Why Tan Houses Often Have Blue Shutters

The combination of a tan house with blue shutters is an iconic and popular exterior color scheme seen on homes across America. But why is it that tan colored houses so often feature blue shutters? This classic color pairing has a long history and its visual appeal is backed by psychological research on color theory and aesthetic preferences.

The Origins and History of Tan Houses with Blue Shutters

Tan and blue first grew in popularity as an exterior color scheme due to the use of natural building materials in early American architecture. Many early colonial homes were constructed from wood, which weathered to tan shades over time when exposed to the elements. Shutters were typically painted dark blue, as blue pigment was readily available from indigenous plants like indigo.

As paint became more accessible in the 18th and 19th centuries, tan house exteriors with blue shutters emerged as a favorite as settlers moved west and built homes across America. The aesthetically pleasing and comforting color combination took hold across various architectural styles from Colonials to Victorians to Craftsman bungalows.

Regional Trends and Developments

Interestingly, while the tan house and blue shutter trend arose across America, subtle regional differences developed over time.

• In New England, shades like colonial blue, navy, and Robin's egg blue grew popular for shutters against tan, brown, and white homes.
• On the West Coast and in the Southwest, sky blue shutters paired with tan stucco bungalows flourished, brightening up sunny landscapes.
• In the South, dark forest green or black shutters contrasted beautifully against tan homes with wrap-around porches.

So while tan houses with blue shutters persisted as a default across the country, local architectural tastes and environs put subtle spins on the classic color combination in different areas over time.

A Standout Combo for Curb Appeal

As the tan house and blue shutter combination gained traction over centuries, it stood out for its versatile curb appeal.

• It complements various architectural styles from Colonials to Farmhouses to Cotswold Cottages.
• It suits homes big and small, lending coziness to cottages and sophistication to mansions.
• It flatters different exterior materials like wood siding, brick facades, and stucco surfaces equally.

This broad appeal across house shapes, sizes, styles, materials, and regions solidified tan and blue's status as a beloved exterior pairing.

The Psychological Draw of Tan Houses with Blue Shutters

Beyond origins and history, the persistence of tan houses with blue shutters comes down to psychological responses hardwired into the human brain.

Impressions of Home and the Feeling of Welcome

Research shows that humans are drawn to tan colors paired with blue hues due to subconscious associations with safety, shelter, and welcome.

Earthy tan shades are reminiscent of wood cabins and cozy dwellings, stirring impressions of the first shelters erected by ancient ancestors. And dark blue mimics shade and water, resources necessary for establishment of early human settlements.

Additionally, the high contrast between light tan walls and dark blue shuttered windows subconsciously creates a focal point for ancient parts of our brains that rapidly assess entries to new spaces for safety and threat levels before entering.

Nostalgic Associations with Past Homes and Travels

Tan houses with blue shutters also tap into nostalgia and memories imprinted on our brains over our lifetimes.

The classic color combination mirrors homes many would have grown up in or vacationed at in childhood along the New England coastline, California beaches, or Southern river towns. This sparks positive recollections and a warming nostalgic response.

Sense of Order, Balance and Calm

Additionally, to the subconscious mind, the complementary balance of light and dark shades on the exterior facade creates a sense of harmony, order and calm.

Blue shutters nicely ground and anchor the lighter tan walls, bringing an intrinsic balance and stability to the overall aesthetic.

This inner sense of visual order and equilibrium when looking at the combo resonates deeply, invoking feelings of peace and relaxation for home buyers and passersby.

The Design Qualities That Make Tan and Blue Work

The psychological responses that makes tan houses with blue shutters so popular from a curb appeal perspective links back to specific design principles.

Complementary Color Contrast

Tan and shades of blue are complementary hues on the color wheel, creating pleasing contrast between lightness and darkness when paired together.

The darker blue shutters also help ground and visually balance the lighter tan walls, framing doors and windows in an aesthetically appealing way.

Adaptability to Various Styles and Features

A tan and blue exterior flawlessly adapts to complement different architectural styles and home shapes.

• A New England Colonial with a stately foyer looks rich and sophisticated with tan siding and navy shutters.
• An old stone Farmhouse feels cozy and welcoming with buttercream walls and robin's egg blue window casings.
• A sprawling Prairie Style home gains an airy lightness with sand-colored stucco and sky blue shutters.

The color scheme also works beautifully on any home size from quaint cottages to grand manors by communicating similar impressions of comfort and welcome.

Flexibility for Design Customization

While classic tan and blue combos persist, the scheme also allows flexibility for personalization by playing with varying hues.

Home owners can select different tan wall shades like fawn, buff, biscuit or gold. Vibrant blue tones like teal, navy and cobalt jazz things ups while soft robin's egg and powder blues keep things relaxed.

This ability to customize tan and blue to complement personal style keeps the combo relevant and unique to each home.

The Practical Benefits Supporting Tan Houses with Blue Shutters

Beyond visual aesthetics, practical factors support the enduring popularity of tan and blue exterior palettes.

Durability of Colors

Tans and lighter earth tones endure well on home exteriors, hiding dirt and wear while retaining vibrancy longer vs. white houses based on pigmentation and shading.

Richer deeper blues are also highly colorfast, meaning they resist fading better than lighter hues over time. This reduces maintenance needs for repainting and touch ups down the road.

Ease of Changing Accent Colors

While tan siding remains constant, switching out accent colors like shutters and doors allows easy exterior refreshes.

So if a homeowner tires of navy shutters, they paint them black without changing the tan facade that neighbors identify the home by.

This flexibility prevents costly whole-house paint jobs down the road while allowing personalized updates to keep things fresh.

Complementary Curb Appeal for Resale Value

Inlisting a real estate agent's input, tan and blue combos have strong resale value for desirable curb appeal.

The colors feel welcoming without personalization that may deter buyers. And touches like powder blue doors pop while neutral tan walls fade to background.

This broad visual appeal makes it easy for future owners to project their vision onto a home, supporting resale.

For well over a century, tan houses featuring blue shutters have persisted as an American favorite thanks to the color scheme's history, psychology, design qualities and practicality.

The combo awakens positive imprinted memories in our minds, welcomes us home, and displays an intrinsic balanced beauty that relaxes the soul - an undeniable curb appeal that perseveres across ages and regions.