Pick the Right Exterior Paint Colors

Velvet Brown

“This paint palette is reminiscent of Scouts at summer camp—dark uniforms all alike with bright green scarves tied at the collars.”
–Bobby McAlpine, McAlpine Tankersley Architecture, Montgomery, Alabama

Paint Palette
Body: Black Fox (SW7020) by Sherwin-Williams; sherwin-williams.com.
Trim: Sassy Green (SW6416) by Sherwin-Williams; sherwin-williams.com.

Pure Patina

“Charleston is all about patina. As these colors wear over the years, they'll look even more beautiful than when they were first applied.”
–Mark Maresca, Maresca & Associates Architects, Charleston and Greenville, South Carolina

Paint Palette
Body: Weatherboard (DCR103) by Duron; duron.com.
Doors: Historic Charleston Green (DCR099) by Duron; duron.com.
Trim: Palladian Blue (HC-144) by Benjamin Moore; benjaminmoore.com.

Natural and Harmonious

“This natural, harmonious palette reinfores the colors of slate roofs and limestone. The tone-on-tone look is very pleasing to the eye and fits well within the Southern landscape.”
–Stan Dixon, D. Stanley Dixon Architect, Atlanta

Paint Palette
Body: Relaxed Khaki (SW6149) by Sherwin-Williams; sherwin-williams.com.
Trim and shutters: Universal Khaki (SW6150) by Sherwin-Williams; sherwin-williams.com.

Coastal-Inspired

“Painted brick has a particularly Southern feel when paired with contrasting working lowered shutters. The effect of this palette is one of a warm-weather location.”
–Bill Ingram, Bill Ingram Architect, Birmingham

Paint Palette
Body and trim: Lambswool (2269) by Pratt & Lambert; prattandlambert.com.
Shutters: Blue Spa (2052-40) by Benjamin Moore; benjaminmoore.com.

Earthy Tones

“I call this my Chesapeake Tidewater suite because it updates the colors of Colonial Williamsburg, the richly saturated, earthy mineral paint colors used in the 18th-century Virginia captial. These classics are always appropriate for a new old house.”
–Russell Versaci, Russell Versaci Architecture, Middleburg, Virginia

Paint Palette
Body: Ludwell Tenement Sage (CW417)by Pratt & Lambert; prattandlambert.com.
Shutters: Chowning's Tavern Brown (CW121) by Pratt & Lambert; prattandlambert.com.
Trim: Outside White (CW712) by Pratt & Lambert; prattandlambert.com.

Warm Yellow

“We like a warm yellow paired with a classic terne metal roof and red shutters, for projects in locales where there is a lot of red clay in the soil, such as in Middleburg, Virginia, to make the house look more natural in the landscape.”
–Anne Fairfax, Fairfax & Sammons Architects, Palm Beach, FL

Paint Palette
Body: Warm Yellow (9036) by Keim; keim.com.
Trim: Incarnadine (No. 248) by Farrow & Ball; farrowandball.com.

Simple and Clean

“This scheme is very simple and clean and is especially well suited for home designs that are influenced by English and European styles.”
–Hank Long, Henry Sprott Long & Associates, Birmingham, 205/323-4564

Paint Palette
Body: China White (74) by Benjamin Moore; benjaminmoore.com.
Trim: Iron Mountain (2134-30) by Benjamin Moore; benjaminmoore.com.

Coastal Charm

“The dark blues and greens reflect the colors of the Gulf Coast. This palette is quintessential for a Southern-style beach house. The look is warm and inviting.”
–Michael G. Imber, Michael G. Imber Architects, San Antonio, TX

Paint Palette
Body: Cromwell Gray (HC-103) by Benjamin Moore; benjaminmoore.com.
Trim: Narragansett Green (HC-157) by Benjamin Moore; benjaminmoore.com.
Doors: Country Redwood by Benjamin Moore; benjaminmoore.com.

