Color for Exterior

Question

this house has off white brick with grey mortar, also country blue trim, and white windows. I want to refurbish the out side of the house and warm it up with color. What colors should I chooses?
I like either a french country look or a cottage look, or just some thing more homey this house always looks cold.

Jeanette S · Answer

The first thing I would do would be to scrub down the brick along the bottom where dirt has accumulated. Then add color in greenery in the planter (or on ledge in pots--can't tell which) and in front of it. add some maniature shrubs with some clumps of variagated border grass. Then use a cranberry or a burnt orange accents. In spring and summer, you could add pretty pots of colorful flowers on each side of door. By using different colors of green, you have a contrast in color all year.

ProTect Painters of Oviedo ~ Winter Springs · Answer

Hi - Might consider visiting ProTect Painters Pinterest site at http://pinterest.com/protectpainting/ Look on the Color Selections Ideas andExteriors boards. You may find a colorcombo you like there.

Rosemary N · Answer

How about a pale, buttery yellow with bright blue trim? Those colors seem to go well with country French. Also, I'd add a few shrubs along the front of the house and lots of colorful flowers. You could do spring bulbs (crocus, daffodil, tulip, etc.), daylilies in midsummer. Oriental lilies would add a lovely sent, also. You'd still have plenty of room in the planter for perennial & annual flowers. Good luck & have fun!

Jessie Hammond · Answer

Some of the prettiest homes I have seen are light/ pale yellow with black trim. The color combination is warm & inviting. I would also do black on the porch & steps, & paint the picket fence white. By adding shrubs, blooming & non-blooming in different colors & textures along with some easy care perennials that will give all season interest. Take a drive around town & make notes or take pictures of the homes & yards that 'jump' out at you. What is it about the yard or house that you like? the color? , the plants ? pathways? Whatever it may be, you can adjust it to fit your home. You can also go to Behr.com & try out different color combinations . Good Luck !

Darlene Nieman Morris · Answer

Change shutters out for some deep burgundy colored ones. Get rid of that carpet on the steps and sidewalk, along with the wrought iron railings, or paint them, gray maybe, to match grout color. You could just replace them with hand rails next to steps, and nothing on the porch area? Paint wooden fence white, Then start with adding some small bushes, that have a like burgundy colors to them, in the planter box, or if it's shade, you could plant some hostas, and add some colorful annuals, each spring, for added color? Then have lawn re-seeded. I know that's a lot, but maybe a little at a time. I would also change that sidewalk lay out, to add more of that country look.

WallsTreat Studio/ Kass Wilson · Answer

Not sure what is on the steps, but make it consistent with the color of the line along the flower boxes. This will give you a consistent visual line along the front of the home. Fill the planter boxes with greenery that will drape/ cascade over the front, contrast the color of the front door and add pots with a high bush/ topiary on each side. This will put all of the attention exactly where you want it. . . the entrance.

Nancy May · Answer

white picket fence,loose the carpet paint the trim a warm gray as well as the wrought iron

Helen · Answer

I would loose the blue shutters. Paint them a different color and get wider ones. Take off the wrought iron railing and make those steps as wide as the landing. I would make the deck wooden. You can add some modern railings also. Or better yet widen the landing to include the planter box or take that planter box out completely. Then I would widen the flower bed in front of the planter box and make a wider sidewalk with more presence. I would bring that walk out farther. I might even add an uneven walk like it is going out to the yard on the left side. You could use some reclaimed bricks on the left side. Then make a curved flower bed in front of the new walk. Have a little wider curve on the left side of the new sidewalk.
 
And if you really felt flush you could add a little roof over the new deck, but with a peak at the front with some square boxy posts to hold up the roof.

Helen · Answer

I guess you were just wanting a new color for your house. I get carried away. I would leave the color of the brick and just change the shutter colors and make some that are bigger. I would add some window boxes under the windows. I lived in a house with the exact same color brick.

Carol · Answer

Kathy, I too would paint the picket fence white, and your step railing white. Change out your lighting fixtures by spray painting them.I would paint your shutters a cottage green,one with a gray tone. Bring home some swatches and put them on the house to see what appeals to you. I would also take off the carpet on the stairs. and I would paint the stairs and the planter box all the same green, yes you cam paint the brick!! I would look for cottage garden ideas and plant some perennials to give you color.I would also place some flower pots on your porch. Good luck! Can't wait to see the 'after' photos!

