What color should we paint the shutters and the porch?

We have just bought a house and the shutters are green and the porch is brown? Need some help with the colors?
  75 answers
  • Jeanette S Jeanette S on Jul 06, 2014
    I would pick a beautiful cranberry (not bright red) to go with the light siding for the shutters. I am not sure what you want to paint on the porch (If you mean the railing, leave it natural or paint it white). Then put up a couple of hanging baskets with Red flowers in them.
  • Marion Nesbitt Marion Nesbitt on Jul 06, 2014
    Don't see anything wrong with the colours. I'd open the shutters on the other two windows though
  • Geneva Geneva on Jul 06, 2014
    I would paint the porch and shutters a color that u really like. Try a few colors in small patches and see what u like the best. Get the small bottles at lowes or Home Depot, you can use them on other things around the house. I use them all the time. But you will need to get outdoor paint for the porch and shutters. They can match a colore for you
  • Kimberly Robertson Kimberly Robertson on Jul 06, 2014
    Do I use spray can with gloss or something different to paint the shutters? I was thinking black... What do you all think of that and if I do black will it clash with the roof? Also the porch what color??
  • Scottie Vosburgh Scottie Vosburgh on Jul 06, 2014
    Paint the railing on the deck to match the white/light color of trim on the rest of the house. Black would look fine for the shutters a blue would look nice too. When you paint them spraying will certainly be easiest with all the louvers (make sure you use a primer too). Be careful when removing them from the house, the clips that hold them on are kind of delicate and can break easily. Pretty sure you can pick up some more at the hardware store though. Good Luck!
  • Colleen Colleen on Jul 06, 2014
    I agree with Scottie. do a good spray wash on the shutters before painting (If you can remove them) and set up a space to do all this. Blue would go well.
  • Katie Katie on Jul 06, 2014
    I wouldn't paint them black. Your siding looks like it has a lot of brown in it and the roof is brown. Painting the shutters black will just drag the whole thing into the ground. @Jeanette S had the right idea with the cranberry. It will lift up the rest of the colours. You may want to consider painting the ceiling of the porch a colour that is traditional in some parts of the south called either "spook blue" or "ghost blue"; a colour that was purported to keep bad spirits from entering. I think the trim colour would be nice for the railings. I hope you enjoy your new home!
  • Jessie Jessie on Jul 06, 2014
    I like the yellow and green.
  • Kim325757 Kim325757 on Jul 06, 2014
    Blue shutters...not dark navy but more of a denim/royal blue. It will make the yellow pop.
  • Cheryl Wallace Vicars Cheryl Wallace Vicars on Jul 06, 2014
    Terra Cotta I think would look nice.
  • Arc344152 Arc344152 on Jul 06, 2014
    I'd paint the shutters cranberry or tan. I'd rip all those bushes out too
  • Ashley Bowers Ashley Bowers on Jul 06, 2014
    Go with a slate blue!
  • Charlotte Charlotte on Jul 06, 2014
    Chocolate shutters....bring out the brown in your roof.
  • Gol167450 Gol167450 on Jul 06, 2014
    Deep, dark red for shutters for grey for porch.
  • Gina Gina on Jul 06, 2014
    arcn, Why would you want to rip the bushes out?
  • Patty S Patty S on Jul 06, 2014
    my exterior of house is also light green- the deck is a natural wood stain, have no shudders- but like a soft yellow and orange with it
  • Barbara Barbara on Jul 06, 2014
    I had that same roof. Cocoa-to-chocolate color on shutters will look great. Paint shutters first, then see if you need to lighten the porch railings. If so, the trim color would tie everything in nicely. Light color on railings will make the porch look bigger. Accent with red flowers.
  • Ginnie Ginnie on Jul 06, 2014
    Try a dark peachy color. Amber? That will go with the siding .
  • Designs by mara Designs by mara on Jul 06, 2014
    Cranberry!
  • Jami Huntsinger Jami Huntsinger on Jul 06, 2014
    I would go with white to really play up the cottage look of your house. This website might help you find the look you want: https://search.yahoo.com/search?ei=utf-8&fr=ytff1-&p=color%20shutters%20for%20yellow%20house&type=
  • Wendy Willey Wendy Willey on Jul 06, 2014
    It looks like your trim is white, so why not keep the yellow house and paint the shutters and the porch white, that way any flowers you plant or hang will POP with color. :) Congrats on the house!
  • Nancy Stirman Nancy Stirman on Jul 06, 2014
    Stay with earth tones and remember to use light, medium and dark colors of paint to add interest and contrast: tan, dark brown and sage color would be nice....but consider plant material to enhance colors and texture.
  • Therese C Therese C on Jul 06, 2014
