5 Exterior Colour Palettes & Combos That Will Be Huge in 2021
Picking paint colours for your home's exterior? Be sure to read this before making your final decision
There are several things to consider when choosing a palette for your exterior – your home’s architecture, landscaping and the colours on neighbouring abodes, just to name a few. But you’ll also want your new scheme to tap into the latest trends. Here, three paint experts reveal the exterior colours we’ll be seeing a lot of in 2021, with earthy neutrals and pretty pastels making a welcome appearance after years of cool grey.
The pastel palette works beautifully on weatherboard and rendered facades, and coastal, Hamptons and Queenslander-style homes; and it pairs beautifully with pale grey or white stone, she says. “The trend for pale green on coastal homes is becoming increasingly popular,” says Lacy.
Key colours: Taubmans Daybreak and Taubmans Unbidden (both Chromatic Joy Collection colours); Taubmans Grey Moss and Taubmans Soft White.
Use soft green Taubmans Daybreak on exterior walls and frame this tone with a complementary darker green such as Taubmans Grey Moss on windows and front fencing. Create an inviting entry with earthy pink Taubmans Unbidden on the front door and Taubmans Soft White on fascia and gutters.
Key colours: Taubmans Daybreak and Taubmans Unbidden (both Chromatic Joy Collection colours); Taubmans Grey Moss and Taubmans Soft White.
Use soft green Taubmans Daybreak on exterior walls and frame this tone with a complementary darker green such as Taubmans Grey Moss on windows and front fencing. Create an inviting entry with earthy pink Taubmans Unbidden on the front door and Taubmans Soft White on fascia and gutters.
2. Rich clay tones
Earthy clay tones paired with pops of brown-black create a striking, modern-meets-rustic look on your exterior, says Lacy.
“This palette is particularly well-suited to modern, Victorian, Edwardian and Californian bungalow-style homes,” she says. “It works best on homes with unpainted traditional red or orange brick, or plain timber, as the warm tones across the palette bring these elements together. It also suits steel and painted brick surfaces.”
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Earthy clay tones paired with pops of brown-black create a striking, modern-meets-rustic look on your exterior, says Lacy.
“This palette is particularly well-suited to modern, Victorian, Edwardian and Californian bungalow-style homes,” she says. “It works best on homes with unpainted traditional red or orange brick, or plain timber, as the warm tones across the palette bring these elements together. It also suits steel and painted brick surfaces.”
Ready to repaint your exterior? Find a local painter on Houzz
Key colours: Taubmans Bump of Clay; Taubmans Warm Truffle; Taubmans Wet Chalk; Taubmans Inherent.
Use Taubmans Warm Truffle on gutters, window frames and fascia boards; for white, apply either Wet Chalk or Inherent to painted brick or rendered walls; and warm up your entry with Bump of Clay on the front door, says Lacy.
Use Taubmans Warm Truffle on gutters, window frames and fascia boards; for white, apply either Wet Chalk or Inherent to painted brick or rendered walls; and warm up your entry with Bump of Clay on the front door, says Lacy.
Dulux Weathershield in Malay Grey; Dulux Weathershield in Colorbond Dune; Dulux Weathershield in Domino.
Photography by Mike Baker.
Styling by Bree Leech and Heather Nette King.
3. Beige-based tones
“Natural and earth-based colours are popular for exteriors in 2021 – in particular warm, beige-based tones and shades of greige, grey and stone,” says Andrea Lucena-Orr, Dulux colour and communications manager.
“The colours you select really need to reflect your existing building features such as bricks, stone, paving, roofing, gutters, fascia, fencing, window frames and garage door.
“If your existing materials are warmer in tone, select a warm palette with greige, warm white and grey for your base colours. Then accentuate certain features, such as your front door or fretwork, with pops of cooler colours,” says Lucena-Orr.
Photography by Mike Baker.
Styling by Bree Leech and Heather Nette King.
