7 Popular Exterior Paint Colors Designers Always Use

Selecting the best exterior paint color for your personal sense of style, neighborhood, natural surroundings, and landscaping setup can feel overwhelming— and picking the color you will be painting your entire house in is a big commitment.

To help you narrow down your choices, we called in the pros and spoke to two designers to find out their top exterior paint choices, and go-to shades they love to use on their clients’ homes.

Green

Designers Nina Lichtenstein and Dana Lee Calabrese are known for their nature-inspired designs. They love to draw colors from the natural settings of their client’s homes when picking an exterior paint color.

“Earthy greens—especially paired with browns—evoke a natural, serene atmosphere, perfect for homes surrounded by lush gardens or wooded areas,” Lichtenstein shares.

“Deep River by Benjamin Moore is a great dark green color if you want a moodier look,” Calabrese adds. “Dark green also pairs well with a wood door if you want a nature-inspired feel.”

Calabrese also recommends a softer green, like Clary Sage by Sherwin-Williams, for the front door to create a soft look with just the right amount of contrast and interest.

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Blue-Gray

Lichtenstein’s favorite hue for client homes is a soft yet saturated hue inspired by the sky, and ideal for coastal or farmhouse-inspired buildings.

“Blue-gray is a sophisticated choice that brings a serene and calming effect to a home’s exterior, creating a harmonious blend with the natural environment,” she says. “It works beautifully with modern and traditional architectural styles.”

Black

Calabrese’s all-time favorite exterior paint shade to use for her clients is a modern, bold, and sometimes controversial choice, selected to stand out amongst a home’s surroundings.

“A black exterior will forever be my favorite,” Calabrese says. “It’s not for everyone, but if you are feeling brave and bold with your design choices, you cannot go wrong. I live part-time in the mountains, and the contrast with the pines and snowy peaks is breathtaking.”

Off-White

Whether you live in the desert, suburbs, or by the seaside, our designers agree: you cannot go wrong with off-white when selecting an exterior paint color, thanks to its soft, classic feel.

Using a light paint color on your home’s exterior style will suit a range of architectural styles, and will allow any accent color to shine through.

“Some colors never go out of style,” Lichtenstein says. “Whites and off-white exteriors offer a clean, timeless look that can make any home appear larger and more inviting.”

“For a softer look I specifically love using Alabaster by Sherwin-Williams on the cladding of a home,” Calabrese adds.

Beige

Another versatile color both Lichtenstein and Calabrese love for clients in every kind of home and neighborhood is beige—which also makes a home feel larger, warmer, and more inviting, while perfectly complementing landscaping elements on a house’s exterior.

“Neutral tones like beige and taupe are versatile and blend seamlessly with various architectural styles and landscapes,” Lichtenstein explains.

“Accessible Beige by Sherwin-Williams is one of my favorite colors for clients’ front doors, especially with a white cladding,” Calabrese adds.

Gray

Another classic color Lichtenstein leans into for her clients is gray: and light, medium, and darker variations of this color all find a place in her exterior paint recommendations.

She loves using darker gray for the main body of the house to draw the eye upward and a mid-tone gray for roof peaks and areas under windows to make these features stand out as unique focal points.

“Lighter gray can be used on the sides of the house or as accent areas above or below the darkest shade to provide contrast, highlight specific elements—such as the darker chimneys— and create a layered effect,” she says.

Designers’ Favorite Color Combinations

White and Brown

Calabrese loves the modern, high-contrast look of a warm, yet dark and moody brown or greige fascia with a warm off-white main exterior paint color.

“I adore pairing Alabaster with Urbane Bronze—both by Sherwin-Williams— on the fascia, soffit, and front door,” she shares. “For an even more contrasted look, I love using Pure White on the cladding, Tricorn Black on the accents, and Accessible Beige on the front door.” Calabrese shares.

Gray and White

Lichtenstein, on the other hand, finds herself using soothing shades of grey as a go-to for her clients, pairing them with white accents to mimic the sky and clouds above.

“Utilizing different shades of gray across various siding styles and architectural elements can add depth and visual interest to your home’s exterior,” Lichtenstein says.