The best exterior paint colours are the ones that sit comfortably with the fixed parts of a house: its brick or stone, its roof and its street. Deep, softened greens, blues and blacks are the most dependable choices for front doors and railings, warm off-whites and stone shades suit render and masonry, and window frames look best a step quieter than the door.
Unlike a room, the outside of a house is seen in full daylight, from a distance and alongside its neighbours, which changes how colours behave. Strong colours look lighter and brighter outdoors, and stark whites can look glaring against old brick. A slightly greyed or earthy version of the colour you have in mind usually looks better than the pure one.
Here are the colours we would start with for each part of the house, and the paints to use.
Front doors
The front door is the one place to be confident. A deep, slightly softened colour gives a smart, welcoming entrance and suits almost any house.
- Deep greens. Little Greene's Obsidian Green (216) and Invisible Green (56), and Farrow & Ball's Studio Green (93), are classics on Georgian and Victorian terraces.
- Blues. Farrow & Ball's Hague Blue (30), a deep, inky navy, and Little Greene's Air Force Blue (260), a rich, full-bodied blue.
- Blacks. Farrow & Ball's Railings (31), a blue-black, and Little Greene's Lamp Black (228), a soft off-black, are gentler than a true black. For a classic black, Paint & Paper Library's New Black (126) is the one. All look elegant with brass or black ironmongery.
- Something softer. For a cottage or a more playful street, a muted, brownish red such as Little Greene's Ashes of Roses (6) is a gentle alternative. Little Greene's Windmill Lane (296), a soft, muted green, is pictured outdoors further down.
Windows, frames and railings
Window frames are a large area seen from both sides, so they usually work best in a quieter colour than the door. Off-whites and soft stones keep a period house looking crisp without the glare of brilliant white, while a dark frame, such as Railings (31), gives a modern or industrial look and makes glass recede.
Railings, gates and gutters are traditionally painted in deep near-blacks and greens, and painting them to match the front door ties the front of the house together.
Photo Credit: Farrow & Ball; Colour Used: Railings (31)
Masonry and render
Walls are the largest area of all, and the colour that suits them depends on the house and its neighbours. Warm whites and stone shades are the safest, and they look softer than brilliant white in full daylight. Little Greene's Silent White Deep (331) and Slaked Lime (105), and Farrow & Ball's Pointing (2003) and Lime White (1), are good starting points.
Pale pinks, ochres and greens can look lovely on rendered cottages and seaside houses, but look at the street as a whole before you commit.
The right paint for each surface
- Front doors and joinery. Little Greene's Intelligent Exterior Eggshell is self-priming and made for all exterior woodwork. Farrow & Ball's Exterior Eggshell (20% sheen) is designed for exterior wood and metal, and their Full Gloss (95% sheen) gives a high-shine door. Farrow & Ball say both resist flaking, peeling and fading for up to six years when applied as directed.
- Masonry and render. Little Greene's Intelligent Masonry Paint and Farrow & Ball's Exterior Masonry (2% sheen, breathable) are both described by their makers as lasting up to 15 years before repainting is needed.
- Paint & Paper Library. The Architects' Satin and Architects' Gloss finishes are made for interior and exterior woodwork, and Gloss is often chosen for front doors.
Our exterior paints page lists every outdoor finish we stock.
Photo Credit: Little Greene; Colour Used: Windmill Lane (296)
Questions we are often asked
Do I need permission to paint the outside of my house?
Usually not, but listed buildings and some conservation areas have restrictions. Check with your local council before changing the colour of a front door or walls if either applies.
Why does my exterior colour look lighter than the sample?
Daylight outdoors is far stronger than indoors, so colours read paler and brighter. Test a large painted board against the door or wall, and view it from the street.
When is the best time to paint outside?
On a dry, mild day, out of direct hot sun, with no rain forecast while the paint dries. Check the minimum temperature on the tin.
Shop Exterior Paints
Intelligent Exterior Eggshell · Farrow & Ball Exterior Masonry · Sample Pots
