The Hottest Exterior Paint Colors for 2013

If you’re planning to paint the exterior of your home this summer to give it a fresh updated look, you’re probably looking at color chips and trying to select colors for the siding, trims and doors. There are four things to consider when choosing exterior paint colors for your home:

1.    Roof Color. Roof colors determine your paint color options. The most popular roof colors are black, gray and brown. Other less common colors you may see on roofs are white and green shingles or terracotta roof tile.   

2.    The Façade. The color of brick or stone accents on the exterior of a home may also influence color options for siding, trims and doors. A stucco or brick facade can be painted but often homes with these exteriors may have a certain type of architecture such as Craftsman, Italianate, Mission, Georgian or Tudor that can be showcased by your choice of colors.

3.    Architecture. Color can enhance architecture. Think of the stately white Federal-style or Antebellum homes or colorful Queen Anne and Victorian homes. The clean lines of a contemporary home can be accentuated by paint colors that augment the wood structure. The welcome feeling of a Cape-style home can be amplified by the use of inviting colors.

4.    Your Neighborhood. Walk around your neighborhood and observe the colors of the homes. Within a neighborhood you will find homes of similar architecture that complement one another. If you’re looking to maintain the value of your home, choose a color within a neighborhood palette. If you live in an area where there is considerable distance between homes, then it may pay off to be unique and stand out with your choice of colors.

Here are our picks for the hottest exterior paint colors for 2013:

White

As an exterior color, white will work with almost any color roof. It’s practicallly foolproof.

Simply White OC-117. Benjamin Moore's "Simply White" has  a hint of yellow which makes it appear bright and fresh. It is a good trim color too.

Grays

Gray is a popular home color this year for both exteriors and interiors.  Gray can have blue, green or even purple undertones and a range of values from a pale gray tint to a deep charcoal. There are three grays in our palette all from Benjamin Moore:

	Horizon Gray 2141-50. This shade of gray has a green undertone that provides a complement to landscaping. It is an attractive color if you have a black, brown or gray roof. Try Vanilla Milkshake 2141-70 with it as a trim color.
	Storm Cloud Gray 2142-40. A deeper value of gray with olive undertones. A gold exterior door would be the perfect accent for this shade of gray. Check out Dijon 193, Goldfinch 187 or Marblehead Gold HC-11 also from Benjamin Moore
	Platinum Gray PM-7. A neutral mid-tone true gray that works well with many trim and door colors.

Greens

Consider green if you have a brown or black roof. There are two greens that we think work well with bordering landscape and gardens:

	Dry Sage 2140-40. A neutral olive color that is anything but drab. Try it with Spanish White 943 trim and a deep red or dark purple door.
	Caldwell Green HC-124. This is a subtle gray green from Benjamin Moore’s Historic Color Collection. It looks awesome with one of our favorite go-to colors for trim Mayonnaise 2152-70.

Tans and Beiges

Tans and beiges always have an undertone. It’s important to know this because undertones can either complement or contrast with accent colors. Beige undertones are generally gray/black, yellow/gold, red, purple or green/olive. Here is an example of each:

	Stone Hearth 984. This Benjamin Moore color has gray/black undertones.
	Lighthouse Landing 1044. Benjamin Moore mixed this creamy beige with yellow undertones and it pairs well with blue.
	Sourdough 418-3. This beige from Pittsburgh Paint is a light taupe with red undertones.
	Cotswold AF-150. A deeper value of beige from Benjamin Moore’s “Affinity” palette is a taupe with purple undertones.
	Decatur Buff HC-38. This tan color from Benjamin Moore has gold and olive undertones.

Yellows

When it comes to home exteriors, yellow is a somewhat difficult color to select because of undertones. Yellow can have orange, green or brown undertones. Too much orange and you will have a ‘school bus yellow’ home which may have your neighbors asking “What were you thinking?”. On the other hand, pale yellows can look washed out. Here are two yellow paint colors that won’t scream or look anemic:

	Belgium Waffle 215-3. A soft neutral yellow by Pittsburgh Paint with gold undertones.
	Dijon 193. A midtone Benjamin Moore golden yellow with brown undertones. When using yellow consider cream accents for trim such as Mannequin Cream 2152-60, which complements “Dijon”.

Blue

Blue can be a fantastic color on exterior siding and enhances the architecture of a colonial or cape-style home. Blue/grays are very versatile and can be used with many color combinations. Try this blue on siding or as an accent:

Hamilton Blue PM-6. This neutral deep blue from Benjamin Moore looks great on siding but can also be used as an accent with beige, red, yellow or gray.

Reds

Reds with black or brown undertones are often used on home exteriors. Black undertones create a burgundy shade and brown creates a brick color when mixed with red.

	Arroyo Red 2085-10. This shade of burgundy from Benjamin Moore has black tones that complement a black or gray roof.
	Boston Brick 2092-30. This red, also from Benjamin Moore, has brown tones. Creams and olive greens are colors to consider for trims and accents with this color.