Asked on May 19, 2014

What color would you paint the exterior?

Jen R
by Jen R
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We are about to repaint our home and I would love some suggestions on color. We will not be painting the brick. If there wasn't chimney with the same brick, I would be all in for painting the brick on the front, but I do not want to have to worry about maintaining the chimney as well. We live in a typical late 1960's neighborhood. The neighbors' homes are either all brick, white, mid-century yellow or mid-century brown. My style is a mix of contemporary, rustic, modern & a splash of funky. I am leaning towards the medium gray family with a light colored trim to help the orange undertone of brick. I would also love suggestions for pop of color for front door and trim/shutters. Thoughts???
what color would you paint the exterior, Brick chimney is on the right side of the house
Brick chimney is on the right side of the house.
what color would you paint the exterior, Would love ideas for house color trim color shutter color door color We need a new garage door as well so suggestions for that would be appreciated also
Would love ideas for house color, trim color, shutter color, door color..... We need a new garage door as well, so suggestions for that would be appreciated also.
  67 answers
  • Carol Carol on May 19, 2014
    If you want to paint the front brick white, then do it! You really don't have to worry about painting the chimney also. You could find a terra cotta or brick color paint for the trim or shutters which would pick up the color of the chimney.
  • Pam Park Pam Park on May 19, 2014
    Williamsburg blue [a toned down medium blue] BUT it wouldn't be good to duplicate a color already in your neighborhood.
    • Jen R Jen R on May 19, 2014
      @Pam Park Thanks - why blue? I'm not a fan of the current color. Wondering why you picked? I like the color you suggested. The neighbors behind us have a dark gray with blue undertones, it is definitely not the same color.
  • DeMarie I DeMarie I on May 19, 2014
    I wouldn't worry about the chimney brick. We purchased a 1908 Queen Anne and the two chimneys are the typical red brick, but when the former owners added a large kitchen to the back they used a light brick to more closely match the clapboard on the original part of the house. It does not look bad at all. So I wouldn't let that stop you. Go for the color you really want.
  • Duncan Sproule Duncan Sproule on May 19, 2014
    Plum!
  • Jody Jody on May 19, 2014
    Our house is of similar era and style. Two years ago, we painted the whole house, brick and chimney included. I did loads of research and wanted a more unified curb appeal. When my husband agreed to paint the brick, I was all in. We have had no issues at all with the paint on the chimney (which sounds like a concern of yours). It looks fabulous! We've had so many compliments from our neighbors and we love the updated look. The color we chose is a medium gray/taupe for the base - the trim is creamy white, black shutters. My front door is currently a muted shade of orange but I'm thinking of giving it a pop of semi-muted lime green. Hope this might help you make your decision! Oh, and I did a ton of driving around looking at colors I liked. Actually knocked on the door of a house to ask the color and that's what we ended up using. Have had the same thing happen here since we painted. :)
    • Jen R Jen R on May 19, 2014
      @Jody My concern with chimney is repainting every 5-10 years....not sure the length of time. I've done zero research, so maybe it can last much longer. What color did you paint the brick? Same as trim? There was a brick house in my old neighborhood with a lime green door and my husband & I loved it! I saw go for it!!!
  • Jody Jody on May 19, 2014
    Jen - we painted the brick the same as the base color of the house. Our house has an addition on the left side when looking at the front of the house. Part of the challenge I had with figuring out the paint color was that with the brick in the middle and wood hardboard on either side (as you look at the front from the sidewalk) gave the house a disjointed appearance and I wanted to unify the front. Does that make sense?
    • Jen R Jen R on May 19, 2014
      @Jody That makes perfect sense. Thanks for sharing!
  • Michele Eures Michele Eures on May 19, 2014
    I think the brick would look nice painted white. If you go on some (or maybe all, I haven't checked) of the paint sites like Sherwin Williams, you can upload a photo and experiment with different paint colors.
