Top 10 Exterior House Painting Colors for 2021

Are you looking for a way to freshen up your home in 2021 with a new exterior paint color? Many of us have spent a lot of 2020 inside our homes, which has provided the chance to make a few updates here and there. Taking things to the outside can be a refreshing option, plus it gives you the chance to tie your whole home together in a single style.

If you’re considering an upgrade to the exterior of your home, a new paint job is a great place to start. There’s no need to replace all the siding or choose an entirely new exterior surface for your home when the one that you have is in good shape. A simple coat of paint can go a long way in giving your home an update that will increase your curb appeal, improve your own love of your home, and even add to the property value.

So if you want the best curb appeal for your home (and who doesn’t?), here are our painting ideas. We recommend some of the exterior house painting colors we mention below. However, there’s more to it than just choosing a color that might be trendy for 2021. The hue you select gives your home an identity, impacts its value, and helps it fit in with the rest of the neighborhood.

The Trendiest Exterior House Paint Colors for 2021

One of the best ways to make your home stand out for the new year is by updating the exterior colors. Numerous colors are expected to make a splash over the next year and one of them might be the perfect solution for your painting project. Below are our favorites and we hope one of them is right for your needs.

Creamy, Warm Shades of White

Rather than going with a crisp white, off-whites are going to be seeing a resurgence in popularity for 2021. The best whites to take advantage of for your exterior are creamy and warm shades. You can go with something brighter or darker depending on your own preferences. While we recommend looking at off-whites, we do not suggest a true white. This can be a bit too cold and clinical to make a home feel warm and relaxing for a family. Warm whites work well with wood accents if you already have those on your home exterior.

Stunning Beige Shades

Another neutral color that has come into its own is beige. It might seem like a strange choice but it has a lot going for it. Beige is a warm color like the whites we talked about, which is great for any home painting. However, it also avoids turning yellow over time so you won’t need to repaint anytime soon.

Metallics, Especially Bronze

While it can be hard to find great metallic paints, some companies have started to offer exceptional shades of bronze. This is a trendy color that can stand out and make people take a second glance at your home. What makes this hue even better is pairing it with other bronze accents. Some suggestions we recommend include patio furniture and porch lights.

Sherwin Williams 2021 Color of the Year, Urbane Bronze SW 7048

Stupendous Slate Blue

Gray is a popular color. So is blue. Slate blue is a fantastic choice that combines both of those colors for a tranquil and neutral feel. If you’re the kind of person who wants to have a bit of personality shining through in your home exterior, slate blue is a fantastic choice. It comes in many different shades, though, so testing is important. Make sure you view the paint in different light levels for the best results.

Earthy Green Colors

Green is a color that works well for some homes but not as much for others, so we recommend getting a rendering of what your home would look like before you commit. However, if you want to have an exterior paint color that is inspired by mother nature, earthy greens can be the way to go. Even if you don’t choose this for the primary hue, it can work well for an accent around the windows.

Understated Grays

Pale gray makes a great option for homeowners as an alternative to beige or warm whites. While dark gray isn’t as popular as it used to be, lighter grays look great and can pair well with green accents. Some of these paints have warm undertones, while others have a cooler feel. Make sure you consider which works best for you on both sunny and cloudy days.

Two-Tone Color Combinations

Contemporary, split-level, and ranch designs are becoming quite popular, which means that using two colors can work in some situations. This can be done in different ways depending on your home’s design. For instance, you might make the exterior one color on top and another on the bottom. You could also choose to use one color on the sides with a different one in the middle.

Navy Blue Splendor

Similar to the slate we mentioned earlier, navy is another blue hue that comes in a range of options. Some may appear mostly blue while others will sit closer to royal blue. When you’re painting a home exterior, a neutral navy blue is usually the top option. It works well on everything from a midcentury modern home to a coastal bungalow.

Black

In modern design, black exteriors are gaining in popularity. Although right now, they’re primarily limited to the most designer homes and styles, there are more everyday homes that are taking on black exteriors or black trim accents as a way to make a bold statement. This color offers a modern, sleek finish and can be so versatile that it doesn’t have to be ‘dark’ unless that’s the look that you’re going for.

How to Choose the Best Paint Colour?

1. Select the Right Shade of Paint

There are a few steps that you can follow when choosing the right colors for your home. The first is selecting a shade. By shade, we’re not talking about choosing between eggplant, avocado green, or lemon yellow. First, you want to consider whether you want something dark, light, or middle tone for the majority of the home exterior. This alone will give you insight into what colors fit and which do not.

The reason this is the first step is that most people find it simple. You probably know whether you prefer a dark or light-colored house. If you aren’t sure what shade is right for your needs, the Internet can help. Search for home exteriors and see what appeals to you. Look up the style of home architecture that your home utilizes for the best results.

Check our detailed guide about How to Pick Your Paint Colours?

2. Think About Accent Color Options

Before you delve into the exact color you want for the home, think about the color of your roof. Those who have a neutral roof color (like gray or black) can choose nearly any color without worrying about any clashing. If your roof has more color to it, you’ll want to stay away from shades that will look jarring against the roof. This is especially true if the roof has tones of blue, tan, red, or green.

It’s also important to think about other accent colors you need to work with. For instance, if you have a brick or stone home, the trim color you choose should be a match for one of the tones already found on the house exterior. If the home only has partial stone or brick, you have additional options. Add a hint of the brick or stone undertones and clashing shouldn’t be an issue.

3. Don’t Neglect the Usefulness of Paint Samples

Once you have an idea of what color you want, paint samples are a good option for narrowing the options down further. The truth is that there are tons of variables that come into play when choosing exterior paint colors, from how much shade the home gets to what direction the house faces. Get paint samples and check them out at different times of the day to make sure they look good at all times. Sometimes a hue might look entirely different in the morning sun than it does in the late evening.

So how should you work with the samples for the best results? Test out several paint colors to make sure that you have options. One option is to place a splash of each paint on a piece of poster board, but you can also choose to directly add small bits of paint to the home to ensure the color is exactly what you are looking for.

A Few Reminders

If you’re planning to sell before you paint again, don’t go too unusual with your paint job. You can definitely choose a bolder trend if that’s what you like, but remember to choose something with good resale value. Take the time to look at popular colors for home buyers specifically to help you gain insight into what people want in their next home. That way, you can paint accordingly and if you decide not to sell, you’ll still have a stylish new coat of paint that makes your home look great.

You should always paint the trim when you paint the siding. It doesn’t make sense to update one and not the other, after all. Make sure that you choose cohesive colors, no matter what you decide, so that you don’t have a color clash. One of the best ways to do this is to stick with complementary colors, or to choose one neutral color and one non-neutral. Whether you do the trim or the base of the home in the neutral is up to you, but you want to keep it relatively simple.

The Bottom Line

While you are considering your options, think about what kind of personality you want to impart, what colors are your favorites, and how the paint looks under different conditions. The truth is that while these colors are bound to be popular in 2021, what matters is having a home that looks great to you. Whether that means going with something pretty standard or painting outside the box is entirely up to you!

If you’re not entirely sure what you want, consult the professional painters at Elite Trade Painting to get their opinions on the perfect new house paint color, and let them do the work for the best results.