    If it were me, I would change the railings to a warm vanilla color, and the shutters to match. I see you are in Georgia..check your shrubs closely for ant mounds, spiders, and bees. If you cannot get rid of pests like those, I would regretablly, remove the shrubs. A second point on the shrubs...measure out how far the root (base) of the plants are from your foundation. The roots can cause some serious damage to foundations. Good luck! I like the house..it looks homey.. :)
  • Stevie Stoops Stevie Stoops on Jul 06, 2014
    Your roof appears to be russet red asphalt. I found a picture of a home similar to yours.
  • Rose T Rose T on Jul 06, 2014
    We Have Burgundy And They Have Faded Terribly.
  • Stevie Stoops Stevie Stoops on Jul 06, 2014
    Here is a coordinating color scheme I found based on the russet red roof your house seems to have. Just for more ideas.
  • Susan Johnston Susan Johnston on Jul 07, 2014
    Paint them a deep, dark brick red and the railings on the steps and porch a nice bright white. White window boxes with red and orange flowers and different shades of green foliage would make this house pop! Don't forget house numbers. I don't know where the street is or how the house is situated on it's lot but to the right of the last pair of shutters would be a good place. Make sure they aren't puny either, a good size brushed nickel would look nice or a copper patina set. Wishing you health, wealth and happiness in your new home!
  • Sheryll Ellery Sheryll Ellery on Jul 07, 2014
    I paointed my shutters paprika with spraypaint, fast and easy, my house looks like it is the same color as yours it transformed the house
    • See 2 previous
    • Judy Judy on Jul 07, 2014
      @Lrho Thanks so much for the reply. I am gonna do it!!!!
  • Peggi Allen Peggi Allen on Jul 07, 2014
    I would paint the shutters a burgundy
  • Jean Jean on Jul 07, 2014
    Our house has yellow siding. We painted the trim white and got dark blue shutters. Very nice look and not the same as all the other yellow houses on the block.
  • Kathy Kathy on Jul 07, 2014
    I would paint the rails on the porch white so the guttering would blend more. Then I would paint the shutters the same brown as the porch. Then, put brown rockers on the porch with brightly colored outdoor pillows and red geraniums in pots (colored the same as the colors in the pillows) on the porch. I would paint the door red so that it pops and welcomes visitors.
  • Pat Cobb Pat Cobb on Jul 07, 2014
    I would like to see the porch painted in off white, the shutters in a rust color. I just love your new home! I would love to see you paint your front door in a med green color. Our neighbor house is the med gray and she painted her door in a bright yellow and the next thing I know everyone is painting their front door and it just made a big difference in the neighbor hood. Good luck!
  • Stacey Longest Stacey Longest on Jul 07, 2014
    Paint the railings the same color as the rest of the trim. Since the roof is a russet brown color, you can go with a similar color on the shutters. It looks like there are shutters in place for window no longer used/siding covering. Remove those shutters. Perhaps some flower boxes on the railings/windows then you can paint front door a pop of color.
  • Liliana Wells Liliana Wells on Jul 07, 2014
    Best wishes on your new home.
  • PattyK PattyK on Jul 07, 2014
    Navy blue would look good with the tan siding
  • Debbie Debbie on Jul 07, 2014
    Why not stay with the green shutters? Paint the porch green also with white accents.
  • Marilee H Marilee H on Jul 07, 2014
    Just something no one else mentioned - what's with the shutters with no window? I would take those down completely or hang something like a vintage window frame between them.
  • Tegma Tegma on Jul 07, 2014
    I would paint the shutters a fresh dark green, and the porch, white. If they are metal, Rustoleum will work.... for wood, any exterior paint.... and for vinyl.... not a good idea to paint. However, if you must, use only Sherwin Wms "Duration" paint, as recommended by Professionals. Anything else will weather, I know, from experience. I also like the suggested idea of some Window Boxes to brighten things up. You definitely need some flowers with all those hedges. After painting the porch white, perhaps some lattice installed over it would look much nicer than the plain wood.... trimmed out, of course! And that patch of grass between the walk and driveway might be made into a flower bed.
  • Tegma Tegma on Jul 07, 2014
    Also, if those shutters are vinyl, you MUST paint them the same color or darker.
  • Laurie Powell Laurie Powell on Jul 07, 2014
    Our house is the same color & had green shutters. The last 3 places we bought were white with green shutters. I was SO sick of the green! I bought new burgundy shutters at Menards. The old shutters were not worth painting. I painted ALL of the trim a nice clean white.It looks like a new house! I still need to paint the cement blocks around the whole house white too. I still want to paint the front door burgundy! People that drove by had to take double takes, because it looked so new. Good luck! :)
