Dark Exterior Paint Colours
This has been such a hot topic in the last couple of years, as homeowners are leaning towards going bold and darker with their exteriors vs. the lighter brighter creamy whites with black windows.
In this weeks blog we thought we would share what is but a small corner of this discussion, as well as some Pro Tips that will give all homeowners considering a new exterior colour some direction as well.
Studio McGee in Graphite
Let’s face it, paint colours can be overwhelming! Especially when you are investing in such a big surface and one that everyone in the neighbourhood can see. That being said, this is where we want to start with our design help.
Always do paint samples. In the process of painting your exterior, you’re going to want to work some trades you trust and have them quote on the process for you. Once this is confirmed and it’s time to make your selections, our clients usually end up deciding between 2-4 options and we’re the first ones to say, “let’s put up a sample”. This will help you to determine what that small paint chip you saw online or in someone elses photo will look like on your own exterior, which is a great place to start.
Consider your windows. Going dark is a bold choice for exteriors, and we like to pair this with windows that are darker to give it a more monochromatic look. Consider investing in dark exterior windows and working off of this.
Consider the material of your homes exterior. From brick to siding to stucco to shingles, this will play a factor in what can be accomplished with a paint make over. Consult your trades and professionals to help guide you through this. We love to recommend you keep as much as your in-shape red brick as possible, but often times exterior face lifts require us to paint over these facades because they are too far gone beyond repair. Other times we’ve worked with clients who are selecting a new siding material to over the existing exterior, and that can roll into a whole new selection of colourways. Again, as with Tip #1, always get samples!
Consider the finish of your selection. We recommend going in a flat finish for your larger exterior spaces, which will help hide imperfections and give it an overall statement look. Sheen or gloss can really draw attention to imperfections and should be reserved for trims and window casings.
Don’t trust the internet. We say this with a smile. Not only is it very difficult to find nice looking inspirational images of darker exteriors, it is also very important to note that every house is going to look completely different with each paint option. A lot like fashion, every “body” is different, just like every house is different. Which takes us full circle to making sure you do paint samples to ensure you can see it for yourself. So take these favourite selections as guides, they are tried, tested and true but they are also going to look so unique on your home.
Kelly Wold
Testing our paint options at Project Coady
By laying out the samples, our clients could really start to visualize which colour option to go with. It made such a difference in the paint selection process and we adore the BM Graphite selection they went with!
Selecting an exterior paint colour can be a challenge because there are so many avenues to go down with darker colours. We would say it’s possibly more diverse than selecting a white option, of which there are also many! For darker colours, you’re usually looking at undertones of blues, greys and browns. We even have some favourites that read a little green as well.
A quick rundown of our top favourite dark exterior paint colours below.
Nesting with Grace
Sherwin Williams Iron Ore 7069
This one is a classic and a must try for samples. With grey undertones, it reads as one of the lighter blacks. We’ve used this on interior doors and think you will love it as an exterior colour. Try it out!
Nesting with Grace
Benjamin Moore Wrought Iron 2124-10
This black is considered the darkest of the grey family and also the more malleable of all of the blacks. We believe because it has navy undertones it’s super versatile and worth considering in your top 4 samples.
Benjamin Moore Iron Mountain by JFH Homes
Benjamin Moore Iron Mountain 2134-30
This is a soft black with rich undertones. We love seeing it paired with woods and shingles, but think it’s worth trying with strong black window frames as well.
Sherwin Williams Black Magic by Sherwin Custom Builders
Sherwin WIlliams Black Magic 6991
This is considered a “true black” with very clean, modern undertones.
Studio McGee
Benjamin Moore Graphite 1603
This is a dark dramatic black-grey and has a lot of depth to it. We love this selection for textured exteriors and always recommend clients throw this into the sample options as it’s one of our MPD favourites.
Let us know in the comments your favourite dark exterior colours! We’re excited to see what drama you come up with.