The right color combinations for home exterior design can make your house look modern, classic, bold, or timeless. The wrong ones? They can leave it looking outdated, mismatched, or just plain forgettable. And with curb appeal directly impacting home value, that’s not a risk worth taking.

Since 1944, Lee Company has helped homeowners in the Southeast bring their home improvement visions to life. In this guide, we’ll break down the best exterior color pairings, trending styles of 2025, and expert painting tips to help you make the right choice.

How to Choose Paint Colors for Your Home Exterior

There’s no “one size fits all” when it comes to exterior house colors. The perfect shade for your home depends on a mix of factors:

• Your home’s style
• The surrounding neighborhood
• The climate where you live
• Your personal taste

Let’s talk strategy before you grab a gallon of paint and start rolling. Here’s how to choose the best color combinations for a home exterior design that complements your space and increases home value.

Architectural Style

Your home’s architecture plays a huge role in choosing paint colors for your home exterior. Certain styles just don’t work with every color palette.

• Traditional homes (Colonial, Victorian, Craftsman) look best in classic, muted tones. Think soft whites, warm beiges, or deep blues.
• Modern homes often lean toward bold contrasts like crisp white with black trim or dark grays with wood accents.
• Farmhouse styles shine in warm neutrals, like off-whites, light grays, or soft greens.

Ignoring your home’s architectural design when choosing colors is like wearing sneakers with a tuxedo. It just doesn’t fit.

Neighborhood & Surroundings

Do you want to blend in or stand out? That’s the big question. Sticking to color schemes that complement surrounding homes helps keep property values intact in established neighborhoods.

Living in a secluded area gives you more flexibility to experiment with unique color combinations. Homes near forests or water look great in earthy greens, deep blues, and warm browns, helping them blend naturally with their surroundings.

Take some time to consider your environment. Do you want your home to fit in effortlessly or stand out with intention?

Climate & Lighting

The Southeast gets hot, especially in summer. Lighter exterior paints help reflect heat, keeping your home cooler. Dark colors absorb heat, which might work well in cooler months but can turn a house into an oven when temperatures hit the 90s.

Also, remember that natural light shifts color tones throughout the day. Always test swatches on different sides of your home to see how they look in the morning sun, midday brightness, and evening shadows.

Personal Preference & Resale Value

You want to love your home’s color, but so does the next buyer. While your personal taste should shine through, keep in mind that some colors have broader appeal than others.

Zillow’s 2024 paint color analysis found that homes with charcoal gray paint can increase home value by up to $2,512, making it a smart choice for both aesthetics and investment. On the other hand, bold or unconventional shades might make your home stand out for the wrong reasons.

A Fixr report found that 59% of designers agreed red is a turnoff for homebuyers, so certain colors could make selling more difficult. If you plan to sell soon, opt for a versatile, widely appealing palette – something stylish but neutral enough to attract buyers. And if you’re staying put? Go with what makes you happy while keeping future resale value in mind.

Test Before You Commit

Never rely on a tiny paint chip in a store. They can be surprisingly deceptive. Paint large test swatches on different parts of your house. Use digital visualization tools to preview colors before picking up a brush.

A little extra effort now can save you from repainting (or regretting) later.

Top Exterior Color Combinations

Your home’s paint color influences perception, resale value, and even how “expensive” your home feels. A great exterior paint combo can make a basic home look premium and a dated home look brand new.

Here are the best color combinations for a home exterior design that will have people slowing down to admire your house.

White and Black: A Bold, Timeless Contrast

Crisp white with black trim is clean, modern, and impossible to mess up. Think black-framed windows, shutters, and doors against white siding. The stark contrast makes details pop. This look works on everything from classic Colonials to sleek modern homes.

Navy Blue and White: Coastal, Crisp, Fresh

This coastal-inspired combo never fails. Deep navy gives your home a rich, polished feel, while white trim keeps it light and airy. Want to go even classier? Add brass or gold fixtures.

Gray and Wood Tones: A Balanced Mix of Cool and Warm

Cool gray siding and warm wood accents make a home feel modern but inviting. This combo blends beautifully with nature, making it perfect for homes in wooded areas. It’s a fantastic middle ground between traditional and contemporary.

Beige, Cream, and White: Soft and Universally Appealing

If you want neutral but not boring, a mix of beige, cream, and white is the answer. Beige siding with white trim and cream accents creates a warm, inviting look that feels classic without being outdated. It’s low-maintenance, works in any neighborhood, and adds just the right amount of contrast for a polished, put-together exterior. Ideal for homeowners who want a color scheme that won’t quickly go out of style.

Charcoal and Light Gray: Sleek and Trending

Want your home to look high-end? Charcoal gray siding with light gray trim is bold, dramatic, and screams “new construction.” This is one of the hottest exterior house colors of the past several years.