Carol Smith · Answer

Paint the brick a creamy yellow gold, more cream than yellow. White trim. Paint the Front door black and shutters should be wider if possible and a dark blackish burgandy. Rip out the covering on the front porch and side walk and just paint it to look like bricks deep non-orangey red, there are many tutorials around on the net. Go all the way down to the end of the sidewalk.Work on the yard a bit and green it up with some fertilizer. Fill the flower boxes with a nice shub like rosemary which droops over and is hearty and some varigated or red shubs, there are a lot of varieties to choose from. Front flower bed should have a mix of annuals and perhaps some monkey grass or ground covers. Varigated would be a nice mix for some of the grasses. If you can afford to, remove that iron railing and replace with a sturdier thicker wood, paint white like the trim. Or you can wait and make that a later project. I would try to finder some large brass lanterns and lower them just about six or 8 inches from where they are sitting right now on each side of the front door. Make them larger. Find some 8 inch or larger numbers for the house address. I would also think that putting another lantern which matched over to the right near the garage door would look fantastic as well. If you can't afford to replace the lanterns right now, then try removing the ones you have, painting them and see if they can be lowered just a bit. Redo the wreath with different matching flowers on the glass door.
If you don't wish to paint the house brick then have it water blasted, and see if you can't scrub down that lower brick to get the stains off. French paint their brick a lot and it is charming. Paint the fencing to match the white trim.

Shari · Answer

Now we live in a red brick house so the only exterior paint choices I have to make these days are for the shutters and doors. However, each time we needed to paint the exterior of our old home during the 35 years we lived there, I would drive around our city's neighborhoods, looking for color inspiration. I'm very visual so seeing colors painted on real houses always helps me decide on colors better than trying to pick them from a color swatch in the paint store. When I found homes painted in colors I liked, I would make my hubby go up and ring the doorbell and ask the homeowner what colors they used. :D Once, when we couldn't catch a homeowner at home, I tracked the homeowner's name down through the local property appraiser's office, then looked him up in the phone book and called him. (I was bound, bent and determined I was painting my house THAT exact color!) Right off the top of his head, he couldn't remember the name of the color so he said he would find out and call me back, and he did! It was Behr's 'Cloud Burst' with white trim. We got a ton of compliments on that color combination. 
 Another pretty color combo we had one time was a sage green with black shutters. If you are not objectionable to painting your brick, I could see your house done in sage green with black shutters....and with the white around your windows, and the little wooden fence and porch railing painted white...gorgeous! And very cottage-y! (In fact, on the bottom of this page, under 'Related Posts,' I see a picture of a two story house that has a dark roof like yours, and it is painted a pretty sage-like green with black shutters and white trim. I think that is so warm and inviting, as well as eye-catching.) 
 The bottom line is color is a matter of personal preference. If you are needing color inspiration and help making a decision, I recommend driving around your city or town to see if any particular color combos appeal to you. And, unless it's your next door neighbor (who probably won't want your house the same color as theirs), don't be hesitant to ask the home owner what colors they have used. People we asked through the years seemed flattered to hear we liked their color choices and were always happy to share the colors.

Vera Savage · Answer

can I put a pic. Of my house that we're remodeling on here for suggestion.

Sandra Brown · Answer

I would paint the Brick a bright white, this would make it look cleaner and it would stand out, then I would go with a dark taupe trim, you can accent with darker beige color's, 
 very rich.

Shari · Answer

@Vera Savage -- sure! Just click the red Post & Ask button at the top right of your screen and start a new post for your picture(s) and question, rather than putting it here on Kathy's post.

TAMMY WHITE · Answer

I WOULD NOT START PAINTING MY BRICK AS THAT WILL BE UPKEEP IN THE FUTURE.  I WOULD CHANGE THE COLOR OF MY SHUTTERS TO MAYBE SOMETHING IN THE BURGANDY FAMILY OR BURNT ORANGE FAMILY.  TAKE CARPET OFF STEPS AND PAINT WROUGHT IRON OR REMOVE IT AND PLANT SOME FLOWERS AND SHRUBS TO MAKE IT LOOK MORE WELCOMING!

Lorie Cotter Yancey · Answer

the black on the fence is all alone...black trim on the house and shutters would tiddy it up! Paint the front door a deep maroon will update this look nicely! Need a few shrubs a bit taller...just for an added bonus!

