Exterior Paint Color Palette Ideas and Tips for Spring

The weather is warming, the days are growing longer and the flowers are blooming. Say hello to the first signs of spring! With this new season, many homeowners decide its time to refresh their home’s exterior. So where to start?

Color Inspiration

With so many choices, it can be a challenge to settle on your perfect exterior color scheme. From trendy colors, to classic neutrals, to warm or cool hues, here are some trending colors and general guidelines to make your choice easier!

Greige

Depending on your exterior, cool grays can seem too cold, while beige can feel boring, so why not consider a neutral that bridges the two? “Greige” — the term used to describe a blend of gray and beige that offers a richer tonality than gray or beige alone — is an ideal choice for neutral palettes. Cooler greiges pair well with cooler blues and greens, while warmer greiges complement warmer colors such as oranges and reds.

Cliff May Home, Long Beach, CA. BODY: DE6228 Play On Gray. Trim: DE6371 Blackjack. Front Door: Custom Mix Of DE5767 Star City With 1 OZ. Black Photo Credit: Bethany Nauert Photography

Brown

Browns in mid-tone and deeper tonal ranges are up-trending. Consider pairing brown with white trim for a classic look or with a bright trim for a modern refresh. Brown exterior paint palettes look beautiful when surrounded with natural landscape such as stone, trees and verdant foliage.

Get the look. Body: Rich Mocha (DEA159). Trim: Stain

Get the look with: Body: Desert Suede (DE6206). Trim: Tuscan Mosaic (DE6208). Accent: Metal Fringe (DET626)

White

White is an ideal way to brighten up a home’s exterior yet — as there are so many choices when it comes to white paint — testing is key. Undertones play a key role in ensuring a scheme feels just right. Whether a
warm or cool white, take the time to understand the role other colors in the palette to create a cohesive visual.

Body and Trim: Warm White (DEW380)

Body: White Picket Fence (DET648). Front Door: Dark Engine (DE6350)

Check out our video on choosing the perfect white for more helpful tips.

Classic Yellow

A light, buttery yellow is a classic color for a cheery home exterior. Choose a yellow that’s light, slightly browned and soft — rather than an overpowering, zesty yellow, which can wear out its welcome on many
architectural styles. Keep the strong yellow choices for those homes that truly call for a big dose of color. For an easy color scheme option, add contrast to your yellow by painting shutters, front doors and trim white, black or sage green.

Get the look with: Body: Warm & Toasty (DET646). Trim: Swiss Coffee (DEW341). Accent: Black Tie (DE6357)

Get the look with: Body: Summer Solstice (DET492). Trim: White Picket Fence (DET648)

Green

The range of greens trending these days is a sign to its durability and flexibility. From sage greens to deep, blackened greens, there are myriad ways to play up this nature-inspired palette. Look to sage and
earthy greens if your home is surrounded by lush landscaping, while deeper pine and blackened greens match beautifully with Victorian and Colonial homes. If you have red brick or stone on your exterior, a light olive or sage green will help soften the red tones.

Exterior Upper Body: DE5717 Pistachio Ice Cream. Lower Body: DE5711 Up North. Trim: DEW341 Swiss Coffee

Body: Woodlawn Green (DEC779). Trim: Winter Lite (DEC768). Accent: Rodeo (DEA163)

Blue

Blue is a universally loved hue and highlighting any of the wide range of blues is a great exterior choice. Consider lighter blues and gray blues for warmer climates, as softer blues tend to fade more quickly in cooler and harsher conditions. If you live a cooler climate, deeper blues perform better than lighter hues in severe conditions.

Body: The Blues (DE5859). Trim: White (DEW380). Accent: Le Corbusier Crush (DET421)

Body: Irogon Blue (DEC796). Trim: Swiss Coffee (DEW341). Accent: Old Mill (DEA185)

General Exterior Painting Project Tips

For certain styles of homes, research the appropriate traditional color schemes for time-tested ideas that work.

• Pick a color that complements the home’s brick, siding, stone or roofing.
• Choose a color scheme that blends with the neighborhood. If required, check with the homeowners’ association for any color restrictions.
• Because color may appear different depending on the time of day, paint a section of the house where the body, trim and accent colors can be viewed together. Then check the colors throughout the day to see how they look.
• To highlight architectural details, such as shutters and columns, choose a color that contrasts with the wall color of the house. For example, if the wall is a light color, choose a darker color.
• To minimize attention to unattractive elements such as downspouts, air-conditioning units, vents and gutters, paint them the same color as the wall of the house or choose a trim color that is a similar shade.

Body: Metal Fringe (DET626). Trim: White (DEW380). Door and Shutters: Black (DEA002)