Are you tired of old color schemes for your home exterior? Then this article is for you. The right color scheme gives your house a refreshing look and makes it more appealing from the outside, while also increasing the home’s value by 2-5%.
In this guide, we’ll explore popular exterior home color schemes for Raleigh, NC homes and help you find ideas for your next painting project.
What Makes a Good Exterior Color Scheme?
A color scheme is more than one paint color. Most homes use three parts: a body color for the siding, a trim color for windows and rooflines, and an accent color for the front door or shutters.
Raleigh also puts exterior paint through a lot. Hot, humid summers can fade cheap pigments, and every spring a layer of yellow pine pollen settles on everything. The best schemes here hold up in strong sun, hide a little pollen, and use paints made for high humidity.
10 Popular Exterior Color Schemes in Raleigh
1. Classic White with Black Shutters
This timeless combo fits almost any home, from older colonials inside the Beltline to newer builds in the suburbs. It’s clean, bright, and never looks dated.
- Body: a warm, creamy white
- Trim: the same white for a seamless look
- Accent: a deep, true black on shutters and the front door
2. Modern Farmhouse
You’ll see this one all over new neighborhoods in Apex, Holly Springs, and Wake Forest. The difference from the classic look is that black moves onto the window frames, gutters, and trim.
- Body: bright white board-and-batten siding
- Trim: black or deep charcoal
- Accent: natural cedar on porch posts or the front door
3. Greige with Crisp White Trim
Greige is a mix of gray and beige, and it’s one of the safest picks if you plan to sell. It also hides pollen and road dust far better than pure white.
- Body: a light greige with warm undertones
- Trim: a crisp, bright white
- Accent: a navy or deep green front door
4. Charcoal Gray with White Trim
Dark gray gives a home a bold, modern feel without going full black. Just keep in mind that dark colors absorb more heat, so quality paint and a professional paint job matter here.
- Body: a deep charcoal gray
- Trim: soft white
- Accent: a stained wood or deep red front door
5. Colonial Blue and White
Raleigh has no shortage of colonial homes, and blue has always suited them. You can go blue on the body or keep the body white and let blue shutters do the work.
- Body: a soft blue-gray or white
- Trim: bright white
- Accent: navy shutters or a classic red door
6. Sage Green with Cream Trim
Soft greens blend right into Raleigh’s tall pines and oaks. This scheme looks especially good on Craftsman bungalows with deep front porches.
- Body: a muted sage or soft gray-green
- Trim: a warm cream
- Accent: a black or warm wood front door
7. Warm Brown and Bronze
Rich browns are making a real comeback, especially on wooded lots in North Raleigh. They feel grounded and pair nicely with natural stone.
- Body: a warm bronze brown
- Trim: soft white or cream
- Accent: natural wood beams or a light oak door
8. Red Brick with Cream Trim
Plenty of Raleigh ranches and colonials are red brick, so the paint goes on the trim, shutters, and door. Most color guides skip this, but it’s one of the most common setups in the Triangle.
- Brick: left natural, or limewashed for a softer look
- Trim: a soft cream, which calms orange undertones
- Accent: deep hunter green or black shutters
9. Two-Tone Exteriors
Two-tone schemes use one color on the main body and another on gables, upper stories, or board and batten sections. They add depth to split-level and transitional homes.
- Main body: warm white or light greige
- Second tone: charcoal or deep blue on the gables
- Accent: black window frames
10. Historic Victorian Palette
The Victorian homes in Oakwood often use four or five colors to show off their detailed trim. Deeper tones like brick red, olive, and muted gold all have a place here.
- Body: a deep red, olive, or muted gold
- Trim: cream or ivory
- Accent: contrasting colors on brackets, spindles, and porch details
If your home sits in a local historic district, check with the Raleigh Historic Development Commission before you change colors, as you’ll need a Certificate of Appropriateness before repainting.
How to Pick the Right Scheme for Your Home
- Check your HOA first: many communities in Cary, Apex, and Wake Forest have approved color lists
- Work with fixed features: your roof, brick, and stone won’t change, so match their undertones
- Test samples in person: paint swatches on two sides of the house and check them in the morning and evening
- Think about upkeep: very light colors show mildew, and very dark colors fade faster in full sun
- Time it right: spring and early fall are the best time to paint your home’s exterior in Raleigh
Ready to Refresh Your Home’s Exterior?
The right color scheme can completely change how your home looks from the street. Whether you want a classic white colonial or a bold charcoal farmhouse, it all starts with smart color choices and solid prep work. If you’re still setting a budget, our guide on the cost to paint a home in Raleigh breaks down what to expect.
Planning to update the inside too? Our interior painting services can carry your new palette indoors, and our picks for the best paint for kitchen walls are a great place to start.