  • Wabbitears Wabbitears on May 19, 2014
    I think a Sage green would accent the brick without making it the primary focus and with the shutters, go with the same depth of color in a blue, mauve, lavender or white. The blue will give it the same cool shades you've been used to, the mauve will tie in with the brick, or the lavender will be cool and modern. Also for the few shutters you have go with a white trimmed shutter with one of the other colors for the louvers. A three color paint job is far more beautiful than a 2 color one.
  • Maureen estell Maureen estell on May 20, 2014
    http://m.hometalk.com/#!/post/3472513/media?id=563673
    • Jen R Jen R on May 20, 2014
      @Maureen estell Love the bright green with aqua accents!!
  • Elizabeth Elizabeth on May 20, 2014
    A dark barn red with black accents
  • Elizabeth Elizabeth on May 20, 2014
    I would paint garage door black, also. Everything would just be outstanding with the trees for a frame.
  • Hillary Bowden Hillary Bowden on May 20, 2014
    I like medium gray with black and white trim with a deep maroon door...
  • Gretchen Gretchen on May 20, 2014
    Even house that are siding (and all one color) have chimneys that are brick. You do not have to have the chimney match the color of the house. I love the look of painted brick for the house - the house would look larger and less busy..
  • Dtu186937 Dtu186937 on May 20, 2014
    We are white washing, aging our brick home. It gives it character, and "older classy down South look. It will last 40 yrs if done correctly.
  • Pat Cobb Pat Cobb on May 20, 2014
    First your home is beautiful... I would like to see it painted gray (not to dark) red shutters , red front door, white window trim, storm door black and garage black. PLEASE do not paint any of the bricks. This way there are so many colors your eyes never notice the brick. This will make everything look so clean and just pop, it may sound "a little much" on color but a friend of mine has the same style home and hers is just beautiful! Busy is were it is now adays, out with the boring. First take the picture of your house and get markers and fill in the color and that will help you to decide. Good luck!
    • Jen R Jen R on May 20, 2014
      @Pat Cobb Using the markers is a good idea. Thanks.
  • Gno336171 Gno336171 on May 20, 2014
    Two different tones of light gray (one on house, one just slightly darker on garage) with black shutters/trim.
  • Anne Anne on May 20, 2014
    I would paint the house in the chocolate family, cream trim with a cayenne, paprika, colored doors...
  • Sharon McKusick Sharon McKusick on May 20, 2014
    I would do it a Green (yellow based) with Creamy Vanilla trim and Garage Door in the same Vanilla color. Shutters and Front door in rust color. Leave the brick as is. We have a house in our neighborhood that has this combination on and it is beautiful. Only use 3 colors max as it will get too busy with more than that.
  • PAT345746 PAT345746 on May 20, 2014
    MY HOUSE EXACTLY- TREES AND ALL. I LEFT THE BRICK RED,PAINTED A SAGE GREEN CLOLOR, AND OFF WHITE SHUTTERS AND TRIM. I LOVE IT. IF YOU DON'T LIKE THE BRICK, LOOKS LIKE YOU COULD WHITE WASH IT OR MAKE IT DEEPER RED USING EITHER A WHITE PAINT OR REDS AND WATER ON A DISH BRUSH AND RUB LIGHTLY STILL GETTTING THE LOOK OF THE NATURAL BRICK WITHOUT COMPLETELY COVERING IT WITH PAINT. TOO A DARKER SAGE GREEN ON THE TRIM WOULD BE GREAT ALTERNATIVE AS WELL. I HAD NEW GUTTERS AND WINDOWS PUT IN AND WERE ALL TRIMMED IN AN ALMOND COLOR SO STAYED WITH THAT COLOR TO MATCH. NO HOUSE IS GREEN IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD, AND IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT STICKS BUT IS STILL A BIT UNIQUE FROM ALL THE BEIGE HOUSES. GET LOTS OF COMPLIMENTS
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  • Marla Marla on May 20, 2014
    How about a pale to medium green with a medium to darker sage or gray-green trim with an orange door. That orange should be a soft pumpkin color to balance the sage- not garish. Look to Sherwin Williams for color hints. Don't paint the brick if you don't want too.
