Exterior House Paint Ideas
Looking for masonry paint ideas UK homeowners love? Whether you’re refreshing a terraced house, detached house or rural cottage, choosing the right colour scheme can transform your home beyond recognition.
In this guide we’ll give you tonnes of colour inspiration and ideas that you can apply to your home, along with some handy expert tips tricks from our team of experts.
The Best Colours for Different House Types
The style and size of your house can influence what colours and techniques work best for your exterior, as well as the surrounding area.
Terraced & Townhouse Ideas – Making Your Home Stand Out
Terraced houses sit side by side in a row, making individuality key. A classic ‘White’ can offer a timeless and sophisticated look that will stay in fashion for years to come, while grey shades like ‘Light Grey’ offer a modern and sleek feel to a home.
Masa Koh using ‘White’ & homeowner using ‘Light Grey’
If you’re looking to stand out with something a bit different, pastels like ‘Rose Pink’ or ‘Crystal Blue’ can be a great option. In amongst a sea of similarity wouldn’t you love to say to guests “just drive until you get to the blue one, that’s us!”.
Emily Jackson using ‘Rose Pink’ & Anita Counsell using ‘Crystal Blue’
TOP TIP: If you live in a row of painted houses, consider the colour of your neighbours houses to ensure contrast without clashing.
Exterior House Painting Ideas for Detached Homes: A Blank Canvas
With detached houses, you have a little more freedom to play with colour and styling without creating contrast. If you want a classic, timeless look, why not try a warm neutral like ‘Pale Stone’?
These soft neutrals work perfectly on detached properties as they work well in all lighting, whether in direct sunlight or in shade. This ability is crucial with detached properties as each of your four wall will get different lighting, changing how the overall colour looks.
@zipdec using ‘Pale Stone’
For something modern and sleek we recommend ‘Smokey White’. A cool, subtle off-white with a hint of grey, ‘Smokey’ White brings a unique juxtaposition of neutrality and complexity. It is without doubt one of our personal favourites and strikes a balance that can make it a fail-safe option for anyone who is ensure on what colour will work for them.
Clive Nicholas using ‘Smokey White’
TOP TIP: Don’t forget the colour of your roof when choosing what colour to opt for. Warmer colours like ‘Beige’ and ‘Brown Sugar’ compliment red or clay-tiled roofs, while ‘Light Grey’ and ‘Heritage White’ pair beautifully with grey slate roofing.
Ideas for Cottages & Traditional Homes – Enhancing Character
For older homes with stone or brickwork, choosing an earthier shade of masonry paint can really enhance the character of the property.
Colours such as ‘Earth Stone’ or ‘Brown Sugar’ compliment these properties fantastically well, replicating the woody tones that are common place in the natural environment we have here in the UK.
On the left shade ‘Brown Sugar’, on the right shade ‘Earth Stone’.
If you want to create contrast with its surroundings and edges, opting for a crisp shade such as ‘Off White’ can create a beautiful juxtaposition.
While bringing all of the beautiful bright light of a white, Off-White is a softer, creamier tone meaning it doesn’t overwhelm the exterior.
NH Decorators using ‘Off White’
TOP TIP: If your cottage has wooden shutters or exposed beams, contrast them with lighter or darker trims to bring out the home’s unique details.
The Best Accents & Edges for Exterior Painting
Exterior Window Sills & Door Frames – Small Details, Big Impact
Your window sills, door frames and other exterior trim play a huge role in the overall exterior look. Taking time to consider how contrasting accents can work on your home can really add depth and definition.
Here are some of our favourite projects using contrasting shades for exterior accents from across our community.
- ‘White’ & ‘Beige’ (used by Andrew Barnett)
- ‘Smokey White’ & ‘Crystal Blue’ (used by Jeffrey Dyson)
- ‘Rose Pink’ & ‘Light Grey’ (used by Emily Jackson)
- ‘Light Grey’ & black/charcoal
Garden Walls & Exterior Features – Extend Your Colour Scheme
Exterior paint isn’t just for the outside walls of your home – it can transform garden walls and other masonry surfaces in your outdoor spaces.
Bringing these elements in with the overall colour scheme of your home can create a beautifully cohesive look.
- Crystal Blue – Adds a fresh, Mediterranean touch to gardens with a fresh sky blue hue (used by Steven Dunne)
- Brown Sugar – Deeper, earthier tones like Brown Sugar can add a depth to your outdoor spaces that blends with the garden rather than overtaking the other elements. We love how Deb used it in their Med-inspired cosy corner (used by @deb_at_no_27)
- White – Bright, brilliant whites offer a modern, sophisticated touch to gardens (used by @happyharrishousebuild)
3. Choosing the Right Colour: Lighting & Exposure on Exterior Walls
Exterior paint changes colour in different lighting conditions, so it’s important to test shades at different times of the day.
South-facing homes: Warmer light enhances cooler colours, making shades like Chalky Grey, Crystal Blue or Light Grey appear brighter and softer.
North-facing homes: These get cooler, blue-toned light, so warm shades like Magnolia, Mushroom and Peach Shine prevent the house from looking too cold or washed out.
TOP TIP: Order hand-painted colour cards or sample pots to compare shades in natural light before committing.
4. Finding the Right Masonry Paint for Your Home
Beyond aesthetic appeal, masonry paint should also offer long-term protection against the UK’s unpredictable weather. We’ve developed our formulation to completely repel water, while maintaining the natural breathability of your home. By staying dry and crucially keeping your home dry, it provides
- Super hydrophobic – Highly water repellent to keep your home dry
- Highly breathable – Prevents trapped moisture and allows your home to naturally breathe
- Self-cleaning – Reduces dirt, mould and algae growth to keep your home looking pristine for years to come
- Long-lasting – Proven 25-year durability and comes lifetime guarantee
Final Thoughts: Bring Your Exterior Painting Ideas to Life
From classic neutrals to bold statement shades, your home’s exterior should reflect your personal style while complimenting its surroundings. Whether you’re painting a terraced house, detached home, cottage or garden walls, with the right colour you can create beautiful results that you can be proud of.
Ready to refresh your home’s exterior? Browse our full colour range and order your colour chart to find the perfect paint colour for your home.
