11 Exterior Paint Colors That Will Take Your Curb Appeal to the Next Level

Elevate the great outdoors with these enchanting shades.

porch with gray ceiling
Credit:

Thom Felicia

Elevating your home’s curb appeal can be a huge undertaking. However, before you start worrying about the driveway or landscaping, consider adding a fresh coat of paint. This can be a much less overwhelming way to beautify your abode—you may even be surprised at how much of a difference it can make. 

To help lead you in the right direction, here, we surveyed a range of interior designers and got their recommendations for the best exterior paint colors. Many agreed that you can’t go wrong with a warm white, but this doesn’t mean you shouldn’t consider a green, or even a fresh blue.

Whether it's a patio refresh or just painting the front door, scroll on to see some of the best designer-approved outdoor paint colors.

01 of 11

Natural White by Dulux

patio with white paint color and lavender flowers
Credit:

Steve Cordony

Don't hesitate to go with a classic white. For his home in Australia, Rosedale Farm, interior stylist Steve Cordony went with Dulux's Natural White.

"It's a crisp, warm white that completely lifted the home’s original façade," he says. "It’s one of my go-to shades because it brings brightness without feeling harsh, and works beautifully with both the landscape and the changing light throughout the day."

02 of 11

White Dove by Benjamin Moore

white home with large backyard pool
Credit:

Life on Virginia Street

Many shades of white are available with varying undertones, styles, and finishes. White Dove by Benjamin Moore, for example, is a timeless, tried-and-true soft white.

"It's one of my go-to exterior paint selections," says interior designer Emma Courtney. "It's neutral and fresh, and is great for trim, but can also carry an exterior patio ceiling or siding easily. It's bright, but not so crisp that it’s hard to stare at in the sun."

Sarah Stewart, founder of Life on Virginia Street, agrees. "It works so well as a crisp contrast if you're looking for a more traditional feel," she says. "It's also so great as a base color with a deeper neutral as the accent."

03 of 11

Hague Blue by Farrow & Ball

brown home with blue front door
Credit:

Jonathan Anders Hokko

Even a small paint job can make a big impact. Here, Barry Bordelon and Jordan Slocum of The Brownstone Boys used Hague Blue to make a beautiful statement for a historic brownstone.

"It's a rich, classic navy that adds instant character and depth—especially against a brownstone," they say. "We usually pair it with unlacquered brass hardware and lots of greenery, like planers, window boxes, and climbing ivy."

04 of 11

White Tie by Farrow & Ball

white patio area with wooden furniture
Credit:

Nina Takesh

White Tie by Farrow & Ball lets the furniture and architecture take center stage, providing the perfect, elegant backdrop.

"It has a beautiful warmth that reminds me of aged limestone and the facades of old Parisian buildings," says designer Nina Takesh. "It’s refined without being stark, and it glows beautifully in natural light."

05 of 11

Whisper White by Sherwin-Williams

white home with red florals
Credit:

James Carter

For a creamy color that looks natural—almost as if you didn't paint at all—look no further than Whisper by Sherwin-Williams.

"The shade has natural, clean tones that work well in nature," says architect James F. Carter. "With green foliage, it can't be beat—and I've used it for 40 years."

06 of 11

Brewster Gray by Benjamin Moore

white patio area with neutral furniture
Credit:

Thom Filicia

Don't forget to look up! You can always paint the ceiling of your porch, gazebo, or patio—and Brewster Gray is a wonderful option.

"It's timeless and classic, yet feels fresh and clean with an austere modernity," says interior designer Thom Filicia. "It works beautifully with a variety of exterior materials, from stone to natural woods, and a myriad of architectural details."

07 of 11

Green Blue by Farrow & Ball

blue green gardening area for home
Credit:

O'Brien & Muse

Unleash your inner gardener and embrace a serene, blue-green palette.

"This color reminds us of our grandmother’s breadbox," says Lili O'Brien, co-founder of O'Brien & Muse. "It’s a touch retro, and we love how it plays in this garden shed. It looks great with terracotta, straw, rattan, and all things of the earth."

08 of 11

Pops of Petrol Blue by Behr

book store with outdoor cafe
Credit:

Yehia El-Alaily

If you can't change the building's exterior, then you can always add pops of color through the furniture.

Ramzi Makram-Ebeid, designer and founder of Human Nature, used Petrol Blue as an accent for the Diwan book store in El Gouna, Egypt. "It's a versatile, calming hue that works in many situations, allowing for a cohesive color palette throughout the store, outdoor cafe, and garden area," he says.

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Stone Blue by Farrow & Ball

blue home with rack of straw hats
Credit:

Karyn Millet

When it comes to exteriors, don't skimp on quality. You need paint that's made to last.

"Farrow & Ball is everything—the texture, performance, and colors," says designer Tobi Tobin. "Stone Blue has been a favorite of mine for years. It’s traditional and modern all at the same time."

10 of 11

Tricorn Black by Sherwin-Williams

home with dark exterior paint color and modern architecture
Credit:

Barbara Corsico Photography

If a white façade isn't your speed, then try a darker, more neutral color scheme. Here, Tricorn Black sets a moody-yet-contemporary tone.

"Dark shades work well outside, offset by the varying green tones of the landscape," says designer Róisín Lafferty. "Generally, in landscape design or outside spaces, dark colors on the wall are the most transformative, offsetting the scale of nature and making plants sing."

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Studio Green by Farrow & Ball

green fence in California home
Credit:

Terremoto

Not sure what to paint a backyard fence or deck? Try a distinct, dark hue, like Studio Green.

"This color makes hard edges elegantly recede into the background," says Danielle Vonlehe, senior project manager at Terremoto. "We love to plant in front of it, as it allows the richly forested and sunny sage colors in our California native plant communities to pop."

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