  • Jen R Jen R on May 20, 2014
    Thanks everyone for your suggestions. I like them all so I now have the hard decision on which to choose! I will play around with your ideas with an online program or try the marker idea. When we finish, I'll post a photo. I'm so grateful for all your suggestions.
  • HappyGrandmaGA HappyGrandmaGA on May 20, 2014
    I like the light & dark gray color scheme but do not paint the garage door black. That would be too bold. Keep it soft. You can then do red & white flowers out front. Do a front door that would be complimentary to the red in the brick.
  • Karen Maison Karen Maison on May 20, 2014
    Terra cotta only a much lighter shade with white trim.
  • Doreen Gregorchik Doreen Gregorchik on May 20, 2014
    Yellow with dark green trim and shutters
  • Kathy Kathy on May 20, 2014
    Looks just like my sons house. I'd paint it a medium gray with black trim and a red door to contrast with the brick.
  • Cindy Cindy on May 20, 2014
    I went pass a house down the road and they painted it a dark brown with white trim! It looked very clean and new. with those colors what fun you could have with the door :)
  • Karen Karen on May 20, 2014
    Gray with Black shutters and a Black front door. White trim. We just built a home and painted those colors, more compliments than I can tell you!! It would look OK with the red brick but if you want to age the brick to an aged whitewashed look, it would be awesome!
    • See 4 previous
    • Jen R Jen R on May 21, 2014
      @Diane Yes, getting a new garage door is on the list! It is in desperate need of replacement.
  • Kate Colvin Kate Colvin on May 20, 2014
    What colors do you like? Personally would paint the house a light sage green to go with the trees. Garage door med/dk grey or black, front door in the red family (you could even match the brick color so the bricks don't stand out alone) and the shutters to match either the front door or garage door. For the trim go a shade or two lighter than the main house.
  • Andrea R Andrea R on May 20, 2014
    Really, I like yellow,actually trimmed out in forest or pine green shutters and door, the rest of the trim in stark white. Check out a color called heritage cream,it has a creamy,buttery tone, but a subtle yellow,very subtle.
  • Anne Berry Bach Anne Berry Bach on May 20, 2014
    Antique white, with black shutters and front door.
  • Vickie McCartha Vickie McCartha on May 20, 2014
    I am such a believer in white being clean looking..White and black shutters and black door or door painted the red in the brick.
  • Maureen estell Maureen estell on May 20, 2014
    Yes Jen agreed! So.. Paint your lovely home that shade of beige! Leave the brick and garage door til LAST to paint, you may find you like the brick look at that point. Then. Bring the accent color to your shutters/doors. Spray paint your front door lighting to either gold or silver. If you have a brick mailbox out front that would tie all the brick together. All these trendy bright colors go with beige! Oh the possibilities! If you go with the aqua, think pink type flowers. WOW what a pop of color! Dont forget the after pics please!
  • Sheryll S Sheryll S on May 20, 2014
    I think a very pale yellow with the shutters Deepest Woodlawn Green (WGN48) by Glidden.. that is the color I like, but I would have Behr paint matched to it instead. Black is just too, too and it shows dirt and finger marks and dust. It is your house though, so do what you like. I actually like the white and the way it is before.
  • Chantelle Joy Chantelle Joy on May 20, 2014
    I like your gray idea, but maybe change it up paint all your trim black then accent with white. Then add your favorite pops of color in flowers and pots. Go with what you love no matter what anyone says!
  • Hillary Bowden Hillary Bowden on May 20, 2014
    Forgot about the red bricks! You're so right!
  • Robin Nickel Symes Robin Nickel Symes on May 20, 2014
    I would paint house tan with dark green trim and shutters.
  • Lois Hathaway Lois Hathaway on May 20, 2014
    I think the outside of the house should reflect the color palette on the inside of your home!
