Modern Exterior House Colors That Are Trending

By Emily Medlock

Emily Medlock Contributor

Emily Medlock is a freelance writer, published author, and certified life coach. Her passion is in home improvement, historical fiction, interior design, and helping others.

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| Published on Mar 15, 2021

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house with mixed siding in snow - Via Eurodale Developments Inc

blue house red doors - Via Jacee Brown

taupe shingles house - Via Whitten Architect

yellow and white house - Via David Weekley Homes

House Color - Outside World

blue house on stilts - Via Urban Infill Corporation

Modern Exterior House Colors That Are Trending

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Painting the exterior of your house can be just as important as painting the interior of your house, sometimes even more important. The exterior is what everyone will see even if they never enter your house. 

So, make sure you know what you want before committing to a color, and how much it will cost. While you can change it later, it’s much better to take your time beforehand to save valuable time and money. Find out what is trending today. 

Modern Exterior House Colors

While you can paint the exterior of your house any color you want, there are a few colors that are trending and with good reason. If you want a modern look, then following along with the trends is your best bet. And don’t forget the door!

Now, when we say “modern” we don’t mean contemporary or a particular design style. What we mean is that these colors are modern in the way that anything else that is trending is. Farmhouse can be modern because it is trending. 

House Color – Outside World

When it comes to painting your house, it is important to note the other aspects of the outside world. Nature can play a huge role in how you paint your house. If you live in an area with a lot of greenery, you want something that matches.

However, if you live somewhere that is dry, you want something that suits the desert landscaping. The color of the exterior of your house should mesh well with the other colors you see and can be considered part of landscaping. 

Popular Exterior House Colors

Now, if you don’t want to think about this, choosing the Color of the Year always works out well. The two colors are Illuminating and Ultimate Gray. The yellow and grey combo can work for anyone if done right.

However, most people prefer to branch out a little. If you’re looking for color combinations, then this is a better bet. But if you want base colors, here are some of the exterior house paint ideas that are popular right now. 

White, But Not White

White can work if you really like that starkness for your house, but a little bit off-white is more common now. It’s also much easier to keep off-white clean than pure white. Find a dainty white with a blue hue or an ivory one with a yellow hue. 

A great tip for whites is that if you live in a climate that is cooler or has cooler colors in nature, choose a blue hue. If you live in a dry or warm climate with warmer natural colors, then add a red or yellow hue. 

Pale Yellow

Any yellow will brighten a place up, but pale yellow never gets old. It is a yellow that is evergreen. It will automatically give you a cottage feel if you’re not careful. If this is something you want, then it’s a no-brainer. 

If you want a more modern look, then go for a brighter yellow or a white with just a hint of yellow. That hint is teasing and will look white unless inspected closely or the sun hits it just right. This is a great way to go.

Taupe

Taupe is a grey-brown color similar to beige only much darker. If you like the way beige makes a house feel but want something darker, taupe is the most logical choice. It works well with any type of climate too.

Related: 25 Black Modern House Designs That will Make Your Neighbours Jealous

If you can’t decide on a neutral color but don’t want grey, then taupe is great. It adds warmth to grey colors by adding brown which makes it work for cool and warm pairings. 

Teal

Teal, aquamarine, turquoise. There are many colors in this family and all are amazing. They work perfectly for beach houses, especially when combined with a sandy color or white. There are so many different shades too.

Despite popular belief, although teal is great for beach houses, it shouldn’t be limited to them. You can use these colors for anything as there are many tones and shades that can work for any type of home.

Pastel Blue

Pastel blue is always a winner. It’s another color that has a cottage feel to it. You can mix it up with another bright color to contrast it or keep it simple with white for a true cottage look. There are no rules!

If you want an alternative blue color that is still trending, check out colonial blue. It is dark, neutral, and alluring. While pastel blue is welcoming and cheerful, colonial blue will make you feel at home right away. 

Gray, Gray, Gray

The world cannot get enough gray right now. Dark gray, light gray, even greige, which is similar to taupe in that it has warm and cool colors mixed. This time, mixed with beige. But basic gray is more popular than greige.

If you can’t decide which color to paint your home, then you can’t go wrong with gray. You can even get whichever gray is on sale and save money. Remember to pair it with white for a clean look and a crisp feel.

Forest Green

You may not think it, but forest green is actually a strong color that is trending this year. The deep tones of the forest green add a lot of warmth and character. Green is always a winner, but forest green is rising as one of the world’s favorite greens. 

If you can’t decide which shade of forest green to get, darker color with more neutral tones, as opposed to brighter tones, is usually better. This way, you won’t tire of it as easy, because bold colors can be too much at times. 

Sage Green

Sage green may be the most popular green for exterior paint. Not only is it a safe green to use, but it is a natural green with so many different possibilities. You can almost smell the dried sage just by thinking about it.

Alternatives to sage green would be green tea, which will be quite light, or pistachio which adds more depth and color. There are plenty of green colors to suit almost anyone painting the exterior of their house. 

Mocha

Mocha is a versatile color with many options. Most mochas are medium to light brown and always warm. What is better than a creamy coffee and chocolate tone? It is comforting for any room in the house, as well as the exterior.

Brown has always been a great house color, often occurring naturally when using boards or logs. So using mocha is a great way to keep things simple and traditional while adding a modern flair. 

Creamy Vanilla

Creamy vanilla is another color that can’t help but make you feel good. It is warm, inviting, and reminds one of a coffee shop or grandma’s kitchen. It is perfect for any house, both warm and cool climates are welcome.

You see, in warm climates, creamy vanilla matches the scenery. In cool climates, it offers a refuge like a fireplace on a cool night. You can’t go wrong with this color, so if you like it, don’t be afraid to choose it.

Peachy

Peach is a great color if you want something different. You can add a coral spin by going darker or keep it simple with barely-there peach. The color is much more versatile than you’d think, although it favors cottage and beach houses.

Even though you may feel peach is not for you, remember that it doesn’t have to look like a Barbie house. With the right shades, you can have a peach house that looks modern, mature, and sophisticated. 

Cedar

Although you can choose a different wood tone, cedar-colored houses are a safe choice. Even if you can’t afford wood siding or don’t want wood siding, you can make your siding look like wood with the right color.

Add a texture or whitewash, with color, to achieve a more realistic wood tone. Cedar color may be labeled as something else, so take a sample of the cedar tone you want to find the perfect match for you.