The Failsafe Guide to Fab Farmhouse Exterior Color Schemes

Farmhouse style homes are known for their vintage, pastoral charm. Often found in rural settings, these houses feature simple lines, natural materials, and an overall cozy aesthetic.

One of the keys to pulling off a fabulous farmhouse look is choosing the right exterior color scheme. The colors you pick for your siding, trim, shutters, and accents set the tone for your home's curb appeal.

What Defines a Farmhouse Exterior Color Scheme

When it comes to farmhouse style, exterior color schemes tend to share some common characteristics:

• Neutral Tones Like White and Light Gray: Crisp whites and airy light grays create a clean, timeless look.
• Natural Materials: Wood and stone siding or accents complement the pastoral vibe.
• Simple Lines: Straightforward, fuss-free architectural details keep the look uncomplicated.
• Rural Settings: From sprawling farms to more modest country cottages, pastoral landscapes suit farmhouse motifs.

Most Popular Farmhouse Color Combinations

Some winning exterior color combinations repeatedly emerge for farmhouses:

• White + Black Accents
• White + Navy Blue Accents
• White + Red Accents
• Light Gray + White
• Sage Green + White

Below, we dive deeper into why these timeless pairings work so beautifully.

White + Black for Classic Farmhouse Elegance

No color combo evokes quintessential farmhouse chic quite like crisp white paired with bold black accents.

Why Black and White Works

Team white siding with black shutter or trim delivers an instantly eye-catching combo. The high contrast pops, while the color scheme feels clean and classic.

Black allows finer architectural details like window frames or decorative accents to stand out clearly against a white background.

Best Places for Black Accents

Some of the best spots to employ black on a white farmhouse include:

• Window frames
• Window sills or shutters
• Doors
• Garage doors
• Decor elements like benches or planter boxes

Black trim along the roofline also powerfully defines and highlights the home's shape.

Paint Color Recommendations

For the white siding or walls, timeless classics like Extra White from Sherwin-Williams or Swiss Coffee from Behr never fail. Simply White from Behr also provides a true bright white.

Deep blacks like Black Magic from Behr or Black Night from Glidden make trim details stand out starkly.

Design Inspiration and Examples

The contrast created by crisp white siding and jet black trim or accents never fails to impress. Here are some stunning real-world examples.

White and Navy Blue for Timeless Appeal

Looking for a slightly less harsh contrast than black? Swap it out for deep navy blue accents against bright white siding or walls.

Why White and Navy Blue Works

Navy delivers almost as much impact as black thanks to its rich shade. But it feels a touch softer and more flexible for pairing with various house styles.

White with navy creates a classic nautical vibe. But navy can also feel sophisticated, chic, or even rustic depending on the architectural details.

Navy Blue Accent Recommendations

Consider navy blue for elements like:

• Window or door frames
• Front doors
• Garage doors
• Decor accents like benches, planters or shutters

Navy makes an especially bold statement when used for the front door against bright white siding.

Color Suggestions

Some winning navy and white combinations include:

• Extra White (Sherwin Williams) + Hale Navy (Benjamin Moore)
• Swiss Coffee (Behr) + Raven Blue (Behr)

And if you crave even bolder contrast, check out oxidized copper accents against the bright backdrop.

Stunning White and Navy Farmhouse Illustrations

Check out how brilliant navy blue pops against light and airy whites in these farmhouse examples...

White and Sage Green for Organic Elegance

Want a color scheme tuned to Mother Nature? Pair fresh sage greens with crisp whites for exterior magic.

Why White and Sage Green Works

Green carries the essence of the lush surroundings found around many farmhouses straight onto the exterior walls. It blends beautifully into any country setting.

Sage green feels peaceful, calm and relaxing. Against bright white trim, it's a match made in heaven.

Where to Add Sage Green Accents

Consider sage green for:

• Window boxes and planters
• Front doors
• Entryway benches or decorative accents like shutters
• Full exterior house color for bold contrast against white trim

Specific Color Recommendations

Some designer-loved sage green and white combinations include:

• Alabaster (Sherwin Williams) + Tradewind (Sherwin Williams)
• Extra White (Behr) + Celtic (Behr)

And don't forget to add copper or wood tones to complement the earthiness even further!

White + Red Accents: Farmhouse Classic

Nothing says "classic farmhouse" better than the combo of bright white paired with cherry red accents.

Red's Timeless Appeal

Red serves as the perfect color wheel complement to the lush green landscapes surrounding farmhouses. It injects serious curb appeal pop.

Vibrant red also contrasts beautifully against neutral whites. This high-impact combo remains an eternal farmhouse favorite.

Best Applications for Red Accents

Traditional farmhouse red makes its boldest statements on elements like:

• Front doors
• Window shutters
• Decor details like benches, planter boxes or trim

So break free from the black, navy or green norm with red if you crave an extra punch of farmhouse vibrancy!

Ideal Color Pairings

Choose rich, warm reds to contrast with clean crisp whites. Some classic combinations include:

• Swiss Coffee (Behr) + Fireweed (Behr)
• Extra White (Sherwin Williams + Scarlet (Benjamin Moore)

And don't be afraid to add extra embellishments like copper or wood tones against the red and white backdrop!

Light Gray + White for Airy Elegance

White remains the quintessential farmhouse wall color. But for a slightly different twist, swap in light dove grays.

Benefits of Light Gray + White

Compared to crisp white, soft light gray offers a more weathered, timeworn look. Pairing light gray walls with clean white trim keeps the scheme airy.

This combo also comes across as slightly more modern or transitional than plain all-white schemes.

Tips for Pulling It Off

When pairing light grays with white:

• Choose a gray with warm, dove-like undertones over starker tones
• Accent with black or navy blue for extra pop
• Incorporate natural wood tones
• Use white on architectural details like windows, railings and trims

Beautiful Examples

Here are some farmhouses gracefully styled using light gray and white...

Hopefully these classic color pairing ideas have your farmhouse exterior inspiration flowing!

Remember, choosing colors attuned to your home's natural surroundings remains key for pulling off pastoral perfection.

So embrace white, light gray or sage greens set against lush green lawns or wooded lots. And consider bolder black, navy or red accents to make architectural details pop.