Light and Fresh

“For a traditional American home, try a deep green on the shutters and a high-gloss dark red on the front door. Paint all other solid doors to match the shutters. Have French doors and trim matched with an opaque sample of the whitewash. The combination is light and fresh with high contrast and punch.”
–Charles Heydt, Pak Heydt and Associates, Atlanta

Paint Palette
Body: Whitewash
Shutters: Black Forest Green by Benjamin Moore; benjaminmoore.com.
Doors: Classic Burgundy by Benjamin Moore; benjaminmoore.com.

Classic White

“This off-white palette has roots in the Southern Colonial style but with a twist—the tone-on-tone scheme creates soft shadows that bring forward subtle texture variations from the materials of the house.”
–Ruard Veltman, Ruard Veltman Architecture, Charlotte, NC

Paint Palette
Body: White Down (970) by Benjamin Moore; benjaminmoore.com.
Shutters: Manchester Tan (HC-81) by Benjamin Moore; benjaminmoore.com.

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A Blue Blend

“This palette of Wedgwood blue and bisque blends naturally with the big sky.”
–Jim Howard, James Michael Howard, Inc., Jacksonville, FL and Atlanta

Paint Palette
Walls: Swiss Coffee (OC-45) by Benjamin Moore; benjaminmoore.com.
Shutters: Iceberg (2122-50) by Benjamin Moore; benjaminmoore.com.

Bright and Cheery

“A friend of mine insists that people who live in yellow houses are happier. For a more traditional look, try a dark green on the trim. For a less traditional accent color, we like a dark red.”
–Jane Frederick, Frederick + Frederick Architects, Beaufort, SC

Paint Palette
Body: Yellow Jasmine (DCR009) by Duron; duron.com.

Trim Options:
Lemon Drop (SW7122) by Sherwin-Williams; sherwin-williams.com.
Historic Charleston Green (DCR099) by Duron; duron.com.
Snapdragon (DCR029) by Duron; duron.com.

Modern Monochrome

“Buildings of a more modern, pared-down aesthetic and smaller structures, such as weekend cottages or outbuildings, lend themselves to the deeper tones that allow them to sneak into the landscape. With this color palette, we prefer a monochrome look.”
–Philip Dufford, Dufford Young Architects, Charleston, SC

Paint Palette
Body and trim: Copley Gray (HC-104) by Benjamin Moore; benjaminmoore.com.

A Rich Timelessness

“There is a rich timelessness and a patina to these colors that reminds me of the many great homes where I grew up in Florence, Alabama.”
–Michael Franck, Franck and Lohsen Architects, Washington, D.C.

Paint Palette
Body: Blackened No. 2011 by Farrow & Ball; farrow-ball.com.
Shutters: Railings No. 31 by Farrow & Ball; farrow-ball.com.
Porch ceiling: Parma Gray No. 27 by Farrow & Ball; farrow-ball.com.

Casual Cream

“These subtle, creamy shades take on the effect of an old limewash when paired with hand-molded brick. We've been using it for years, and it never looks oudated or out of place. It's a classical palette that can be seen on raised cottages from Louisiana to the Lowcountry.”
–Jim Strickland, Design Principal, Historical Concepts, Atlanta and Peachtree City, Georgia

Paint Palette
Body: Roycroft Vellum (SW2833) by Sherwin-Williams; sherwin-williams.com.
Trim: Classical White (SW2829) by Sherwin-Williams; sherwin-williams.com.
Shutters: Andiron (SW6174) by Sherwin-Williams; sherwin-williams.com.

High-Contrast Color

“High-contrast color schemes look best on cottages. The stone color is used only at the front door to add a subtle punch of color to the otherwise austere scheme.”
–Norman Askins, Norman D. Askins Architect, Atlanta

Paint Palette
Body: Iron Mountain (2134-30) by Benjamin Moore; benjaminmoore.com.
Trim: White (01) by Benjamin Moore; benjaminmoore.com.
Doors: Carrington Beige (HC-93) by Benjamin Moore; benjaminmoore.com.

A Burst of Color

“The crisp white trim enhances the cottage-style details and provides a strong contrast to the red siding.”
–Bill Curtis, Curtis & Windham Architects, Houston

Paint Palette
Body: Sedona Clay (SW2313) by Sherwin-Williams; sherwin-williams.com.
Trim: Pure White (SW7005) by Sherwin-Williams; sherwin-williams.com.