  • Deborah Kay Deborah Kay on Jul 07, 2014
    I can't tell what the house color is (exactly). My Mom's house is light tan and we painted the shutters and the window boxes black. Looks really sharp and classy--especially when we put tall black flower pots by the front steps.
  • Karyn Workman Karyn Workman on Jul 07, 2014
    I think a light steel blue would accent the tan well. brighten the whole hose in front too. I would match the color of the house to a paint sample then look for a coordinating color of the same tone to be safe.
  • Yvette Yvette on Jul 07, 2014
    Black shutters, white porch rails and a door in the pumpkin family. Yellow, white and orange flowers
  • Lesley Lesley on Jul 07, 2014
    I agree with Kathy. It would be very pretty.
  • Gabriele Gabriele on Jul 07, 2014
    Used to work for a Contractor - Always use "3' colors for painting your house - 1 for the Front & Back door - 2 for the shutters/ window frames & 3rd for the Home itself - That will make the neccesarry statement that you want.
  • Bea Bea on Jul 07, 2014
    The exterior of your house Should have three colors! Ask Sherwin Williams. The porch color balances with the roof and is fine, if you like it. What is bothering you is the railing - it should be white, like the gutters, even if you paint the porch another color. Then the shutters can stay green or blue or what ever accent color you want.
  • 359368 359368 on Jul 07, 2014
    First choice would be to look at colors that would "go " with the colors the roof.
  • Karren Brunell Karren Brunell on Jul 07, 2014
    i would paint them white to offset the yellow siding.
  • Anna Bennett Anna Bennett on Jul 07, 2014
    I THINK DARK GREEN WOULG BE BEAUTIFUL
  • Linda J Linda J on Jul 07, 2014
    Navy. Hands down. Classic combination.
  • Kate Chatterton Kate Chatterton on Jul 07, 2014
    I agree with Yvette, definitely black shutters with a white porch. If the house is the yellow it appears in the photo, yes to the pumpkin door also. When I was selecting colors for my home, I looked at a lot of photos and a lot of homes and what I discovered was the color schemes that spoke to me, all had a medium shade for the body of the house (taupe for example) and high contrast trim colors (black and white). Perhaps you could do a similar analysis to see what appeals most to you.
  • Brenda Dickson Brenda Dickson on Jul 07, 2014
    A shade of red!
  • Barbara Barbara on Jul 07, 2014
    Aubergine
  • Bibi Sweet67 Bibi Sweet67 on Jul 07, 2014
    "m always saying burgundy cause is my favor color lol but I really think burgundy shutters and white porch would look so nice with the color of the house. Also white porch and either gray or black shutters would look nice too.
  • Jenni Jenni on Jul 07, 2014
    Vince Bentler is right, you need to look at colour charts to see what goes with not only the roof but the walls. Although black shutters would be nice, in the photo your porch area looks dark & black would only darken the area. White rails is a good idea to bring light into the porch area. For me personally, I would paint the rails and shutters white, then remove the greenery and plant something that will bring colour to the house and a trellis between the windows with a red climbing rose. With climbers you don't want something to vigorous because they can get into the roof cavity a cause structural damage if left to grow.
  • Starr Starr on Jul 07, 2014
    I would paint the porch railings white to brighten up entrance and the green on shutters will look quite nice
  • Bonnie Skubella Bonnie Skubella on Jul 07, 2014
    White porch with cranberry for shutters and front door.
  • Seh337320 Seh337320 on Jul 07, 2014
    I think a reddish brown shutter would look beautiful. Red and yellow look great together!
  • Rhondi Rhondi on Jul 08, 2014
    White porch baby or powder blue shutters
  • Yvonne Moore Yvonne Moore on Jul 08, 2014
    I would paint your house a yellow that would bring out both the brown roof and green of you shutters. A color wheel will show you how to use colors that contrast but do not make the three colors look muddy and dull. I would Also go with a green door the same shade as the shutters to make the look more cohesive.
  • Helen Helen on Jul 08, 2014
    I would think nice royal blue shutters would be more compatible with the yellow.
  • Pop323719 Pop323719 on Jul 08, 2014
    Yellow house gray shutters, white railings, bm deck gray on the porch flooring and a beachy blue or warm red front door . Looks amazing ...
  • Kelly B Kelly B on Jul 08, 2014
    Some red would look great with this yellow!!
  • Kimberly Robertson Kimberly Robertson on Jul 08, 2014
    You all have great taste... Now which color do I pick???
  • Georgia Hall Georgia Hall on Jul 08, 2014
    I think a deep red would look great. It would tie in to your roof, too, and give a cohesive look.
  • Pat S Pat S on Jul 08, 2014
    Your house looks a lot like ours. We painted our house a clary safe, with cranberry shutters!
    • Sharon L Ballard Sharon L Ballard on Oct 03, 2022

