Exterior color ideas?

Question

We are going to convert our double garage door to single. So we will need a new door. Currently the brick is white (some white variations), the shutters & metal post are black, and the door is red. The trim & gutters are white. I was thinking a cedar wood (real or fake) garage door then changing the shutters to the same. Possibly paint the metal post & front door a color. Thanks for your tips, photos, etc.

Angel Morris · Answer

I'd stick with white, maybe with some decorative hardware. You don't want your garage door to stand out too much, it will dominate the front of the house. As for painting the other things, start with your favorite color, then go from there. It's always nice to come home to your favorite color. Then look at a color wheel and go opposite of your favorite or to various shades of your favorite for other parts of the house. Example; favorite color on door, opposite or other shades on shutters, trim, etc. A paint store specialist can help with that.

Rjack · Answer

Thanks Angel.

Sunluvr929 · Answer

Try this site rjack .. You can visualize different colors :) http://www.sherwin-williams.com/homeowners/color/try-on-colors/color-visualizer/

Rjack · Answer

Thanks for all the suggestions. I'm familiar with SW. In fact that is the only paint I use. 
I've decided to go with as a modern door as I can in black. Paint the trim around door black (its white now). We'll leave the shutters & poles black but all in a semi gloss. Then repaint the door maybe a mustard or blue green. Have to go thru my color wheel on that. I posted a few black garage door ideas.

Katie · Answer

I would be careful about painting that huge door black. It is basically the same size as your house and might look like a huge black hole. Not sure about the picture on the right but the reason the black door works on the other house has to do with the scale difference between the house and the garage. It will also be a heat magnet for that hot Texas sun. Before you spend a fortune on new garage doors you might look at other ways to modernize the front of the house (new windows, door, losing the shutters, etc) then move on to the garage door and see if you still feel the same way.

Dora · Answer

Medium Sage Green

Rjack · Answer

Thanks all. The house has new windows (white frame). I would lose the shutters if we do the black garage door. The reason we are changing the garage doors is because our pick up truck will not fit. This is 1966 construction & all the houses with double garage doors are the same in this area; too small for a truck or Tahoe. I'm not really worried about the sun. The house faces east & the tree provides some shade when its leafed out.

Linda 4 Real · Answer

Before reading your whole question my thought went exactly where you were originally. I recently bought a fixer upper and am mostly working on the inside but planning the outside and curb appeal. My garage door is white and old. I use my garage as a workshop so I know I want windows in my door for light and because I think it adds a touch of elegance if done well. I love your ideas and maybe consider that your first thought is usually correct and an authentic instinct. If you go with that you had some ideas to accent the exterior to give the house awesome curb appeal and a timeless look. I have bout my new front door to replace boring white solid. I bought a leaded glass with thick trim that was pink ( lol) I finally went with black paint and love it bc it matches the lead lines. I had a red door last and loved it but red didn't go with my current color. If you go wood I would love to follow and help with suggestions. Either way I will. My ideas never stop so if any suggestions help please let me know or ask for other idea and I will. If you go with wood or wood look then you could accent the garage door with black hardware or trim garage little window(s) with black trim. Then your shutters and door could be unchanged if you like them. If you changed shutters to wood you could add 'cast iron' decorative pieces (forgot what they are called but they look like they are holding the shutters open). I can't see the front door well but you can keep the red and if the handle isn't black iron look then it can be spray painted 'cast iron' or black hammered (rec rust-oleum.) if you are set on white that's cool too and if u would like anymore blending/accenting for curb appeal...let me know. First time I saw the cedar look, I fell for it but I have change door and shutter color many times at past homes. I would love to play with the look esp if u can't use what you have to repurpose the ones u have. Try large sections of your favorite suggestions and see what pops to u when you drive up to your house

Rjack · Answer

Hey Linda - thanks for all the comments. The door is wood & has moulding. Its actually a nice door. We just want to paint it. I like red but want a change. I don't have any better pictures because we won't have possession (just bought) until later in week. These photos are from listing. On the front is also a glass door that is white (metal) trim. Nice if you want to have the door open for guests are just morning light but not let the flys in.

The shutters are also wood but need a fresh coat of paint.
This house is actually where our daughter will live. She is buying from us. 
Our house has cedar garage doors & yes we like. But because of cost we would likely go with new metal garage door vs wood & paint black. I think windows in the top of the garage door are good, maybe even frosted for a more modern look.

We're not apt to paint brick which no one mentioned but is done a lot on 'plain' brick. However, this brick is a multi white if that makes sense; so its actually nice, probably Acme brick (plant in Ft Worth).

Marion Nesbitt · Answer

Agree with Katie about painting the door black and reasons not to. I like the black shutters. If the new garage door has windows, you could trim them with black. Just me, but making the garage doors a dif colour than the house, will emphasize the garage and dwarf the house.

Rjack · Answer

well after all the thinking & looking at SW paint selections I think I may have blown off the black. Since the white brick has some very slight grey tone to it I like a light to medium grey for the garage door & shutters. Then for the front door a deep blue green.

Deborah Donovan-Navarro · Answer

Many people do not like a front entry garage because they'd rather not be looking at the garage. IMO, if you paint your garage door anything but white, that will make the garage door 'in your face'. I would prefer it blended in with the house if it were mine. I vote for white to match the bricks. I wouldn't even trim it out in a different color. Making your front door stand out is different! I love red doors.

Lindcurt · Answer

I agree. The garage doors and trim should match the brick color. Shutters in a medium to dark gray and the door peacock blue. Use planter pots in grays, blues and terra cotta to accent the color scheme. Grey porch posts and a pretty blue house number plaque by the door.

Sandy Hopper Webster · Answer

Whatever will camouflage the doors.

Lynn Belnap · Answer

You probably have painted this project all ready but my imput is totally different from everyone's lol. We have the same white bricks on our sidesplit & when we purchased our house the shutters & doors & garage door were hunter green. When we changed our garage door & put new shutters on & new doors all around, we struggled to find the perfect colour for them. We kept the doors white because the siding on our house is white but the shutters we painted an unexpected colour, the colour of our grout in all of the brick, which is taupe! I would never have thought of that colour at first but it is the perfect accent and it looks beautiful. I knew as soon as we saw it done that it was the right choice, if the grout looks good with the brick, the colour will look good as an accent.

Linda · Answer

This post will help. https://lifeonsummerhill.com/popular-sherwin-williams-exterior-paint/

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