#3 // Sand-colored shades
Our designers are skilled at creating intentionally designed exteriors. One of the ways we execute that with a tropical color palette is by drawing inspiration from the colors found in a beachy or tropical environment. For this design, we embraced sandy shades, using Sherwin Williams’ Peach Fuzz on the stucco and Sherwin Williams’ Sand Beach for the trim (the names even sound destined to be part of a beach color palette).
The neutral, velvety peach color of the stucco is complemented by elegant accents including the intricate wrought iron front door, mounted lanterns, and the tall porch columns flanking the entrance.
#4 // Slate blue with natural materials
Benjamin Moore’s Slate Blue is a lovely blue-green shade that’s tinged with gray. Slate Blue’s soft complexity makes it the ideal shade to use in a tropical color palette. Tropical homes also bode well for using the environment to inspire the exterior, so we paired the blue stucco with subtle wood and cultured stone accents.
#5 // Soft olive with wood accents
We love recommending soft shades for a tropical color palette, especially if a calm and inviting vibe is what you’re after. This tropical home features abundant lush foliage and palm trees, which inspired the palette. We used a soft olive shade — Benjamin Moore’s Desert Twilight — on the siding. Desert Twilight is a perfect fit since it’s a mix of green, brown, and gray — all of which are found throughout this design.
Our designers used light, warm wood on the garage doors and the backing of the decorative metalwork on the upper level. This nature-inspired color combination puts a subdued, beachy spin on traditional earth tones.
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.
#6 // Warm gray with muted sage
Neutrals can also work well for tropical color palettes. Here, we used Sherwin Williams’ Dorian Gray on the siding. This warm gray paint color has brown undertones that give the hue an inviting allure, ideal for this coastal exterior. We accentuated the gray siding with simple white trim and railings for the winding double stairway. Complementing the Dorian Gray siding, our designers used a gray and white decorative pattern on the stairway space behind the fountain.
Adding a bit of color to the exterior, we kept the palette soft and subdued, recommending Sherwin Williams’ Coastal Plain for the garage doors. This calm, cool green shade brings a relaxing vibe to the warm and welcoming aesthetic.
#7 // Off-white with a pop of turquoise
Sherwin Williams’ Alabaster lends itself beautifully to just about any tropical color palette. The soft, off-white paint color has subtle beige undertones which add to its warmth. When it comes to beach house colors, soft shades like Alabaster make way for an airy aesthetic with an undeniably relaxing vibe.
Our designers kept this façade consistently neutral, using Benjamin Moore’s Sea Haze on the columns, eaves, pergola, and trim. We used the front door as an opportunity to add a pop of color, choosing Benjamin Moore’s Galapagos Turquoise to hone in on coastal cues.
#8 // Deep blue with light neutral shades
Drawing inspiration from oceanic tones and azure skies, deep blue paint colors are breathtaking on coastal exteriors. Our designers recommended Sherwin Williams’ Indigo Baltik for this home’s siding. This saturated blue shade is complemented by a lighter (but still cool and deep) Bracing Blue by Sherwin Williams, shown on the small strip of siding on the upper level.
To level out the coolness and saturation of the blues, we embraced neutral accent colors, using Sherwin Williams’ Ceiling Bright White for the trim. We also incorporated gray shades and light wood accents throughout the design.
#9 // Bright white with dark accent colors
Bold, fun colors are not the only way to brighten a tropical color palette. Bright white is great for a clean aesthetic, and its ability to reflect light allows the architecture to shine. On this sprawling tropical home, we painted the stucco, siding, stone, and soffits with Sherwin Williams’ Reserved White. Because of its slight green undertone, Reserved White brings a tranquil vibe to this exterior.
We chose deep, moody neutral shades to bring contrast to the façade. We rendered the fascia, front door, and corbels in Sherwin Williams’ Urbane Bronze — a gorgeous, dark, warm greige. For the railings and window trim, we added Sherwin Williams’ Tricorn Black to the mix. Completing the palette, the columns near the entrance are rendered in Sherwin Williams’ Shiitake, an earthy mushroom gray hue.
#10 // Contrasting neutral hues
If contrast is something you’re craving for your tropical color palette, there are neutral shades on each end of the spectrum to consider. For this design, we chose a mix of Alabaster and Urbane Bronze. The contrasting colors highlight the exterior’s ornate features — from the turret and Juliet balconies to the fixtures and windows. We also accentuated the entry with cultured stone, creating cohesion with the gorgeous landscaping.
Feeling tropical?
If you want to make the most of your coastal abode, it’s important to choose the right exterior paint colors. From soft and subtle shades to bright, bold hues ideal for making a statement, tropical color schemes enhance the atmosphere by leaning into the tones of the tropics.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed dreaming of how to accomplish your exterior design goals, let us take the pressure off. Our designers will work with you every step of the way to manifest your design dreams. Get started today!
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