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  4. How to Pick the Right Exterior Paint Colors

How to Pick the Right Exterior Paint Colors

Southern Living May 2021 Cover
By Southern Living Editors
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Brilliant Red Front Door on a Light Blue House with Containers of Hydrangeas
Credit: Laurey W. Glenn
Committing to a paint color for the exterior of your home is, well, quite the commitment. Especially when you factor in the nuance of color—how shades can be so different depending on light, texture, and the colors around them. Luckily, you don't have to navigate all the possible exterior paint color combinations alone. We've asked some of the South's most respected architects for their input on exterior house paints. Whether you're looking to achieve the perfect patina, or to play up a coastal vibe, or are aiming for a harmonious, nature-inspired palette, these architects can guide the way to the best exterior house paint colors. If you're not sure what you want, this list may help spark some new exterior paint color ideas. A few things to think about: location, light, architecture, and scale. Looking looking for interior inspiration? We have that too, broken down by color. 
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Pure Patina

Charleston Townhome for Sale
Credit: Keen Eye Marketing

“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

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Pure Patina Paint Palette

Pure Patina: Paint Colors
Credit: Southern Living

Body: Weatherboard (DCR103) by Duron; sherwin-williams.com.

Doors: Historic Charleston Green (DCR099) by Duron; sherwin-williams.com.

Trim: Palladian Blue (HC-144) by Benjamin Moore; benjaminmoore.com.

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Fresh & All-American

Brilliant Red Front Door on a Light Blue House with Containers of Hydrangeas
Credit: Laurey W. Glenn

“For a traditional American home, try a deep green or baby blue 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, Georgia

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Fresh & All-American Paint Palette

Light and Fresh Paint Colors
Credit: Southern Living

Body: Whitewash

Shutters: Black Forest Green by Benjamin Moore; benjaminmoore.com.

Doors: Classic Burgundy by Benjamin Moore; benjaminmoore.com.

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Classic White

nashville cottage
Credit: Laurey W. Glenn

“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, North Carolina

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Classic White Paint Palette

Classic White Paint Colors
Credit: Southern Living

Body: White Down (970) by Benjamin Moore; benjaminmoore.com.

Shutters: Manchester Tan (HC-81) by Benjamin Moore; benjaminmoore.com.

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Velvet Brown

Arkansas Cottage After
Credit: Photo: Hector Sanchez

“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

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Velvet Brown Paint Palette

Velvet Brown Paint Colors
Credit: Southern Living

Body: Black Fox (SW7020) by Sherwin-Williams; sherwin-williams.com.

Trim: Sassy Green (SW6416) by Sherwin-Williams; sherwin-williams.com.

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Coastal Charm

Aiken Street, Plan #1807
Credit: Southern Living

“Dark and muted 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, Texas

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Coastal Charm Paint Palette

Coastal Charm Paint Colors
Credit: Southern Living

Body: Cromwell Gray (HC-103) by Benjamin Moore; benjaminmoore.com.

Trim: Narragansett Green (HC-157) by Benjamin Moore; benjaminmoore.com.

Doors: Country Redwood (HC-183) by Benjamin Moore; benjaminmoore.com.

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Warm Yellow

Vintage Lowcountry
Credit: Southern Living

“We like a warm yellow paired with a classic ternemetal 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. The warm palette also favors the Lowcountry feel.” –Anne Fairfax, Fairfax & Sammons Architects, Palm Beach, Florida

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Warm Yellow Paint Palette

Warm Yellow Paint Colors
Credit: Southern Living

Body: Warm Yellow (9036) by Keim; keim.com.

Trim: Incarnadine (No. 248) by Farrow & Ball; farrowandball.com.

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Rich Timelessness

Sparta Garden Back Porch Seating
Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez

“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.

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Rich Timelessness Paint Palette

A Rich Timelessness: Paint Colors
Credit: Southern Living

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; Clear Skies (2054-70) by Benjamin Moore; benjaminmoore.com

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Simple & Clean

Farmhouse Curb Appeal with Red Front Door
Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez

“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, Alabama

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Simple & Clean Paint Palette

Simple and Clean Paint Colors
Credit: Southern Living

Body: China White (74) by Benjamin Moore; benjaminmoore.com.

Trim: Iron Mountain (2134-30) by Benjamin Moore; benjaminmoore.com.

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Coastal-Inspired

Genteel Cottage Exterior
Credit: Laurey W. Glenn

“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, Alabama

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Coastal-Inspired Paint Palette

Coastal-Inspired Paint Colors
Credit: Southern Living

Body and trim: Lambswool (2269) by Pratt & Lambert; prattandlambert.com.

Shutters: Blue Spa (2052-40) by Benjamin Moore; benjaminmoore.com.

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Bright & Cheery

Bright & Cheery
Credit: @vintageandgrace

“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, South Carolina

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Bright & Cheery Paint Palette

Bright and Cheery Paint Colors
Credit: Southern Living

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

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High-Contrast Color

Farmdale Cottage
Credit: Laurey W. Glenn

“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, Georgia

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High-Contrast Color Paint Palette

High-Contrast Paint Colors
Credit: Southern Living

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.

