6 Tips for Choosing Your Home's Exterior Paint Color Like a Pro

Whether you want to ramp up your home’s curb appeal for your own enjoyment or you're getting ready to sell, giving it a fresh coat of paint can surely help—assuming you choose the right colors.

It's a less costly update—when compared to re-cladding, re-roofing, or re-landscaping—that can still greatly enhance the overall look of your property. If you're unsure of where to start in selecting the perfect color scheme, we've spoken with experts to find out their best tips for choosing exterior palettes, so you can love your home's exterior color for years to come.

Benjamin Moore

When it comes to choosing a paint color, it's important to think about the existing cladding and roofing materials as much as they should.

Hannah Yeo, a senior manager of color marketing for Benjamin Moore advises to conduct a thorough visual assessmentof surfaces not slated for painting like the roof, brick, or stones.

«Choose hues that harmonize with and unify these different surfaces,» she says.

She recommends trying white for exterior walls and a green hue for window trim. The latter elegantly accentuates a roof color with earthy undertones.

“Colorful doors often top wish lists for homeowners wanting to infuse playful hues into their exterior space without overwhelming the color balance of the home,” Sue Kim, director of color marketing for Valspar, says.

For an uplifting aesthetic, she recommends Valspar’s Renew Blue 8003-37D because it adds a welcoming charm to any exterior.

Yeo also suggests adding a pop of bold or unconventional color to the front door. Just ensure that the hue shares or complements the undertones of other colors used in the exterior. Alternatively, you can apply unexpected colors to shutters if your home has them.