  • N. Susan Hart N. Susan Hart on May 20, 2014
    If you want to play down the bricks, go with a dark chocolate brown and cream trim. Then paint your front door totally different. No matter what, do what you will like the best.
  • Centrd Centrd on May 20, 2014
    In my opinion, you need to think about contrast, since there isn't a lot of wood trim, try to use two colors for as much impact as you can get. For example, if you use a darker paint on the body, use lots of white everywhere else, all the trim, shutters, garage door, etc. If you go with a white body, then I'd think about black, or even something pretty (see the pale blue below). I'd definitely lose the contrasting trim around the garage door. Make it the same color as the door for more impact. If you decide to do white on the body, I'd probably go white on the garage door as well, even though your trim & shutters are are another color. A lot of colors would work with the brick, but if you prefer it painted, I think you can paint the brick the same color as the house and leave the chimney in its natural state without seeming odd at all. And of course, if you go fairly neutral, like in the pictures below, you can either carry the two tone look to the door as well, or paint it a color you love for a little pop. One thing I often do is copy several of my house photos into a word doc and then place various pictures of color schemes right next to the image of my house. It helps me visualize how that combo will look on my own house. Here are some examples of paint schemes I think might work well for your house.
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    • Susan B Susan B on May 21, 2014
      @Centrd we have a bi level with lower brick exterior. top was yellow. didnt paint it, but sided it. a medium to darker brown with white trim gutters etc and soon shutters. it is BEAUTIFUL!!!!!
  • Liliana Wells Liliana Wells on May 20, 2014
    Dark or medium grey with white trim would be lovely. A red door is a must with this color combination. Good luck. Please post pictures when you decide what to do.
    • D Meconi D Meconi on May 25, 2014
      @Liliana Wells I agree with the grey for the main color. Not sure what color I would go with the shutters. If you want to play up the brick, think of a brick red there and maybe a gloss black for your door
  • Rae E Rae E on May 20, 2014
    @ Liliana Wells reading my mind on the dark red door. I really like the 3rd idea from @ Centrd for the gun metal or darker grayish blue and what about a nice darker sand or ivory for the trim and that beautiful deep chinese red door but if it were my own home I'd even go a little more funky and do a deep eggplant purple front door and do a mocha with more of a blend toward purples or mauves to pull the gray, the eggplant door and the trim together. Just a suggestion good luck let us know how it comes out.
  • Marion Nesbitt Marion Nesbitt on May 20, 2014
    I like the colours you have. May be an illusion but looks like a bluish grey on the walls and bluish-green on the shutters. These complement the bricks. Maybe just go with darker shades of these colours. The reddish bush to the right of the house helps balance the brickwork. Think I'd expand the garden area at the front of the house under the window area to help balance what you have to the left.
    • See 3 previous
    • Sheryll S Sheryll S on May 22, 2014
      To me, the bottom line is....... make sure it will last many years and that it will be conducive to the rest of what you must keep till you pay more money or can afford to do more. Try to tie what can easily change to what will be very difficult to change......... ya know?
  • Anne Anne on May 21, 2014
    Jen in answer to your question, along with the other colors I suggested I would pain it in the chocolate family, cocoa...with the cream trim and the cayenne colored door it will look awesome. I have seen this on a house and it is an eye-catcher...Good Luck!!
  • Brenda T Brenda T on May 21, 2014
    House yellow...trim and shutters white... door black...add wrought iron accents and window boxes with hot pink and orange flowers. Yummy.
  • Joyce Hambright Joyce Hambright on May 22, 2014
    bright white,dark grey shutters and brick colored front door
  • Matt Valadez Matt Valadez on May 23, 2014
    House painted a light gray with black shutters & dark red door
  • Marsha Sevek Marsha Sevek on May 23, 2014
    I think a split complementary scheme would look good with the orange brick. If you like funky style - go light blue green, blue violet accents
  • Lorin G Lorin G on May 25, 2014
    I like earthy colors. A earthy tone medium green for siding and darker complimentary green (garden wall) for shutters. Medium high gloss cayenne or honey mustard door.