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Touch of Blue

2018 Idea House in Austin, Texas Front Exterior Curb Appeal
Credit: Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller

“This palette of Wedgwood blue and bisque blends naturally with the big sky. Paired with a wide front porch, this palette feels classically Southern.” –Jim Howard, James Michael Howard, Inc., Jacksonville, Florida and Atlanta, Georgia

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Touch of Blue Paint Palette

A Blue Blend: Paint Colors
Credit: Southern Living

Walls: Swiss Coffee (OC-45) by Benjamin Moore; benjaminmoore.com.

Shutters: Iceberg (2122-50) by Benjamin Moore; benjaminmoore.com.

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Burst of Color

Teal Blue House with Navy Blue Front Door and Dog
Credit: Photo: Robbie Caponetto; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller; Container Arrangements: Tom Ericson/The Transplanted Garden; Location: The Cottages at Ocean Isle Beach, NC

“The crisp white trim enhances the cottage-style details and provides a strong contrast to boldly colored siding. Don't be afraid to pick another fun color for your front door.” –Bill Curtis, Curtis & Windham Architects, Houston, Texas

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Burst of Color Paint Palette

A Burst of Color: Paint Colors
Credit: Southern Living

Body: Sedona Clay (SW2313) by Sherwin-Williams; sherwin-williams.com.

Trim: Pure White (SW7005) by Sherwin-Williams; sherwin-williams.com.

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Casual Cream

River Place Cottage, Plan #1959
Credit: Southern Living

“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

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Casual Cream Paint Palette

Casual Cream Paint Colors
Credit: Southern Living

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.

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Modern Monochromatic

Randolph Cottage, Plan #1861
Credit: Southern Living

“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, South Carolina

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Modern Monochrome Paint Palette

Modern Monochrome Paint Colors
Credit: Southern Living

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

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Charming in Green

Green
Credit: @thatcitybird

Taking cues from Mother Nature's favorite neutral (and to best complement the flower-filled yard), architect Sam Greeson suggests siding a bold green and the shutters a deeper, nearly black green. Then he recommends using crisp white paint to highlight the trim and exterior details.

Archictect: Sam Greeson, Meyer Greeson Paullin Benson; mgpb.com, Charlotte, North Carolina

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Green Paint Palette

Charming in Green
Credit: Southern Living

Siding: Vine Green (2034-20) by Benjamin Moore; benjaminmoore.com

Shutters: Roycroft Bottle Green (SW2847) by Sherwin-Williams; sherwin-williams.com

Trim: Alabaster (SW7008) by Sherwin-Williams; sherwin-williams.com

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Natural & Harmonious

Fran Keenan Birmingham Cottage Front Exterior
Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez

“This natural, harmonious palette reinforces 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, Georgia

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Natural & Harmonious ​​​​​​​Paint Palette

Natural and Harmonious Paint Colors
Credit: Southern Living

Body: Relaxed Khaki (SW6149) by Sherwin-Williams; sherwin-williams.com.

Trim and shutters: Universal Khaki (SW6150) by Sherwin-Williams; sherwin-williams.com.

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Earthy Tones

Cape Cod Cottage: After
Credit: Photo: Laurey W. Glenn

“This palette updates the colors of Colonial Williamsburg, the richly saturated, earthy mineral paint colors used in the 18th-century Virginia capital. These classics are always appropriate for a new old house.” –Russell Versaci, Russell Versaci Architecture, Middleburg, Virginia

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Earthy Tones Paint Palette

Earthy Tones: Paint Colors
Credit: Southern Living

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.

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    1 of 36 Pure Patina
    2 of 36 Pure Patina Paint Palette
    3 of 36 Fresh & All-American
    4 of 36 Fresh & All-American Paint Palette
    5 of 36 Classic White
    6 of 36 Classic White Paint Palette
    7 of 36 Velvet Brown
    8 of 36 Velvet Brown Paint Palette
    9 of 36 Coastal Charm
    10 of 36 Coastal Charm Paint Palette
    11 of 36 Warm Yellow
    12 of 36 Warm Yellow Paint Palette
    13 of 36 Rich Timelessness
    14 of 36 Rich Timelessness Paint Palette
    15 of 36 Simple & Clean
    16 of 36 Simple & Clean Paint Palette
    17 of 36 Coastal-Inspired
    18 of 36 Coastal-Inspired Paint Palette
    19 of 36 Bright & Cheery
    20 of 36 Bright & Cheery Paint Palette
    21 of 36 High-Contrast Color
    22 of 36 High-Contrast Color Paint Palette
    23 of 36 Touch of Blue
    24 of 36 Touch of Blue Paint Palette
    25 of 36 Burst of Color
    26 of 36 Burst of Color Paint Palette
    27 of 36 Casual Cream
    28 of 36 Casual Cream Paint Palette
    29 of 36 Modern Monochromatic
    30 of 36 Modern Monochrome Paint Palette
    31 of 36 Charming in Green
    32 of 36 Green Paint Palette
    33 of 36 Natural & Harmonious
    34 of 36 Natural & Harmonious ​​​​​​​Paint Palette
    35 of 36 Earthy Tones
    36 of 36 Earthy Tones Paint Palette

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