Colonial Exterior House Colors that Stand Out

When choosing exterior paint colors for a colonial style home, it's important to select shades that are appropriate for the architectural style while also allowing your individual home to stand out with its own unique personality. The typical colonial house features simple, symmetrical lines and classically inspired design elements. While brilliant white colonials are quintessential, a fresh color palette can lend modern flair while maintaining the home's ties to history.

Thoughtfully selected colors for your colonial can emphasize charming architectural details or give the home a bold, contemporary twist. By studying how color was historically used on colonial houses and understanding basic color theory, you can develop an exterior color scheme that suits your taste and complements the style of your home.

History and Defining Colonial Exterior Design

Colonial architectural style originated during the colonial era in America, from around 1600 to 1780. Traditional colonial houses feature rectangular shapes, multi-pane windows, dormers, columns, symmetric facades, and front porches. Originally colonists built homes from readily available materials like wood, brick, and stone. Exterior paint colors were derived from natural pigments and dyes, leading to popular hues of white, black, red, and earth tones.

Over time, the colonial style evolved into Colonial Revival, a dominant architectural movement from 1880 to 1950. While paying homage to early American design, Colonial Revival introduced bolder exterior colors like greens, yellows, and blues popular in the Victorian era. This allowed for more customization while maintaining signature colonial elements.

Choosing Exterior Paint Colors for Colonial Homes

Factors to Consider for Colonial Exteriors

When selecting exterior paint colors for your colonial home, consider the following factors:

• Architectural style - Stay true to your home's origins. Classic americana or Colonial Revival? Historically inspired hues lend authenticity.
• Existing materials - Complement natural wood, brick, and stone. Enhance - don't cover up - special features.
• Landscaping - Coordinate with the foliage and terrain. Earthy, organic colors typically work well.
• Personal taste - Incorporate your own style too. Bold black for drama or robin's egg blue for charm?

Beyond aesthetics, remember that where your house is located impacts choices too. Hot climates may require light colors that reflect heat, while damp climates favor darker hues that won't show mildew.

Color Theory for Colonial House Exteriors

Knowing basic color theory principles helps you develop cohesive, harmonious exterior color schemes. Consider the following guidelines:

• Use a neutral main color as the base, like white, beige, or gray.
• Add 1-2 accent colors for trim, doors, and shutters. Bright colors make small details pop.
• Choose colors in the same family for cohesion, like different shades of green or blue.
• Use warm neutrals against natural surroundings and cooler neutrals against urban backdrops.
• Employ the 60-30-10 rule: 60% base color, 30% trim, 10% accents.

Avoid clashing colors and aim for pleasing combinations. Contrasting shades can emphasize architectural details, but stick to 3 or 4 total colors for visual harmony.

Classic Colonial Exterior Color Combinations

Traditional colonial color schemes offer timeless curb appeal. Here are some quintessential colonial exterior paint ideas:

White and Black Colonial Houses

A pristine bright white colonial with black shutters is classic Americana. Black trim and accents against white walls provide bold contrast. For a softer look, charcoal gray can replace black. Crisp white exteriors pop against green lawns and foliage.

Red Brick and White Trim Colonial Exteriors

Red brick foundations and chimneys anchor colonial designs. White siding, columns, doors, windows, and trim elegantly complement the red brickwork. For a patriotic palette, try navy blue accents. Softer tan or beige siding also works well with red brick.

Dark Forest Green Colonial Homes

Deep forest or hunter green gives colonies a refined, stately appearance. Contrast white or ivory trim with rich green siding for timeless sophistication. For a lighter green palette, sage or seafoam trim can provide subtle contrast against olive or mossy green walls.

Accentuating Architectural Details with Contrasting Colors

Strategically applied accent colors can highlight exterior architectural features. Make porches, pediments, doors and other special details stand out.

Doors and Shutters

Paint your front door a bold shade that contrasts the siding. Black, red, and navy are classic. For a softer statement, try caramel, sage, or robin's egg blue. Shutters offer another opportunity to add color. For white houses, black or dark green shutters add striking punctuation.

Cornices, Pediments and Columns

Distinguish structural trimwork and ornamentation by painting cornices, pediments, columns, and dentils in a contrasting accent shade. Contrasting white or ivory elegantly delineates architectural details against field colors of green, yellow, gray or blue.

Complementary Neutral Tones for Timeless Curb Appeal

Multiple neutral shades can form harmonious colonial exterior color schemes with subtle visual interest. Beiges, browns, grays, and whites work together seamlessly while adding depth and dimension.

For example, pair warm beige siding with crisp white trim, windows, and columns. A gray roof and charcoal shutters complete the look. Or, try light tan walls with dark brown shutters and doors for an earthy feel.

Plan simple color blocking with neutral tones. Paint the main siding and corner trim one neutral, then use a slightly lighter or darker shade on the window trim. Gray, almond, and tan multi-neutral schemes provide flexibility.

Bold and Vibrant Colonial Exterior Color Schemes

While white and neutrals are common, don't be afraid to get creative with vibrant colonial exteriors. Bold paint choices make the home stand out.

For an energizing look, paint your colonial home sunshine yellow or brick red. Robin's egg blue exteriors epitomize New England charm. Try pairing these with crisp white trim for balance.

Feel free to mix and match bright colors too. For example, coordinate a cobalt blue door with emerald green siding and bright white columns and dentils. When using stronger colors, stick to a simple combination of two hues for visual harmony.

Planning and Preparing for Exterior Painting Project

With endless inspiring colonial paint possibilities, deciding on colors is only half the battle. Proper prep work and using the right exterior paint products ensures your new color scheme withstands the elements.

Paint Types for Exterior Surfaces

Use high quality exterior paints suited for each application:

• Siding - 100% acrylic latex paint
• Trim - Alkyd enamel
• Wood doors - Oil-based enamel
• Shutters - Weather-resistant acrylic

Choose finishes with mildew resistance in humid climates. Flat or matte finishes hide imperfections, while glossy paint allows for easy cleaning.

Proper prep ensures your exterior paint job withstands the elements:

• Pressure wash surfaces
• Scrap and sand to smooth old paint or weathered wood
• Caulk gaps and prime raw wood
• Use oil-based primer for color changes
• Apply two finish coats of exterior paint