The color of your home’s exterior is the first thing anyone notices—and the right palette can make a house look updated, welcoming, and worth more. The wrong one can date it overnight. If you’re planning to repaint, choosing exterior paint colors that fit your home, your neighborhood, and current trends is one of the highest-return decisions you’ll make. Here’s what’s in style for 2026, how to build a palette, and how to choose colors you’ll love for years.

Why Exterior Color Is a Bigger Decision Than Interior

You live with interior colors, but the whole neighborhood sees your exterior—and it sets your home’s entire first impression. Exterior color also has to work with fixed elements you’re not repainting: your roof, stone or brick, and permanent fixtures. And because repainting a house is a major project, you’ll live with the choice far longer than an accent wall. That’s why it pays to choose deliberately.

The 2026 Exterior Color Trends

This year’s exterior color trends favor warm, natural, and timeless over trendy-but-fleeting. The most-requested directions:

• Warm whites and creamy neutrals. Crisp yet inviting, and endlessly flexible with trim and doors.
• Soft greiges and warm grays. The dominant modern neutral, now leaning warmer than the cool grays of years past.
• Earthy greens. Sage and muted olive feel right at home against Frederick’s wooded backdrops.
• Deep, moody tones. Charcoal, black, and navy for a dramatic, high-end look—often on trim or accents.
• Natural taupes and warm browns. Grounded and cohesive with stone and brick.

Building a Balanced Exterior Palette

A great exterior isn’t one color—it’s a coordinated set of usually three. Balance these and almost any scheme works.

A classic formula: a neutral field, a lighter or darker trim for contrast, and a bolder accent on the door. If you want a standout entry, our guide to front door paint colors pairs perfectly with a neutral body.

How to Choose Colors That Fit Your Home

Trends are a starting point—these factors narrow it to the right choice:

1. Work with your fixed elements. Match undertones in your roof, brick, and stone rather than fighting them.
2. Consider your home’s style. Colonials, craftsmans, and modern homes each suit different palettes.
3. Look at the neighborhood. Fit in enough to feel cohesive, stand out just enough to feel fresh—and check any HOA rules.
4. Test big samples. Paint large swatches on different walls and view them in morning, midday, and evening light.
5. Mind the light. Colors read lighter and brighter outdoors than on a small chip.

Don’t Forget Durability

The best color still fails without the right product and prep. Exterior paint has to stand up to Maryland sun, humidity, and freeze-thaw cycles, so quality exterior-grade paint and proper preparation matter as much as the shade. Getting the palette right and skimping on prep is a classic misstep—see our roundup of exterior painting mistakes that can lower your home’s value. For palette inspiration, Benjamin Moore showcases current exterior color collections.

Choose a Color You’ll Love for Years

The best exterior paint colors balance current trends with your home’s fixed features and your neighborhood’s character. Build a coordinated field, trim, and accent palette, test big samples in real light, and pair a smart color choice with quality paint and prep. Do that, and your home’s curb appeal will turn heads for a decade.

Ready to refresh your home’s exterior? Explore our exterior painting services in Frederick, and if you’re nearby, we also serve residential and commercial clients in Braddock Heights.

Frederick Painting & Supply, Inc. proudly serves Frederick, MD and the surrounding communities of Urbana, Walkersville, Middletown, Braddock Heights, Ballenger Creek, and Spring Ridge. Call 301-473-4773 or visit our contact page to request a free, no-pressure estimate.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the most popular exterior paint colors for 2026?

Warm whites, warm greiges, and soft grays lead the way, followed by earthy greens like sage and moody deep tones such as charcoal and navy for trim and accents. The overall trend favors warm, natural, timeless colors over cool or fleeting ones.

How do I choose an exterior color scheme?

Start with your fixed elements—roof, brick, and stone—and match their undertones. Then build a three-part palette: a field color for the siding, a contrasting trim, and a bolder accent for the door. Test large samples in real outdoor light before committing.

What exterior colors have the best resale value?

Broadly appealing, timeless neutrals—warm whites, greiges, and soft grays—tend to protect resale value because they attract the widest range of buyers. A tasteful accent door adds character without limiting appeal. Very bold or unusual body colors can narrow your buyer pool.

Do exterior paint colors look different than the sample?

Yes. Exterior colors almost always appear lighter and brighter outdoors than on a small chip, because of abundant natural light and the large surface area. Always test big swatches on the actual house and view them at different times of day before deciding.

How often will I need to repaint my home’s exterior?

It depends on the siding, the paint quality, sun exposure, and prep, but many Frederick homes need exterior repainting every 7 to 10 years. Choosing quality exterior-grade paint and ensuring proper surface prep helps your color last toward the longer end of that range.

Shawn Zimmerman

Shawn Zimmerman started painting in the summer of 1991, the year before he graduated high school. Shawn decided to pursue his career in the family business and continued to develop his skills in the trade while also developing the necessary skills to manage the business. Shawn enjoys being outdoors, canoeing, camping, hiking, hunting, fishing and spending time with family.