Sage Green and White: Earthy, Calming, and On-Trend

Sherwin-Williams named Quietude, a soft sage green, its 2025 Color of the Year because it’s relaxing, refined, and works on any home style. Pair it with white trim for a clean, natural look.

Brick Red and Taupe: Traditional with a Twist

We mentioned this earlier, but let’s make it clear – red is risky. Over half of designers say red turns buyers off. If your home already has red brick, stick to taupe, tan, or other warm neutrals to keep it classic and avoid scaring off potential buyers.

Dark Green and Gold Accents: Deep, Rich, Sophisticated

Dark, moody greens make a house feel high-end and historic, especially when paired with gold hardware, brass lighting, or warm wood doors. It’s a statement, but a good one.

This color combination works particularly well on homes with brick or stone exteriors, as the deep green complements the natural materials. Whether you have a Tudor-style home, a classic colonial, or a rustic craftsman, this pairing adds depth, character, and a touch of luxury.

Deep Blue and Warm Wood: Dramatic but Cozy

Want something bold but not overwhelming? Dark blue siding with warm wood accents gives a custom, architectural look without being too “out there.”

Soft Yellow and White Trim: Cheerful, Cottage-Style Warmth

This light, happy color scheme is ideal for cottage and farmhouse-style homes. Soft yellow with white trim keeps things bright, welcoming, and full of charm.

Popular Trends in Exterior House Colors

In 2025, many homeowners are ditching the “safe” colors and going all-in on bold, earthy, high-contrast looks that turn heads and boost curb appeal.

Earthy and Natural Tones

Indoor/outdoor living is trending, and people are bringing the outdoors right into their exteriors. We already mentioned Sherwin-Williams’ 2025 Color of the Year, Quietude. But if you’re feeling bolder, Behr has a few trending colors we like: Baked Sienna, a sunbaked orange, or Teton Blue, a deep, grounding blue, that brings richness without feeling trendy-for-the-sake-of-trendy.

If you want an exterior that feels grounded, substantial, and rich, Behr’s Espresso Beans, a deep, sophisticated brown, also delivers a timeless look that feels organic.

Dark and Moody Exteriors

Forget beige-on-beige. Deep blues, charcoals, and dramatic blacks are stealing the show. Sherwin-Williams’ Cyberspace makes a house look sleek and like it means business. Paired with white trim or natural wood doors? That’s how you get a home that looks expensive without the luxury price tag.

High-Contrast Power Moves

Black trim on white siding isn’t just “in” right now… it’s practically a cheat code for making any house look sharper. This high-contrast trend highlights architectural details and gives a home instant curb appeal without the risk of regrettable color choices.

Warm Grays & Pops of Color

Cool grays? Old news. Warm grays and greiges are stepping up as the new neutral, making homes look polished but still welcoming. And if you want personality without overwhelming your exterior, bold accent doors and shutters (deep blues, rich greens) add just enough flair to make your home stand out in a good way.

Choosing the Right Front Door Color for Maximum Impact

Your front door isn’t just an entryway. It’s your home’s first impression. The right color can make your house feel inviting, stylish, and expensive before anyone even steps inside. And if you’re thinking about resale value, the front door is where you cash in or lose out.

If you’re going for maximum impact, black is the move. Zillow’s research found that homes with black front doors can sell for $6,450 more than comparable homes with other colors!

Want something less dramatic but still valuable? Zillow’s data also found that mid-tone brown front doors increase home offers by $300 compared to white doors.

If you want to boost curb appeal without a full exterior repaint, your front door is the easiest, cheapest, and highest ROI fix. A $40 can of paint could make your home worth thousands more. Now, that’s an upgrade worth making!

The Importance of Professional Help with Exterior Painting

Exterior painting looks easy until you’re halfway up a ladder, sweating through your shirt, and realizing you missed a spot. And that’s before dealing with peeling paint, uneven coverage, or the color looking completely different in direct sunlight.

A great paint job doesn’t stop at the color. It hinges on prep, precision, and protection. To get long-lasting, professional-level results, you need:

• Proper surface prep: Cleaning, sanding, and priming prevent peeling and ensure smooth application.
• The right paint for your climate: The Southeast’s humidity, heat, and storms demand high-quality, weather-resistant coatings.
• Expert application: Even, streak-free coats that won’t crack or fade within a year.
• Efficiency and safety: No shaky ladders, accidental spills, or wasted weekends.

We provide expert home services across Tennessee, Alabama, Kentucky, and Georgia, including interior painting, home repairs, and renovations. Our Lee Company licensed, insured professionals ensure your home looks incredible and stays protected for years.

Want curb appeal that lasts? Contact Lee Company today and let our professionals handle it!