How to Choose Paint Colors for Your Home Exterior

Updating exterior paint colors is a great way to enhance the value of your home, improve curb appeal, and express your personal style. Whether you’re interested in a classic style that’s subtle and sophisticated, or something more eye-catching and unique, there are many home exterior paint colors to choose from.

The PMV team has been painting home exteriors since 2001, and we love sharing our expertise and skills to ensure your home looks its best. Before we can bring your vision to life, you need to make some color selections. Here are three steps for how to choose paint colors for your home exterior.

But First, How Do You Know If It’s Time to Repaint Your Home’s Exterior?

It’s time to repaint your house if…

• The paint is flaking or faded
• You notice a chalky substance on the surface
• Your paint is more than 10 to 15 years old

Or maybe you’re just ready for a change! Your home is a focal point of your life and daily routine, so it’s important to cultivate a space where you feel at ease and where you enjoy spending time with family, friends, and neighbors.

1. Choose A Primary Exterior Color

Most homeowners start by choosing a color for the main portion of the exterior. Colors can be based on your home’s existing exterior elements, natural surroundings, and your own personal style. Here are a few tips for narrowing down your exterior paint color options.

Start With Fixed Exterior Elements

Before jumping straight to color samples, we recommend walking around your home’s exterior and noting any elements that will stay the same. What color is your roof? Does your home have exterior accents like stone or brick? What color is your front door? Your front porch? Does your landscaping have larger plants or materials that affect your home’s overall aesthetic?

This will help you choose a color that complements your home’s existing features and create a cohesive exterior look. Otherwise, you could end up with a cool-toned color that clashes with the warm brick or a bright color that outshines the landscaping you’ve spent years designing.

Consider Lighting and Natural Surroundings

The same color can appear differently in two different lights. The shade of a nearby tree can make a gray look much darker than if it were in direct sunlight. The direction your home faces can also affect color. If the front of your home faces north, it won’t get direct sunlight, and colors will look slightly more gray and shadowed. South-facing homes will have the most sunlight throughout the day, and paint colors will look a few shades brighter than the samples in the showroom. The warmth of south-facing light can even make certain blues appear slightly green.

It’s definitely worth looking at your paint color samples on all sides of the house and at different times of the day to get an idea of which color will look the best in different types of light.

Let Your Personal Style Guide the Way

While practical considerations will always be important factors when choosing an exterior paint color, you should also find a color that makes you happy! Your home is a reflection of your personality and style. If that means bright hues and bold color combinations, why not embrace it? If you’re unsure about how to balance practicality and personal style, let us know! All PMV clients have the option to work with a professional color consultant at no extra cost.

2. Coordinate Trim, Accents, and Doors

After you decide on a primary exterior color, it’s time to choose coordinating colors for doors, trim, and accents. Most homes have a color palette of three to four exterior colors. Here are a few recommendations on creating a balanced exterior color scheme.

Trim and Accents

Trim can be white or a neutral color that coordinates with your primary color. Darker colors on window shutters and secondary trim can emphasize certain features and draw the eye. Many homeowners match their window shutters with their front doors, but choosing a slightly darker color for shutters can add some nice contrast.

Doors

Your front door is one of the focal points of your home’s exterior and an important transition point between the outside and inside color schemes. Black is one of the most popular front door colors, followed by green, red, and blue. You may want to coordinate your front door color with your entryway as well as your exterior.

Different architectural styles could also affect your color choices. Contemporary homes often have brighter, more playful hues, while traditional styles tend toward dark, rich colors.

3. Explore Exterior Paint Color Combinations

If you have trouble visualizing different color combinations, you’re not alone! Many people find it helpful to look at inspiration photos or use a color visualizer like the one from Sherwin-Williams. Speaking with a professional color consultant can also help you create a cohesive color palette. They’ll be able to recommend a primary color that fits your style goals and find accent colors for your doors, shutters, trim, windows, soffits, and even gutters. All PMV clients have the option to work with a professional color consultant, but here are a few starter color combinations to get you thinking.

Light Exterior Color Combinations

Dark Exterior Color Combinations

Primary exterior color: Flint by Benjamin Moore
Front door: Heritage Red by Benjamin Moore

Primary exterior color: Grizzle Gray by Sherwin-Williams
Front door: Cheerful by Sherwin-Williams

Color-Forward Exterior Combinations

Primary exterior color: Needlepoint Navy by Sherwin-Williams
Front door: Roycroft Adobe by Sherwin-Williams

Primary exterior color: Butter Up by Sherwin-Williams
Front door: Acacia Haze by Sherwin-Williams

PMV Painting is Your Local Exterior Painter in Kalamazoo and Portage, Michigan

Whether you’re still considering your color options or already have something in mind, reach out to PMV to book your project! With a history of going above and beyond to provide unparalleled customer service, PMV Painting has the expertise to take on any residential painting project. Schedule a free estimate online or contact our office with any questions at 269.276.0907.