11 Best Neutral Paint Colors for Farmhouse Exteriors

Seen here on our Georgia Idea House, Natural Choice from Sherwin-Williams is a fresh white shade that will pop against a natural landscape without being too stark and bright. This neutral white is neither too warm or too cool, and it leans toward whites found in nature. 

Casey Rutherford of Between White Houses used the off-white shade Gypsum from PPG for the siding color and PPG's Swirling Smoke for the shutters of her Georgia farmhouse to create a quintessential natural color palette. The pale gray and modern greige both have red undertones. Keeping the colors soft helped Rutherford achieve a modern farmhouse feel while keeping in Southern tradition.

To achieve a buttery hue that pairs well with a copper roof, use Navajo White by Sherwin-Williams. It leans more toward a tan shade, pictured here on a restored Kentucky farmhouse. This creamy neutral provides a bit of warmth without coming off as too yellow and makes a nice combination with browns and reds.

Equal parts classic and modern, crisp white paint completes the photogenic style of Julia Engel's Charleston home. She chose Benjamin Moore's Simply White as the main color for the exterior and paired it with Blue Porcelain, also from Benjamin Moore, to complete the blue and white color scheme. Calmed with a touch of gray, the blue provides just enough contrast to this slightly warm white.

Alabaster from Sherwin Williams was their 2016 Color of the Year and has become a popular choice for exterior paint color. The true neutral, seen here on a charming Nashville home, is symbolic of new beginnings. It's soft and versatile, making it a popular pick.

Sherwin-Williams' White Heron pops against darker door shades and creates a look of unity between the various architectural features of this Florida home. The grayish white pairs well with blues, making this a great choice for exteriors with gray tones in roofing or trim.

Black shutters in Farrow & Ball's Off-Black stand out against an all-white exterior painted Sherwin-Williams' Creamy. The off-white provides a contrast to the milder black that's not too stark. It's easy to see why this is a classic combination.

Seen here on our 2019 Idea House in Amelia Island, Florida, Sherwin-Williams' Drift of Mist has more gray undertones, perfect for pairing with blue accent colors. It's paired here with Sherwin-Williams' Blustery Sky on the front door. The neutral gray provides balance to pops of gray, green, and blue.

Our Nashville Idea House at Fontanel displays a slightly darker shade. Sherwin-Williams' Intellectual Gray offers a mix between taupe and gray. Its green undertones complement darker grays and creams.

The exterior of our 2020 Idea House in Asheville, North Carolina, uses custom tint in Sherwin-Williams' Extra White on the siding with a slightly darker shade for the shutters. The front door in Rural Green by Sherwin-Williams plays to the home's wooded location. The slightly cool white favors pairings with cooler colors like blues and grays.

This gothic-style farmhouse is a new build with Southern tradition. A coat of Oyster White by Sherwin-Williams gives the exterior a fresh spin. The subtle tan of the shutters in Relaxed Khaki by Sherwin-Williams adds contrast without taking away from the more dramatic elements of the home.