Vicki Smith Culler · Answer

I would paint it a yellow and have the shutters as black and put shrubs the height of the porch. Your fence should be painted white, always white for a picket fence..I would also fill in the part where it looks like empty space that connects to the porch..just fill it in and lengthen the porch and put a roof over it and take the rails away..

Patty Maurer · Answer

I would paint brick a sage green, shutters a sandstone, front door a barn red, widen the front steps to length of porch. Clay pots going down on the side of steps with red geraniums. take out the iron railings and carpet on steps, low shrubs under windows, white lantern lights on side of door.

Shawn B · Answer

I'd power-wash the brick, pull up the blue carpet and paint like stone-work in grays and charcoal colors on the porch and steps, and paint the shutters black and trim black. Leave the brick as is (or paint it with a margarine-color) and plant bright flowers (geraniums and nasturtiums would be my choice) in window boxes along the front. White alyssum in front of the irises and hanging boston fern(s) at the front porch. Paint the door black and put a brass kick plate. Voila! It's a very nice home you have there.

Kristine Fiddelke · Answer

I think you should look into some curb appeal with shrubs, flowers, pavers etc.  I like the colors you are using now.

Cindy OShea · Answer

Maybe a nice sage green, with  a deeper green trim, a new front door and redo the porch railing, with wood an possibly add a small peeked roof over the porch, and change out the outside light fixtures. If you are wanting to go with a french country look, I would also demolish the concrete walkway, and lay out a different path with pavers and plant appropriate flowers and shrubs.

Jennie Brinker · Answer

do not paint the brick because once you do , you have to keep doing it. It will age and peel as if it were a wood frame. Just have it cleaned. maybe freshen up the mortar and paint the trim. Clean up the concrete. remove the carpet and go with a roughened resurface if you have icing issues. Look around your neighborhood for ideas. Do you have an HOA that dictates your colors? If not have fun and choose bold. A bright front door in a contrasting color always looks good.

Charlene Bloodworth · Answer

This is off subject but bear with me. I keep looking at the picture and I keep seeing the same thing every time. All of you can laugh at me all you want to but here it is. i see the perfect wheelchair ramp coming out from the landing over the stair area and then turning to the right over the sidewalk area. Even if no one there needs a ramp, not now at least, let me tell you, they are the best things to have. They are much easier than trying to get up & down steps, they can be built as a very lovely addition to the house. They add value to the house. You may have wheelchair friends who would love to come visit but can't without a ramp. If you plan on retiring in this house, there WILL come a day when a ramp will be a necessity. Ramps are wonderful for all ages. Just something to file away in your future upgrade file. :-)

Kristi Falcone · Answer

Paint both the brick and the trim.  There are many lovely combinations, maybe something fairly neutral with a brick red or forest green door.

Cheryl · Answer

I would paint it a sage green with black shutters and white trim around the windows,
 gutters, get rid of carpet on steps,and wrought iron rails, and that wood fence replace it with a more modern look in white, take out that tree on the right replace it with a japanese maple or plum tree, the along front a toss up but would have some color and texture, and take out the the flag stones, maybe a planter on the porch

Margaret K · Answer

You can have up to four paint colors on the exterior (before it gets way too busy). Your brick and roof each count as a color. So you can pick two other colors that compliment the house for the shutters and door and perhaps use the brick color for the trim. Brighten up the front with new landscaping that will add extra color and texture to your house.

Holly Decker · Answer

if you like a French country look,or cottage appeal, go to the library,look up ideas ,colors, flowers etc then have run, remember less is most, remove carpet & rod iron

Revi · Answer

I had a similar brick to yours, which I didn't care for. I painted my brick a color called 'cafe au lait' which was the color of coffee with milk. It is very neutral which has allowed me to paint the front door and French windows several times while keeping the same neutral color on my brick. I would advise choosing a neutral - either warm, such as golden beige, greenish beige or terra cotta beige, or a cool neutral such as a grey taupe or light gray with some brown in it. consider your home interior - do you use a favorite palette? Then opt to use a similar one on the exterior. Use your favorite colors - but grayed down for outside. The front door can contrast and be really bold! Shutters might go darker or lighter, but keep your house body a medium tone. That will warm things up.

Fay Sessions · Answer

I would ditch the shutter, get rid of the carpet , paint brick either biege or terracotta , on the left side of steps i would put in some rocks and add some hen and chicks and a few succulents , put flowers in flower box with colors you enjoy looking at . I would also change light fixtures on porch and maybe add a few hanging plants  it would make a world of difference

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