11 Best Neutral Paint Colors for Farmhouse Exteriors

PPG Gypsum
Photo: Heather Carraway

If you're on the hunt for the right paint color for your farmhouse exterior, you've probably noticed that simply choosing any old paint color is no easy task. With so many options, it's easy to get overwhelmed with which exterior paint color to choose. We're here to help make that decision a little easier by showing you some of our favorite neutral shades for farmhouse exteriors. Seeing them in action may help you decide which shade will work best for your home. You'll soon be on your way to creating the farmhouse of your dreams.

For hues that easily pair with the natural landscape, try our favorite neutral shades for farmhouse exteriors.

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Sherwin-Williams Natural Choice

Front Door
Photo: Laurey W. Glenn

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.

02 of 11

PPG Gypsum

PPG Gypsum
Heather Carraway

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.

03 of 11

Sherwin-Williams Navajo White

Kentucky Horse Farmhouse
Photo: Jonny Valiant; Styling: Gena Sigala

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.

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Benjamin Moore Simply White

Julia Engel Gal Meets Glam White House with Blue Shutters in Charleston, SC
Hector Manuel Sanchez; Lizzie Cullen Cox

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.

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Sherwin-Williams Alabaster

Brittney Forrister's Nashville Cottage
Mary Craven

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.

06 of 11

Sherwin-Williams White Heron

Jacksonville, Florida Cracker Style Home Front Door
Hector Manuel Sanchez; Styling: Barbara Schmidt

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.

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Sherwin-Williams Creamy

Chapel Hill House White Exterior with Black Shutters
Photo: Ngoc Minh Ngo; Styling: Ed Gallagher

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.

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Sherwin-Williams Drift of Mist

Front Exterior Resource Guide for 2019 Idea House in Crane Island, Florida
Laurey W. Glenn

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.

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Sherwin-Williams Intellectual Gray

Nashville Idea House at Fontanel
Photo: Laurey W. Glenn

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.

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Sherwin-Williams Extra White

Idea House 2020 Front Exterior Entry with Dog sitting on Porch
Robbie Caponetto; Styling: Kendra Surface

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.

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Sherwin-Williams Oyster White

Oakland Hall House Plan
Southern Living House Plans

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.

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