The Most Popular Paint Swatches Renovators Are Testing Out on Their Exteriors

Painting the outside of your house is a big deal—and not just because all your neighbors will see it. The average cost to change the color of an exterior is $3,000, according to Home Advisor, with around $700 of that going just toward the trim work. Naturally you want to feel confident in whatever color you go with, but there’s only so much a sample swatch painted on the siding can tell you. That’s where digital home improvement platform Dzinly comes in: It lets consumers easily visualize changes to their home’s exterior before investing time and money on materials, contractors, and DIY projects.  

So what are people testing out the most? Classic neutrals (white, gray, black), according to a representative for the company. In particular, renovators are really big on creating punchy contrast with crisp white siding and dark-framed windows. As we know with any paint-focused project, though, not all swatches are created equal. So we asked the company to share which exact hues people are sampling online the most. Here are the nine essentials. 

The Whites

Simply White, Benjamin Moore

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• White Dove, Benjamin Moore
• Simply White, Benjamin Moore
• Snowbound, Sherwin-Williams

Try this: If you want to up your curb appeal but are afraid of using black for the trim, consider olive green—it looks extra-luxe on French doors. 

The Blacks

Black Panther, Benjamin Moore

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• Urbane Bronze, Sherwin-Williams
• Iron Ore, Sherwin-Williams
• Black Panther, Sherwin-Williams

Try this: Revamp the front door while you’re at it. A slatted oakwood entrance with oversize hardware looks instantly sophisticated against an all-black house. 

The Blues

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• Newburyport Blue, Benjamin Moore
• Naval, Sherwin-Williams
• Mountain Pass, Sherwin-Williams

Try this: Complement a dark navy with a happier baby blue (like Winter Ice) on the trim and fence.