The Joyful Exterior: How to Give Your Home Just the Right Touch of Blue
Here are ways to add blue to the outside of your house — and 8 palettes to try
Jennifer Ott
May 2, 2016
San Francisco-based architectural color specialist and design writer. Jennifer's work has been featured in many print and online publications. Her recently-published book, "1000 Ideas for Color Schemes," is a beautifully illustrated and easy-to-navigate guide that takes the guesswork out of selecting the perfect color palette for your home or special event. For more information on Jennifer Ott Design, visit http://jenottdesign.com/.
San Francisco-based architectural color specialist and design writer. Jennifer's... More
First in a series on how to choose a bold accent color for the outside of your house
Most homeowners prefer neutrals for the main body color of a home’s exterior. With a few exceptions, I tend to agree. But that doesn’t mean you can’t also bring in a fun hue. Here are eight examples of pairing a subtle house color with a bold blue accent.
Most homeowners prefer neutrals for the main body color of a home’s exterior. With a few exceptions, I tend to agree. But that doesn’t mean you can’t also bring in a fun hue. Here are eight examples of pairing a subtle house color with a bold blue accent.
1. Gray cedar siding gets a boost with a splash of vibrant blue. This palette is perfect for a place by the beach, but even landlocked homes can pull it off beautifully. It’s all about using neutrals (gray and white here) for the bulk of the color, and limiting the bold blue hue for smaller accents such as the front door and window frames.
For a similar palette, try: Stonehedge semisolid exterior stain with trim in White Dove and an accent of Watertown, all from Benjamin Moore.
2. Warm, soft neutrals are enduringly popular exterior colors for a home. Make your place stand apart from the neighbors’ by going with a more unusual accent color. This watery blue allows the handsome architectural details on the house to take center stage.
For a similar palette, try: Lover’s Hideaway with an accent of Pacific Bliss, both from Kelly-Moore.
For a similar palette, try: Lover’s Hideaway with an accent of Pacific Bliss, both from Kelly-Moore.
3. As color complementaries, or opposites on the color wheel, blue and orange offer a dynamic contrast. You can rein that in a bit by going for a neutralized version of one of the colors (such as the toned-down tan on the shingles here) and allow the other color to really stand out (the aqua accents on the door, soffits and porch ceiling).
For a similar palette, try: Tony Taupe for the main color, Raindrop for the soffits and porch ceiling, and Reflecting Pool on the front door, all from Sherwin-Williams.
4. The saturated blue on the windows and shutters here mimics the clear blue sky. This is perhaps a bit more than an accent of blue, but because most of the home is painted a soft off-white, it doesn’t overwhelm the eye.
For a similar palette, try: Ivory Mist with an accent of Castle Moat, both from Behr.
For a similar palette, try: Ivory Mist with an accent of Castle Moat, both from Behr.
5. This adorable cottage gets its color boost from soft turquoise accents.
For a similar palette, try: Lime White with an accent of Blue Ground, both from Farrow & Ball.
6. If you have any fun or whimsical elements on your home, by all means, use a compelling accent color to make them stand out. Conversely, paint any unsightly elements such as gutters, downspouts, conduits, vents and utility equipment in the same color as the surrounding siding so they’ll blend in.
For a similar palette, try: Delicate White for the main color, and Arabella and Chinese Porcelain as accents, all from PPG Pittsburgh Paints.
7. When selecting exterior accent colors, take into consideration any fixed elements on your home, such as the roof or stonework. Unless you’re also changing the color of those, make sure that your accent hue plays nicely with them. This deep blue-green looks terrific with the gray roof shingles.
For a similar palette, try: Bistro White with an accent of Sky Space, both from Valspar.
For a similar palette, try: Bistro White with an accent of Sky Space, both from Valspar.
8. This color scheme calls to mind the sun and the sea, and is a great choice for a cottage near the beach or for those who want to capture that seaside vibe.
For a similar palette, try: Chamber Yellow for the main color, Capitol White for the trim, and Lazy Sunday for the door and other accents, all from Benjamin Moore.
Your turn: How have you used blue on the exterior of your home? Post a photo below and tell us what color you chose!
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Houzz guides to exterior color
Houzz guides to front door colors
For a similar palette, try: Chamber Yellow for the main color, Capitol White for the trim, and Lazy Sunday for the door and other accents, all from Benjamin Moore.
Your turn: How have you used blue on the exterior of your home? Post a photo below and tell us what color you chose!
More
Houzz guides to exterior color
Houzz guides to front door colors
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I love many of those combinations!
We live in an area where there is a lot of jungle greens and high end homes. But many of the houses have been painted, tho in good color combos, without attention to the background. So for me, a visual person, it's very jarring.
These houses seem to have paid attention to that detail! Esp 2,3, and 4. Good for them.
Jennifer, My exterior door and window trim is Ben.Moore "Lazy Sunday", the window vinyl is Home Depot "Driftwood". I have 1" dental molding trim that I want to paint another color that will be attached to the window trim. I was thinking about a shade of purple? Then, today I thought maybe a complimentary (color wheel) of a shade of orange might be more interesting. The Philadelphia row house is Wissahickon stone with a light brown sand colored mortor The blue is semi- gloss. What would you suggest for color for the dental & low- gloss or semi-gloss? I would gratefully appreciate your input. I have been trying to figure this out for 2 years. Thanks.