5 of the best exterior paint colors according to designers – these are the go-to shades for a timeless home

Settling on a paint color for your home's exterior can be a lengthy process that involves much deliberation. While generally, it's most common to play it safe with neutral hues, there are endless variations of neutral paint colors to choose from, each creating a slightly different look.

A good place to start is with those recommended by designers. Knowing that a specific paint color has been tried, tested, and loved can make you more confident that you're not going to make a costly mistake.

Here, we've rounded up five of the best paint colors for the exterior of a house, as chosen by a whole host of experts.

5 best exterior paints, according to designers

It's clear that shades of off-white are the most popular for exterior paint trends, so if you're looking for the perfect shade, these paint ideas have you covered.

'Choosing an exterior paint is tricky because the placement of angled lighting or sun will make the color vary throughout the day,' warns interior designer Eugenia Triandos, Principal Designer at Hibou Design & Co.

'It is very important that you test a large swatch prior to committing. Keep in mind that every small undertone becomes much more apparent on the exterior, so nothing too bright should be used.'

1. Shoji White, Sherwin-Williams

On this home's exterior, designer Connie Vernich of Vernich Interiors used Sherwin-Williams' Shoji White to create a classic look.

'It's a beautiful light greige color that appears as an off-white,' explains Connie. 'It looks fantastic paired with Sherwin-Williams Iron Ore which is a dark gray paint. The contrast is beautiful.'

For further inspiration, we also round-up Sherwin Williams' bestselling paints in our dedicated feature.

2. White Dove, Benjamin Moore

If you're looking for the best white paint for your home's exterior, consider Benjamin Moore's White Dove which was used at this farmhouse by Vernich Interiors. Described by Connie Vernich as 'the perfect white', this classic paint color seems just as popular for exteriors as it is for inside homes.

'It's my go-to color for both interiors and exteriors because it is not too "in your face" and has a little beige and gray in it,' explains Connie, who continued this paint inside the farmhouse too for a cohesive look.

3. Caribbean Blue Water, Benjamin Moore

For interior designer Betsy Wentz, Benjamin Moore's historical collection is full of favorite paint colors for home exteriors.

'Any of the historical colors would work well for an exterior,' says Betsy. 'My personal favorite for a whole house is Boothbay Gray, and for a porch ceiling, it’s Palladian Blue.'

'I also love to add a pop of color to the front door ideas,' says Betsy, who opted for Caribbean Blue Water here, a turquoise color that fits perfectly for summer.

We explore more front door color ideas in our dedicated feature.

4. Revere Pewter, Benjamin Moore

Another take on decorating with neutrals, beige colors can be less intense than white and integrate more seamlessly into a home's surroundings, such as Benjamin Moore's Revere Pewter.

'Revere Pewter is a great exterior color for those of us who like our beige to be very neutral,' says interior designer Caroline Kopp. 'This color is a soft warm beige but not so warm that it reads yellow. It looks great behind plantings and here we paired it with White Dove on the trim which overall reads very soft and inviting.'

5. Swiss Coffee, Benjamin Moore

Another favorite white paint is Benjamin Moore's Swiss Coffee, which has a warm undertone, and designers say it works well against bright sunlight.

'It has a warmth to it so it's not a cold blue-white and leans more traditional than modern,' says designer Sarah Latham of Latham Interiors.

Designer Bethany Adams agrees, adding that 'anything else comes off as too stark in bright sunlight' and that it is 'just warm enough to cut the glare without veering towards ivory or cream'.

Looking for more help with your exterior paint colors? Take a look at designers' rules for choosing the best exterior paint for your home which will ensure your color choices are the right fit for your home's unique setting.