3. Beige-based tones
“Natural and earth-based colours are popular for exteriors in 2021 – in particular warm, beige-based tones and shades of greige, grey and stone,” says Andrea Lucena-Orr, Dulux colour and communications manager.
“The colours you select really need to reflect your existing building features such as bricks, stone, paving, roofing, gutters, fascia, fencing, window frames and garage door.
“If your existing materials are warmer in tone, select a warm palette with greige, warm white and grey for your base colours. Then accentuate certain features, such as your front door or fretwork, with pops of cooler colours,” says Lucena-Orr.
Key cool-palette colours: Dulux Lexicon Quarter; Dulux Guild Grey; Dulux Accord and Colorbond Ironstone.
For a modern architecturally designed home with a rendered facade, try a cool palette of beige-based tones. This could include Dulux Lexicon Quarter on your walls, fascia, window frames and rendered front fence; Dulux Guild Grey on your front door and side fencing; and Dulux Accord on any smaller features you wish to highlight. Pair with Colorbond Ironstone on your roof and gutters, says Lucena-Orr.
Tip: Leave colour samples on your exterior for four or five days before making a decision – this allows you to see the colours under all light conditions, from bright and sunny to full shade.
For a modern architecturally designed home with a rendered facade, try a cool palette of beige-based tones. This could include Dulux Lexicon Quarter on your walls, fascia, window frames and rendered front fence; Dulux Guild Grey on your front door and side fencing; and Dulux Accord on any smaller features you wish to highlight. Pair with Colorbond Ironstone on your roof and gutters, says Lucena-Orr.
Tip: Leave colour samples on your exterior for four or five days before making a decision – this allows you to see the colours under all light conditions, from bright and sunny to full shade.
Styling by Bree Leech. Colours shown: Dulux Very Terracotta, Dulux Dieskau; Dulux Domino
“Both warm and cool beige-based palettes will suit most architectural settings,” says Lucena-Orr.
“The most important decision is whether you want to create a particular look. For example, if you want a very modern-looking exterior, cooler colours may give you a more contemporary look, which might be as simple as choosing a cooler white or greige. However, this also depends on the other elements on and around your facade, which will need to be factored into your colour choices. Some older homes or more traditional homes, for example, might have rich-toned brickwork that will look better with warmer tones,” she says.
Browse more images of stunning Australian exteriors on Houzz
“Both warm and cool beige-based palettes will suit most architectural settings,” says Lucena-Orr.
“The most important decision is whether you want to create a particular look. For example, if you want a very modern-looking exterior, cooler colours may give you a more contemporary look, which might be as simple as choosing a cooler white or greige. However, this also depends on the other elements on and around your facade, which will need to be factored into your colour choices. Some older homes or more traditional homes, for example, might have rich-toned brickwork that will look better with warmer tones,” she says.
Browse more images of stunning Australian exteriors on Houzz
Key warm-palette colours: Dulux Snowy Mountains Half; Dulux Malay Grey; Dulux Dieskau and Colorbond Dune.
For a traditional Hamptons-style weatherboard home, try a warm beige-based palette such as Dulux Snowy Mountains Half on trims, fascia, window frames and timber features; Dulux Malay Grey to the front door and front fence; Dulux Dieskau to weatherboards and downpipes; and Colorbond Dune to your roof and guttering.
Tip: As the front door is a smaller area, you can often be more creative with colour. Painting your door is a quick project too – you can usually do it in a day. The key is to select a colour you love, which suits your home’s personality.
For a traditional Hamptons-style weatherboard home, try a warm beige-based palette such as Dulux Snowy Mountains Half on trims, fascia, window frames and timber features; Dulux Malay Grey to the front door and front fence; Dulux Dieskau to weatherboards and downpipes; and Colorbond Dune to your roof and guttering.
Tip: As the front door is a smaller area, you can often be more creative with colour. Painting your door is a quick project too – you can usually do it in a day. The key is to select a colour you love, which suits your home’s personality.
