These hues will never leave you feeling blue
If you’ve settled on a blue exterior house paint to make your facade shine, the work has just begun. That’s because blue comes in so many different shades, and picking one you won’t regret requires knowing what’s available and what will best suit your needs. What’s more, some shades of blue may seem like a perfect fit on a screen, only to fall flat when you see it in real life.
Before you do any more research, the following list includes blue paints for home exteriors that are tried and true. Each option also features several available paint colors from a variety of brands to help you get started. Whether you want a light shade that conjures the sea or sky or a dark one that will keep your home warm in the winter, you’re sure to find a blue that fits your view in the picks below.
Though you’re more likely to see dark than light blues on houses, that doesn’t mean the former is off-limits. This shade, in particular, will provide you with a sense of calm before you even enter your abode. Not to mention, it’s an ideal fit for everything from a laid-back bungalow to a charming cottage and is best when paired with white fixtures like window sills and shutters.
For inspiration:
Glidden® Songbird
BEHR® Paint and Primer’s Peaceful Blue
Dunn-Edwards’ Sparkling River
Farrow and Ball’s Lulworth Blue
This iconic color can look great on any house, whether it’s by the seaside or not. It’s an ideal complement to both dark and light exterior home elements, so it’s a good option to keep in mind no matter the current color scheme of your domain. Plus, it may help reduce your energy bills during the winter months as its deep saturation naturally draws in and traps heat from sunlight.
For inspiration:
BEHR® Paint and Primer’s Superior Blue
Benjamin Moore® Paint’s Old Navy
Farrow & Ball’s Stiffkey Blue
PPG Paint’s Sailors Coat
Turquoise is one of the best exterior paint colors if you feel like stepping outside of the box. This blue-green jewel tone will instantly give your home the sizzle of an island paradise, even if you're technically totally landlocked. Plus, its big impact can make a small house appear larger than it actually is.
For inspiration:
BEHR® Paint and Primer’s Rainwater
Sherwin-Williams Mariner
Backdrop’s Barbie Dreamhouse
Benjamin Moore® paint’s Florida Keys
This dreamy shade of blue is a perfect fit for homes in regions where cloudy weather rules the day. If you don’t get to see the actual sky that much, why not see it mirrored on your home? This pastel exterior paint color has made a name for itself in the unique Queen Anne architecture of San Francisco, but is just as viable for more common Mediterranean and modern homes.
For inspiration:
BEHR® Paint and Primer’s Charismatic Sky
Benjamin Moore® Paint’s Spirit in the Sky
Dunn-Edwards’ Morning Calm
PPG Paint’s Horizon Haze
Slate blue is having a moment for both interiors and exteriors. That’s because it’s vivid and neutral at once, and the perfect fit for anyone that wants a subtle pop of color without causing a stir. Whether you use it to lift your house’s curb appeal or renovate old furniture, it’s hard to go wrong with slate blue paint ideas. In particular, this shade is one of the best paint colors for colonial houses.
For inspiration:
BEHR® Paint and Primer’s Adirondack Blue
Benjamin Moore® Paint’s Polished Slate
Sherwin-Williams’ Downing Slate
Farrow & Ball’s Hague Blue
When in doubt, this classic shade of blue will almost always deliver the results you’re looking for. That’s because it’s adaptable to many forms of light, and will be equally appealing on both cloudy and sunny days. In general, avoid pairing it with white or lightly colored trim to avoid extreme contrast and instead opt for browns, blacks, and the best gray exterior house paint ideas.
For inspiration:
Sherwin-Williams’ Blueblood
Dunn-Edwards’ Blue Chip
Backdrop’s Blue Is the Coolest Color
PPG Paint’s Brilliant Blue
Teal is another color that will make your house stand out no matter where you live. Slightly darker and greener than turquoise, it’ll infuse your block with color without overly standing out. What’s more, it pairs exceptionally well with dark and navy blue accompaniments like sills and shutters, and is a good fit for many different house styles—from colonial to Spanish villa.
For inspiration:
Benjamin Moore® Paint’s Aegean Teal
Glidden® Paint’s Blue Bayberry
Sherwin-Williams’ Tame Teal
PPG Paint’s Bermuda
Give your home a royal touch with a subtly violet shade of blue like indigo. This color is suitable for the siding of an entire house, but is even better when used on features like the roof or garage, especially when paired with white trim for contrast. If the cost to paint the exterior of a house, or even a large feature like your roof or garage, is out of your budget at the moment, this color is still worth experimenting with on front doors and windows.
For inspiration:
Benjamin Moore® Paint’s Bold Blue
Sherwin-Williams’ Morning Glory
Backdrop’s Stromboli Chess Club
PPG Paint’s Dragonfly
This marine blue will give you the feeling of looking into the sparkling Mediterranean Sea without ever needing to hop on a plane. Although it’s a bit brighter than some of the options in this list, you’ll find that it can be an attractive addition to anything from a Victorian house to an oceanside, Cape Cod-style estate.
For inspiration:
Glidden® Paint’s Sorcerer
Dunn-Edwards’ Pool Party
PPG Paint’s Neptune
BEHR® Paint and Primer’s Rushing Stream
This combo of blue and green is gentler and more subdued than other colors that mix the two shades, like teal and turquoise. Erring almost on the side of gray, it’s a hue that brings the flair of a bright color while performing like a neutral. Mimicking the tone of leaves on a cloudy day, it’s a perfect fit for woodsy abodes where you want to stand out but blend in at the same time.
For inspiration:
Benjamin Moore® Paint’s Kensington Green
Sherwin-Williams’ Portsmouth
Dunn-Edwards’ Treetop
PPG Paint’s Baritone
With speckles of both gray and violet, this light blue is a great way to add a bit of drama to your home’s exterior without going all in on a bright color. It pairs especially well with white house paint colors, and you’ll have success whether you paint your siding blue and trim white or vice versa. And if you don’t feel like going the DIY route with your project, remember that you can always hire an exterior painter near you to take the work off your hands.
For inspiration:
Benjamin Moore® Paint’s Sunrise
Sherwin-Williams’ Minor Blue
Dunn-Edwards’ Frostproof
Glidden® Magic Wand
Sara Coleman contributed to this article.
One of the most classic accents for a house with a blue exterior is bright, white trim. The white trim offers a crisp counterpart to the blue (no matter what shade you’re working with). It adds definition to the area and makes the color of your home pop against the sky.
When it comes to choosing the best roof color for a blue exterior, you have plenty of options. For a classic neutral look, go with a light gray, dark gray, or black roof. Blend gray tones if you want a more eye-catching look for your roof, or go for a different splash of color with a green or even red. Take inspiration from your neighbors if you want your house to fit in on the block.