Houzz Quiz: What Color Should You Paint Your House?

We are in the middle of prime house-painting season and my phone, as well as the phones of other color consultants I know, is ringing off the hook from homeowners desperate for assistance in selecting the right hue for the exterior of their homes.

The best way to get help picking exterior paint colors is to consult a design pro who specializes in color. Many are willing to work for a flat fee of just a few hundred dollars. It’s a good investment if it saves you from having to spend money on oodles of test pots of paint, or worse, having to pay a painter to repaint your entire house because you aren’t happy with the colors you picked out on your own.

This quiz is based on some of the questions I ask my own color consultation clients. It’s not meant to replace a one-on-one personalized color consultation, but rather is intended as a fun way to help anyone looking for some exterior color guidance suss out a color direction.

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1. The style of my house can best be described as … Victorian Colonial Mediterranean Craftsman Ranch Contemporary


2. My taste in design veers toward … Traditional Transitional Modern Contemporary Cottage Southwestern


3. My favorite architectural color palettes tend to consist of … Light and neutral cool hues, such as soft grays, sage greens or silvery blues Light and neutral warm hues, such as creams, tans or taupes Dark and neutral hues, such as dark browns or dark grays Dark and dramatic hues, such as black, navy blues, forest greens or dark burgundies Shades of white Bold hues, such as lime greens, turquoises or bright oranges


4. The climate where I live is mostly … Mild Hot and humid Hot and dry Cold and dry Cold and damp A mix of all of the above


5. I’m painting my house because … It’s new construction I’m putting it on the market It’s long overdue for a paint job I want a more interesting house color My homeowners association is forcing me to My spouse is forcing me to


6. I need a color scheme that will win approval from … My friends on Houzz My neighbors My homeowners association My architect My family It’s all for me!


7. I prefer a front door that is … Natural wood Stainless steel Painted white Painted black Painted a fun, vibrant hue Painted a color that contrasts with the siding but is still a neutral


8. My roof color is … Dark gray or black White or light gray Dark brown Beige or tan Metal None of the above


You got …Gray!Gray: You may be drawn to clean lines and neutral hues, but you don’t necessarily want to blend in with everyone else on the street. Gray is a fantastic exterior color choice because, while a neutral, it isn’t as common on exteriors as white or tan.

When auditioning gray hues, think about whether you want a warmer gray, such as the one pictured here, or a cooler gray. Light, warm grays have a more traditional vibe, whereas cool grays — especially dark cool grays — will feel more modern.

Rockport Gray from Benjamin Moore is a fantastic warm gray to try. A nice cool gray option is Monorail Silver from Sherwin-Williams.Share your results


You got …White!White: You have very fine taste and a house that doesn’t necessarily need eye-popping colors to pump up its curb appeal. There’s a reason white is such a popular house color — it’s the color that absorbs the least amount of heat from the sun, a desirable trait in a hot and sunny climate.

It also works on any style of architecture and allows you to use just about any door or trim color you like. Of course an all-white house, such as the one pictured here, can be stunning with its simple elegance.Share your results


You got …Green!Green: You like to go against the grain, so no boring neutral house colors for you! Vibrant greens, such as the zesty hues shown here, tend to work best in small amounts, on contemporary-style homes.

If this look is too bold for you, think about using a fun green hue for your front door only.

One of my favorite vivacious green hues is Chic Lime from Benjamin Moore. You could also go for a more neutral green, such as Sagey from Behr.Share your results


You got …Blue!Blue: You love bold color but have a few constraints to contend with, such as extreme weather or picky neighbors.

Take a look at blues, specifically light gray-blues, such as the one shown here. It’s light enough that it won’t absorb heat from the sun or fade too quickly, and because of the good amount of gray in it, it likely won’t offend the neighbors or your homeowners association.

Some light grayish-blue paint colors to consider are Parma Gray from Farrow & Ball, which is pictured here, and Mild Wind Blue from Glidden.Share your results


You got …Taupe!Taupe: You favor warmer hues or are looking for a color that will appeal to a wide audience. Whether you are selling your home or staying put, earthy taupes are a nice modern alternative to more common tans and beiges.

Taupes are light to medium brown hues that have a bit of gray in them. They work with any architectural style and pair well with a wide variety of trim and accent colors.

Some taupes to try out on your own home are Loggia from Sherwin-Williams and Cole Stone from Benjamin Moore.Share your results


You got …Dark Blue-Gray!Dark Blue-Gray: You crave drama and aren’t afraid to adorn your home in deep, dark hues. Dark blue-gray house colors are best in mild to cooler climates and might not go over well if you have a homeowners association to contend with.

If you can pull it off, however, your reward will be an unusual, elegant color scheme that will make your home stand apart from the neighbors.

Some dark blue-grays to try are Smoky Pitch from Valspar and Hale Navy from Benjamin Moore.Share your results

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