Decorating & Design
The Best Paint Colour Combinations For Your Home’s Exterior
Updated on July 8, 2024
The right paint colour can enhance your house’s curb appeal and breathe new life into its exterior, so it’s important to choose the right one. Lucky for us, the paint experts at Behr Paint Company have introduced their first-ever Curb Appeal Collection, a curated collection of 30 paint, exterior stain and spray paint shades to suit any style. With Behr experts taking the guesswork out of colour decisions, the only difficult decision you’ll have is deciding what to paint next.
BEHR® Paint is available exclusively at The Home Depot Canada.
Go Bold with Blues and Reds
Of course, you should choose colours you like, but you should also keep in mind your home’s architectural style and neighbourhood. This ranch-style new build uses three beautiful shades from the BEHR Curb Appeal Collection. Vertical siding in Adirondack Blue (N480-5), fascia in Cracked Pepper (PPU18-01) and front door in Red Pepper (PPU2-02) to give the house personality and character.
Expert Tip: Consider the amount of light your home receives during the day. Does it sit in the shade and need a brighter hue to reflect light? Or does it get loads of sun and can handle a darker colour?
From left to right: Behr Adirondack Blue (N480-5), Cracked Pepper (PPU18-01) and Red Pepper (PPU2-02)
Play Up Earth Tones
The BEHR 2024 Exterior Stain Colour of the Year is Tugboat from the Curb Appeal Collection. This shade is a delicate blend of brown and gray tones, which enhances the natural grain of wood. It’s available in a solid (SC-141) and semi-transparent (ST-141) exterior stain finish, both offering long-lasting protection for exterior surfaces. Pair it with earth tones such as tan, green or gray.
Expert Tip: Paint is best applied on surface temperatures between 2°and 32°C and maintained at these temperatures for at least 4 hours after applying. On semi-smooth surfaces, use a high-quality nap roller cover, nylon/polyester brush or an airless sprayer. On rough surfaces, use a high-quality nap roller cover.
From left to right: Behr Semi-Transparent Exterior Stain Tugboat (ST-141), Jungle Camouflage (N350-4) and Cracked Pepper (PPU18-01)
Keep It Classic in Black and White
From wood details to doors and trim, the BEHR Curb Appeal Collection has classic shades that work together, eliminating the stress of figuring it out for yourself. Pairing Behr’s White (52) with a dark accent colour like Behr’s 2024 Paint Colour of the Year, Cracked Pepper (PPU18-01) is a colour combination that will never go out of style.
Expert Tip: Choose a higher sheen finish on trim, window shutters, gables and doors to highlight your home’s architectural features. Try BEHR MARQUEE® Exterior Paint & Primer, available in Flat, Satin and Semi-Gloss finishes.
From left to right: White (52), Cracked Pepper (PPU18-01) and Semi-Transparent Exterior Stain Tugboat (ST-141)
Trick Out Your Trim with Any Curb Appeal Color
Brick, stucco and concrete houses can receive an instant colour update with any of Behr’s curated Curb Appeal Collection paint colors. Here, a new coat of soft black paint perfectly highlights the beautiful Tudor architectural details of the traditional windows and gables.
Expert Tip: To help make your paint colour last, always prep the surface by giving it a proper clean. A smooth surface ensures better adhesion and an easier painting process. To eliminate the additional step of using a separate primer, try two coats of BEHR MARQUEE Exterior Paint & Primer which has excellent adhesion. Note: a primer coat may be needed on some surfaces.
From left to right: Perfect Taupe (PPU18-13) and Cracked Pepper (PPU18-01)
Create a Focal Point with Colour
Calling attention to one of your home’s best features, whether it’s a front door, shutters or a porch, paint can have a major impact. This steely gray-blue shade of Dark Ash (770F-5) on the house can act as a neutral and make other colours pop like the bright yellow door in Charismatic (PPU6-14), or you could try a deep red for another winning combination. For a less daring look, try a natural stain from the BEHR Curb Appeal Collection.
Expert tip: Removing the door from its hinges will allow for a better painting and drying experience. Try the BEHR MARQUEE Exterior Paint & Primer, which provides a tough, non-stick surface that helps resist dirt and is great for high traffic areas like a front entrance.
From left to right: Dark Ash (770F-5), Charismatic (PPU6-14), Swiss Coffee (12) and Semi-Transparent Exterior Stain Cedar (ST-146)