Power Tools Rater: Exterior Paint Colors that Add Curb Appeal

Hi Remodelaholics, Cyndy here from The Creativity Exchange back with my monthly paint color post. If you happened to miss last month’s Color Spotlight highlighting Wythe Blue from Benjamin Moore, you can find that post here.

This month, I wanted to touch on exterior paint colors that help improve curb appeal and what to look for in exterior colors. I get a lot of questions about how to choose exterior colors and wanted to share a few little tricks that I use in finding just the right colors.

Whole Home Colors

When it comes to choosing a whole home (main body) exterior color, the lighter and brighter a color is, the more the architectural lines and landscaping details will stand out. Mid-tone muted neutrals like warm grays are a great way to incorporate a color that’s not white, while still keeping the home lighter and brighter and improving curb appeal.

Exterior Main Color is Copley Gray Benjamin Moore via Sienna Custom Builders

I always recommend going lighter because with a color darker than a mid-tone, details like the landscaping in front of a home and architectural details get lost and blend in with a darker color. With a lighter color, these features really stand out and contrast.

Exterior Main Color is Edgecomb Gray Benjamin Moore via Hiya Papaya

Exterior Trim

An easy trick for choosing an exterior trim color that will make the most curb appeal impact is to choose a trim color that will contrast the exterior home color the most. The more a color contrasts the exterior home color, the more the lines of the home, accents and architectural details will stand out.

Exterior Color is Amherst Gray BM/Door Color is Wythe Blue BM via Clark and Co.

However, if for some reason you want to minimize the lines and architectural details of your home, choose a trim color that is the same as the body or one (or two) shades lighter/darker than your exterior whole home color.

via Benjamin Moore

If you have a brick home, look to the lightest or darkest shade of your brick for the perfect trim accent color. If your brick is only one shade/color, I always suggest the safest route by going either white,cream or black trim accent. It gets very tricky matching trim/accent undertones paint colors to solid brick colors.

Trim Color Similar to Soft Chamois Benjamin Moore via Anthony Wilder Design

Front Door Colors

Front door paint colors are purely subjective. Paint experts will run the spectrum of advice on the ideal home color combination including the front door accent color. If you’re not trying to sell your home, I always encourage clients to choose a color that they love and that will work with the overall exterior color scheme.

Body is SW Pure White and Trim/Door is SW Dorian Gray via Holly Mathis

From a curb appeal standpoint, a front door color that contrasts the exterior home and trim colors is ideal. However, the contrast can vary greatly and be simple as one or two shades lighter/darker or the contrast can really vary to the other end of the spectrum and be a dramatic like a pop of bold color. Both levels of contrast will improve curb appeal.

Exterior Color is SW Dovetail, Door Color is SW Waterscape and Trim is SW Linen via Addisons Wonderland

An easy trick to nailing the perfect front door color that is guaranteed to work with the other exterior colors is to have the paint store mix in 25% of the main exterior paint color with the front door color. Even if you have a mid-toned gray home with white trim and you want a navy door color, have the paint store mix in 25% of your gray that you used in your main exterior with any shade of navy. This works wonders and while the door color will still contrast, the undertones will blend with the home.

There are endless possibilities when it comes to choosing exterior paint colors and I know it can be overwhelming. Hopefully my tips today will help you add some great curb appeal. For even more exterior paint color recommendations and inspiration, you can check out my post here on my blog.

Thanks for stopping by today and if you haven’t had the chance to check out my blog and other paint color recommendations and color palettes, you can find me here.

Cyndy

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