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The best shades of gray for a home exterior
The best shades of gray for a home exterior
Gray is an important home exterior color that works equally well on all home styles, historic to contemporary, and in every part of the country. A versatile colour, gray tones can range from cool, clear bluish gray to a true neutral gray through to warm French gray or even taupe. The best gray for your home exterior is the one that blends well with your roof and the other fixed features, such as your brick, stone or permanent design elements.
Tips for picking the perfect gray
For most homes a classic gray that will never go our of style as a middle tone since it is neither too cool or too warm.Light, clear gray is fresh and airy, just be sure to look for any undertone of gray. What appears light gray on the swatch could appear more light blue, lavender, or whatever the colour of the undertone once it is applied to the home.
When going with a dark gray as the main colour, look for a gray that is rich but soft. Deeper shades that have a harder edge are great as accent colours.
Whether warm, natural, or cool, the colorfast or undertone of your gray needs to harmonize with other exterior materials and finishes to create a cohesive look. When planning your colour scheme, keep in mind that gray comes alive with dramatic accent colours. I recommend using the boldest paint colour for the front door to create a strong focal point on the home exterior. Use other accent colours to play a secondary role.
A true neutral gray combines with any other colour to give you complete freedom with accent colours. These are a few favorites:
- True red is traditional but you can add a twist by using berry or pomegranate.
- A touch of brass, bronze or copper warms up gray; gold or orange adds a spark of colour.
- Both warm and cool greens look fresh against gray; from thyme to palm or forest, green naturally brings out the beauty of gray.
- Tried and true blue - soft raindrop, bold blue paisley or admiral blue - keeps gray fresh and clean.
- Go all neutral with gray on gray for a sophisticated them