Paint Your House This Color In 2021
You know that one house on your block that looks the same as it did when 90210 was the most popular show on TV? Don’t let that be you.
Whether you’re getting ready to sell your house or plan on living in it until someone with power of attorney pries your tightly gripped fingers off the sash, you’ll always want your home looking its best. Trends in exterior color schemes change every 15 years—if you haven’t reevaluated your color scheme since 2006, start here:
1—Creamy Whites
Everybody’s definitely here for the off-whites in 2021. Go for warm, creamy whites like Seapearl and Swiss Coffee by Benjamin Moore. Both are warm shades, but Swiss Coffee is a little brighter. Warm white paired with wood is a definite trend to follow (see #4 and #15). But take note: Stark, true white is so last year.
2—Pale Grays
Gray is a hot alternative to beige, but the stark grays with cooler undertones have cooled off. These days, think warm undertones with hints of green. Repose Gray by Sherwin Williams has warm undertones but does double duty by reading as cool in certain lighting. It creates such a Zen look, and who doesn’t want to feel that when they get home?
3—Beige
Yep, beige. Gray may be a lovely alternative to this color family but no hate—a beautiful beige is hard to beat. The beige of today is still warm but does not have the tendency to turn yellow. It’s subtle and almost off-white in different lighting. That versatility is what makes Benjamin Moore’s Accessible Beige a can’t-miss color.
4—Desaturated Blue & Green Accents
Less intense blues and greens have become a thing as accent colors. There’s something about colors like Boothbay Gray by Benjamin Moore or Lichen by Farrow & Ball that is at once calming and interesting. Use one of these sophisticated hues on your shutters or front door, paired with a creamy white exterior and topiary trees.
5—Bronze
While it’s next to impossible put a true metallic in a paint can (and if you could, the price tag would be disqualifying) Sherwin Williams does a darn good job with Urbane Bronze. This totally gorgeous color looks even better when you pair it with actual bronze metal accents, like porch lights or patio furniture. Très chic.
6—Bichrome
Split-level, ranch and contemporary designs are all having a moment, probably because their architecture is so versatile. The trend is toward two complementary colors (rather than contrasting) like Pastoral and Sawgrass, both by Behr. You could do one on top and the other on bottom, or one on each side and the other in the middle.
7—Dark Grays
Really dark gray home exteriors have been popping up more and more lately, and I am totally feeling that moody, broody charcoal. While the color concept may seem like a new trend, it’s really a time-honored classic. Two thoroughly modern dark grays are Wrought Iron and Bracken Slate, both by Benjamin Moore.
8—Soft Blacks
Though using black as an accent color may not the latest news, it is perennially popular. Some of you bolder homeowners out there are even using it as your main color. In 2021, think softer, flatter finishes instead of hard and glossy. Black Jack by Benjamin Moore is a great base that’ll give you an edge over the neighbors (not that it’s a competition).
9—Pewter
While not everyone can immediately envision what pewter looks like (we can because Buccaneers), this hard-to-describe color is rapidly becoming the “it” color of 2021. Who knows what sparked its sudden rise in popularity, but it sure does look amazing, and very modern, with natural wood accents. Check out Behr’s Burnished Pewter.
10—Warm White Trim
Looking to add some pieces of flair this year? Put extra trim around your windows and paint it a creamy white. A trim color like Silos White by Magnolia Home looks gorgeous on a darker house and looks just as gorgeous on a lighter house, serving up a more monochromatic look. This easy-to-use color works against any window color.
11—Slate Blue
When blue and gray come together, good things happen. Slate blue reads like a neutral, and Mountain Slate Blue by Glidden shows personality without straying too far from traditional tones. But blues come in many shades (here’s your proof 😑) so take a bunch of samples and note how they look at different times of day, in sun and in shade.
12—Navy Blue
All shades of blue vary greatly and navy is no exception. Some navys appear grayer, some appear purpler and some even venture into royal territory. For exterior purposes, look for a neutral hue like Hale Navy by Benjamin Moore. It shines on coastal bungalows and mid-century modern ranches alike.
13—Earthy Greens
Green is a color that you really need to envision before painting your whole house with it. When it’s right, it is so right… but when it’s wrong, boy is it wrong. Earthy green works especially well as an accent color, but some houses can pull it off on the body. Dunn-Edwards has rendered the perfect hue with its Smoke & Ash.
14—Pink Door
Why not show a little personality? Pink is trending on front doors, and doors are a great place to be experimental. An increasing number of fun homeowners are choosing it over boring ol’ yellow and red—colors that were formerly on fleek but are now as played out as that phrase. Try Nickelodeon Coral Pink or Farrow & Ball’s Middleton Pink.
15—Stained Wood
While paint can be a game changer, if there’s any place you can add stained wood accents to your home’s exterior, you gotta do it. There will absolutely be a continued push toward earthy shades and natural elements, and wood is a perfect way, in big or small doses, to embrace that mood.
Christy Rosen Clement is a Pricing Strategy Advisor®, Seller Representative Specialist®, Military Relocation Professional® and REALTOR® at Palermo Real Estate Professionals in South Tampa
