Make a statement in your neighbourhood with an inspired exterior.Selecting a single color for the outside of your house can be difficult enough, but trying to find two or more hues that work well together makes the decision even more challenging. Whether your aim is to highlight architectural details or simply to find a complementary shade for shutters and trim, the choice is an important one. "Color can make a big impact on the look of a house," confirms architect Jim Rill, principal of Rill Architects, in Bethesda, Maryland. For inspiration, consider your home's style and scale as well as architectural styles typical of your neighborhood and region. "The best exterior colors are contextual to their environment," Rill observes. Here, 9 combinations that hit the mark. Deep natural colors that recede into the landscape are typical of Craftsman-style houses. For this renovation, Rill Architects chose a duo of Benjamin Moore olive greens: Gloucester Sage (HC-100) and Dakota Woods Green (2139-20).

A yellow-orange stain on the front door adds a lighthearted dash of color. "Front doors should always have character and draw subtle attention to themselves," Jim Rill points out. "A balanced look always provides plenty of curb appeal," says interior designer Kerrie Kelly, principal of Kerrie Kelly Design Lab, in Sacramento, California. "Starting with a neutral shade in straw yellow sets a welcoming palette, while accents in sage green give a lively look to traditional architecture. This combination is an approachable classic year-round." Older neighborhood dwellings guided the color choice for this Midwest home. "We chose a soft neutral for the body of the house that would allow it to stand out and yet still complement the other homes around it," reports Kristen Schammel, interior designer for Highmark Builders, in Burnsville, Minnesota. "This exterior is simple, traditional, and admired!" "Red is a classic color," says interior designer Cindy McClure, owner of Grossmueller's Design Consultants, in Washington, D.C. "I love using it on smaller homes because they handle the color so well.

Black accents like the front door and shutters look great when set off by white trim." "Gray is a great neutral that can match just about any style of home and is a beautiful complement to brick," says Jackie Jordan, director of color marketing for Sherwin-Williams. "The slightly more saturated shutters and door provide a sophisticated accent and bring in the tones of sky and sea." Seen here are Sherwin-Williams's Comfort Gray (SW 6205) and Rain (SW 6219). Green, Cream, and Burgundy "The combination of green, cream, and burgundy is a favorite for Victorian-style homes," reports Erika Woelfel, director of color marketing for Behr Paints. "The bold color scheme gives this home a dramatic yet warm appearance." The trio of Behr colors used here are Ivy Wreath (QE-46), Terra Sol (QE-20), and Country Lane Red (QE-07). A wonderful way to make a bold color statement on modern houses—even the smallest ones—is to start with a strong neutral and add a bright pop of color on the front door.

This home, designed by Ana Williamson Architect, in Menlo Park, California, combines two Benjamin Moore hues: Gunmetal (1602) for the siding and Tequila Lime (2028-30) on the door. Nearby houses inspired the color scheme of this charming home. "The sandy color on top resembles the muted tones common on neighboring houses," says architect David Neiman, of Neiman Taber Architects, in Seattle, Washington. "The brown is a darker complement that provides a strong visual base. Red window frames add an extra punch of color."christmas decorations on public property Blue, Red, and Tanexterior wood paint oil based Blue is a popular exterior color for homes in waterside settings like this one. metal star wall decor meaning

Adding red and tan to highlight trim and architectural features was a eye-catching choice by designers at New Urban Home Builders, in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The trio of hues also gives the lakefront compound a Scandinavian feel. If you are interested in more about painting, consider: 8 Exterior Paint Colors That Might Help Sell Your House Pro Tips: What Type of Paint Is Best for Exteriors? The Do's and Don'ts of Choosing a New House Color There are at least 50 million shades of gray. home decor store aucklandWhich one will look best on your house? home decor shops in pretoriaWe asked members of our Architect/Designer Directory to reveal their favorites. home decor shops in beijing

Here are the 10 exterior gray paints that they most often turn to: Deciding between gray and white? See 10 Easy Pieces: Architects’ White Exterior Paint Picks, also chosen by members of our Architect/Designer Directory. Swatch photographs by Katie Newburn for Gardenista. Above: Top row, left to right: Benjamin Moore Sag Harbor Gray; Benjamin Moore Bear Creek. Bottom row: Benjamin Moore Iron Mountain; Benjamin Moore Gravel Grey; Farrow & Ball Down Pipe; and Benjamin Moore Graystone. Above: Los Angeles-based SIMO Design painted this house in Dunn-Edwards Vulcan, a cool blue-gray. It’s the bluest of the shades in our top 10. Above: LA designers Nickey Kehoe Inc. had this house painted in Benjamin Moore Iron Mountain, a dark gray with a rich brown undertone. The same shade is also a favorite of Geremia Design and Klopf Architecture, both based in the San Francisco Bay Area. Photograph by Amy Neunsinger. Above: Chatham, NY-based architect James Dixon chose Benjamin Moore’s Sag Harbor Gray for this Hudson Valley farmhouse.

A light green-gray, it’s part of Benjamin Moore’s Historic Color collection. Above: Ana Williamson Architect, based in Menlo Park, CA, used Benjamin Moore Graphite on the siding of this modern house. The color is a true dark gray with just a hint of blue. For the trim, Williamson chose Benjamin Moore Gunmetal; the stucco was integrally colored to match Benjamin Moore Timber Wolf. Above: SF Bay Area-based interior designer Kriste Michelini chose Benjamin Moore Bear Creek as her favorite gray. Rich in brown tones, it’s lighter than Iron Mountain but darker than Grey Hearth. Above: Both LA-based DISC Interiors and SF-based Nicole Hollis picked Farrow & Ball Down Pipe as their top exterior gray. The popular color is a complex mix with hints of blue-green. Photograph via Farrow & Ball. Above: NYC-based architect Alex Scott Porter has used Benjamin Moore Gravel Gray on several projects, including this cabin on a Maine island. Gravel Gray is the darkest of the shades recommended here.