Wattyl Solagard
4. Rich, warm greys
Characterful greys are still making their mark on exteriors in 2021, say Wattyl colour experts – from deep green-greys such as Wattyl Dundee and weathered timber hues like Wattyl Botany Grey to soft, silvery greys including Wattyl Dewkist.
“Together these colours create a sense of solidity and security that feels welcoming and reassuring,” says Christina Storer, Wattyl’s brand marketing manager for Australia and New Zealand. “It’s a versatile look that suits many homes, from modern, rendered homes to classic weatherboards,” says Storer.
Facades that incorporate rendered concrete, weatherboard or steel will particularly suit this palette.
Key colours: Wattyl Dewkist, Wattyl Dundee, Wattyl Botany Grey.
Tip: To get a true sense of an exterior colour that takes into account your home’s light and surrounds, dispense with a small colour card and apply a test patch that is at least 300 millimetres square in size to your facade.
4. Rich, warm greys
Characterful greys are still making their mark on exteriors in 2021, say Wattyl colour experts – from deep green-greys such as Wattyl Dundee and weathered timber hues like Wattyl Botany Grey to soft, silvery greys including Wattyl Dewkist.
“Together these colours create a sense of solidity and security that feels welcoming and reassuring,” says Christina Storer, Wattyl’s brand marketing manager for Australia and New Zealand. “It’s a versatile look that suits many homes, from modern, rendered homes to classic weatherboards,” says Storer.
Facades that incorporate rendered concrete, weatherboard or steel will particularly suit this palette.
Key colours: Wattyl Dewkist, Wattyl Dundee, Wattyl Botany Grey.
Tip: To get a true sense of an exterior colour that takes into account your home’s light and surrounds, dispense with a small colour card and apply a test patch that is at least 300 millimetres square in size to your facade.
Wattyl Solagard
5. Gently gradated blues
Our love of blues for coastal homes shows no sign of abating. But this year will see blues with a mellow grey undertone coming through, says Storer.
These colours work best on weatherboard homes, Queenslanders and Californian bungalows. And they sit beautifully alongside timber, sandstone and glass.
For a softly gradated aesthetic, apply a steely blue such as Wattyl Phantom Grey across the bigger surfaces of your exterior; a mid-tone blue-grey such as Wattyl Greystoke as the secondary colour for smaller areas; and on trims, guttering and front fencing opt for a contrasting colour, such as Wattyl Strauss White.
Key colours: Wattyl Phantom Grey; Wattyl Greystoke; Wattyl Strauss White.
Your turn
Are you pleased to see colour making a comeback in exteriors? Tell us in the Comments below, like and share this story, save the images, and join the conversation.
More
Seeking more colour ideas? Don’t miss 28 Times Colour Was the Making of a Room
5. Gently gradated blues
Our love of blues for coastal homes shows no sign of abating. But this year will see blues with a mellow grey undertone coming through, says Storer.
These colours work best on weatherboard homes, Queenslanders and Californian bungalows. And they sit beautifully alongside timber, sandstone and glass.
For a softly gradated aesthetic, apply a steely blue such as Wattyl Phantom Grey across the bigger surfaces of your exterior; a mid-tone blue-grey such as Wattyl Greystoke as the secondary colour for smaller areas; and on trims, guttering and front fencing opt for a contrasting colour, such as Wattyl Strauss White.
Key colours: Wattyl Phantom Grey; Wattyl Greystoke; Wattyl Strauss White.
Your turn
Are you pleased to see colour making a comeback in exteriors? Tell us in the Comments below, like and share this story, save the images, and join the conversation.
More
Seeking more colour ideas? Don’t miss 28 Times Colour Was the Making of a Room
The grey trend that has dominated exteriors and interiors over the past few years is making way for eye-catching colour – both pastels and saturated brights, says Rachel Lacy, chief coloursmith at Taubmans Australia and PPG Paints New Zealand. “Greys are being replaced with soft greens, whites and some bolder colours such as oranges, deep greens and blues.
“The pastel palette draws its inspiration from Australian native flora, such as the greens and soft pinks in our native eucalypts. It’s calming and restful,” says Lacy.