      Would my Porch Floor look good with the colors of my Shutters being Winning Red. White Rails

  • Pat S Pat S on Jul 08, 2014
    Clary sage!
  • Pat769509 Pat769509 on Nov 23, 2014
    you have to look at the whole house I would take that picture in to a paint store and see what looks good or get on the internet like I did and find houses that are the colors of said house and see what lookss good, there's a lot of information out there, on how to make it look appealing.
  • Linda Linda on Apr 05, 2020

    I would go with white for the railing and a blue color for the ceiling. Here is a post about blue ceiling colors for porches. https://lifeonsummerhill.com/haint-blue-paint-colors/

  • Sharon L Ballard Sharon L Ballard on Oct 03, 2022

    Hi my Shutters are a Winning Red. Should I Stain my Porch Floor the same Color . White Rails omyPorch are White a

  • Mogie Mogie on Oct 03, 2022

    You should paint it a color you can and will live with for some time. So if you hate blue don't paint it blue. If you love green paint it a shade of green. Depending on the color you end up choosing then make the shutters pop with a shade that compliments but stand out.

  • Johnavallance82 Johnavallance82 on May 01, 2023

    You could paint or change your shutter so that they match the Portch rails or add window boxes in the same timber as portch?

  • Kimberly Robertson Kimberly Robertson on May 01, 2023

    Thank you all so much. I ended up painting it a blackish color with outdoor paint and sealer. We ended up selling the house and made a pretty good lump sum so I am very happy with the results. I’m happy to say I used a number of your responses. 😊

  • Mogie Mogie on May 01, 2023

    Do you want your home to stand out from it's surroundings? If so go with a color that is differnet then the surroundings. If you want you home to blend into the natural growth then a color like brown or green.

  • Johnavallance82 Johnavallance82 on Aug 21, 2023

    Paint them all the same colour.