  • Lorin G Lorin G on May 25, 2014
    they also make some nice "country stable" treatments for garage door to soften the huge surface. Nice house.
  • Yvonne Yvonne on May 28, 2014
    I think you should do a medium warm gray on the main part, the shudders a dark shale not quite black and there is a brick stain out now, its not a paint, so it will not peel off in a medium light gray and the window and door trim in a very pail gray. I agree with the comments above a red door is a must. I would make the garage door the same med gray as the main house,as you would not want it to be the feature of the house . And if you want to take it a bit further ,in the photo your front door lights look a little small, I would make them much larger in a clear glass. Its a pretty house your starting from a good spot. Boy its easy to spend someone else's money.
  • Peggy Peggy on May 29, 2014
    I think I would paint the house a medium grey(including the garage door) the trim and shutters a pretty yellow and the front door perhaps a dark blue.
  • Judy Gerardi Judy Gerardi on May 31, 2014
    I agree with Loren G., only a little lighter green for the main structures. The door color of cayenne sounds great!!
  • Laurie Powell Laurie Powell on May 31, 2014
    I would paint the house a nice crisp white with white trim. Then I would paint the brick, the shutters & the front door a burgundy or wine color. If you buy the plastic shutters then, you can buy the paint to match them. By having a white house, you can give it a whole new look just by changing the color of those 3 things. That way you can actually change the look of your home in a weekend. :)
  • Sheryll S Sheryll S on Jun 01, 2014
    I don't know about others, but I am so waiting to hear what you picked and for pictures?
    • Jen R Jen R on Jun 03, 2014
      @Sheryll S We haven't picked the color yet. We are contracting the house, and still waiting for them to bring over a couple samples to pick. As soon as we finish, I promise to post photos.
  • Violet P Violet P on Jun 01, 2014
    Perwink Light . Dark Lavender for trim - door dark blue almost looks black
    • Jen R Jen R on Jun 03, 2014
      @Violet P I don't know if I'm bold enough for that :D
  • Modern Masters Modern Masters on Jun 04, 2014
    Perhaps a nice blue for the front door? We have a Front Door Paint that covers in two coats, dries quickly and NEVER fades. The color 'Calm' would look fantastic. Here's the link to see more: http://www.modernmasters.com/products.asp?mode=category&bid=17 :)
    • Jen R Jen R on Jun 05, 2014
      @Modern Masters I can honestly say I think ALL your front door paints would work! I love the palette.
  • Kaseylynne Kaseylynne on Jun 07, 2014
    A soft gray, with white trim all around. Red or blue door . Landscape with colors that complement the house , purple, blue With flash of refs to complement brick. You could paint brick grey too, if you like that look .
  • Bonnie Bonnie on Jun 07, 2014
    Beige with brown trim !
  • Kay Houpt Kay Houpt on Jun 07, 2014
    A soft light blue ,cream trim , black shutters, red door
  • Deborah M Deborah M on Jun 07, 2014
    I for sure would not paint the brick
  • Susan Susan on Mar 14, 2015
    Paint the house and garage door a soft grey and the front door you could leave white and get rid of the shutters, they make an unnecessary statement
  • Susan Susan on Mar 14, 2015
    you can also make a design on the garage door with the grey, check out stencils
  • Susan Susan on Mar 14, 2015
    you can also clean the brick
  • Kincaid99 Kincaid99 on Sep 24, 2015
    I would stay away from grey, too depressing.
  • Linda Linda on Apr 05, 2020

    This post will help. https://lifeonsummerhill.com/popular-sherwin-williams-exterior-paint/
  • Johnavallance82 Johnavallance82 on Mar 10, 2022

    Very Pale Olive Green with White Trim.
  • Janice Janice on Mar 12, 2025

    Hi Jen, I was browsing through Hometalk and SO APPRECIATE that you shared a final picture of your lovely home. It loks great and I especially love the happy orange color on the front door! Wonderful redo and update to your home.

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