Matching Agreeable Gray House Exterior with Landscape
When choosing an exterior house paint color, it's important to consider how it will coordinate with your home's architecture and surroundings. A versatile neutral like Sherwin-Williams' popular Agreeable Gray can beautifully blend with varied styles and environments. Its barely-there gray appearance with subtle warm undertones provides a soothing, peaceful backdrop for gardens, plantings, hardscaping and other exterior features.
We'll suggest plants, materials and design ideas that enhance this pretty paint color. Read on for inspiration to create a cohesive look.
Harmonizing Exterior Paint and Landscape Design
Any shade of gray can be uninteresting on its own, which is why pairing it with other elements is key. Thoughtfully designed landscaping makes an Agreeable Gray house exterior pop. It brings out its nuanced taupe-ish, greige tone to full advantage.
When planning your exterior paint scheme, first assess your home's geographic location, architectural style and surroundings. Nearby foliage, terrain and even adjacent houses provide cues. Echoing those site-specific qualities will result in the most natural, seamless look.
- In woodsy areas with evergreens, earth-toned landscaping would suit an Agreeable Gray exterior.
- In rural plains or prairie settings, muted blue-green grasses and wildflowers would complement the color.
- In desert environments, dry-climate plants in dusty shades of sage green or silver-blue are ideal pairings.
A farmhouse or cottage will likely call for more casual, natural-style landscaping versus structured formal gardens for a stately Colonial or Tudor home. But Agreeable Gray's flexibility means it adapts well to varied designs.
Plantings That Flatter Agreeable Gray House Exteriors
Certain hues inherently bring out the pleasing, slightly warm neutrals of Agreeable Gray. Lavenders, soft greens, grays, taupes and creams are especially harmonizing.
Consider installing:
- Lavender bushes
- Sage or silver foliage plants like artemisia or dusty miller
- Ornamental grasses in wheat colors
- Rosemary shrubs
- Lamb's ear
- Russian sage
- Yuccas
Pastel flowering plants also coordinate beautifully, like pansies, petunias, nicotiana, snapdragons, phlox and more. Variegated foliage with cream and green adds nice contrast.
Hardscaping Materials to Match Agreeable Gray
Natural, neutral hardscaping choices enhance Agreeable Gray's organic feel:
- Weathered wood retainment walls or edging
- Wheat-hued gravel or pea stone
- Sandstone or neutral concrete pavers
- Fieldstone walkways
- Boulders and large rocks
Wrought iron garden furnishings, black window boxes and charcoal-hued mulch or rock are bold accents. Woodchip mulching ties it all together nicely.
Choosing Exterior Paint Colors to Pair with Agreeable Gray
While Agreeable Gray works great solo, adding secondary hues builds interest. Contrasting or complementary paint colors for:
- Window and door trim
- Shutters
- Front doors
- Garage and outbuilding doors
Options like crisp white, beige, taupe, light grays, sage green and navy blue play up Agreeable Gray's chameleon-like abilities. Black or dark brown window framing also pops appealingly.
Accent Color Combination Ideas
Some paint schemes to inspire you:
- Cream window trim with navy blue front door and shutters
- Bright white windows and gutters with olive green garage door
- Charcoal gray garage and outbuilding doors with tan window boxes
- Black window sash and garage door with steel blue storm door
Even different stain shades on wooden structural accents like arbors or pergolas integrate nicely. Ultimately, sample various color combos on actual house surfaces before finalizing.
Creative Inspiration for Exterior Color Schemes
Browse sites like Pinterest, Instagram or Houzz to spark exterior paint ideas. Local or online home magazines also provide useful inspiration. Drive through neighborhoods with house styles similar to yours and note appealing schemes to emulate.
Sherwin Williams' ColorSnap app lets you upload a house image and virtually test colors on it. Or visit their Studio location for expert design advice as you preview shade combinations on monitor screens.
Budgeting for Agreeable Gray Exterior Paint Projects
If professionally painted, you'll incur labor charges for surface prep, priming and painting. Power washing siding first also adds cost. Expect to pay:
- $40-$60 per gallon for Agreeable Gray exterior paint
- $3-$8 per square foot for labor, depending on siding type/prep needed
- $150-$400 to power wash a typical single-family house
DIY painting may meet $1500 or less. Hiring pros could run $4000 or beyond. Planning colors during new construction provides economies from priming/painting it all at once.
Factors that Impact Exterior Paint Job Costs
Prices fluctuate based on:
- Square footage
- Siding type/condition
- Trimwork amount
- Prep work needed
- Paint quality/type
- New build versus existing home
- Contractor rates in your geographic area
Narrow price ranges by getting multiple bids after detailing your exact job specifications.
Budget Planning Tips
Here are some tips for keeping exterior paint costs in check:
- Seek contractor bids in winter when schedules are less busy
- Provide your own paint purchased on sale or with coupons/discounts for product cost savings
- Only power wash/prep sound surfaces so full primer/paint isn't wasted on areas needing replacement soon anyway
- Consider only spot-priming versus entire surface if previous coat is still adhered well
- Research quality paint brand product lines and choose economical lines still offering long-term performance
An investment in durable Agreeable Gray paint now boosts ROI long-term via enhanced curb appeal and longevity between repaints.
Tips for Prepping for Exterior Painting Projects
Proper prep ensures Agreeable Gray and accent colors adhere well and last. Steps include:
- Cleaning surfaces thoroughly via power washing at sufficient PSI for substrate
- Scraping loose existing paint down to bare foundation surface
- Caulking gaps and cracks wider than 1/4" in siding or trim
- Sanding glossy areas to degloss and rough up the texture
- Spot priming bare wood, metal, and masonry before painting
- Covering landscaping and other surfaces to protect from splatters/spills
- Laying drop cloths to catch paint drips