How to choose an exterior paint color palette

List the materials you are keeping, choose a body color depth, then compare trim and painted accents on the same image. Keep one original version beside the alternatives. Narrow to a few named palettes and test physical samples before committing to paint.

Craftsman inspired suburban house; horizontal lap siding and shingle-pattern gable panels; charcoal gray multiple front cross-gables and side gables roof; gray-tan stone porch piers; stone steps and curving flagstone walk.

RosemaryBody · SW6187

Egret WhiteTrim · SW7570

OriginalAccent

Compare the colors around your existing materials.Search all colors

Opening interactive colors…

Explore palettes

Color guide

Compare Rosemary siding with Egret White trim while preserving roof, masonry, window frames. This provides muted green with a warm off-white outline for the shortlist.

Screen colors are a guide. Always test real paint.

Working with what stays

Start with what stays

Include the roof, brick, stone, window frames, paving and natural wood. Pick the most visually prominent fixed material as the first reference rather than starting with a paint trend.

Change one decision at a time

Compare light, middle-depth and deeper body colors using one trim. Once you prefer a body direction, compare trim contrast and a painted accent. This makes it easier to tell which change improved the result.

Move the shortlist to your own house

Examples reveal options, but a photo of your home contains its own proportions and surroundings. Use that image to narrow the choices, then compare real paint samples in the light where they will be used.

Palettes to compare

More example homes

Explore another house and compare its colors.