8 Gray Exterior House Paint Ideas for a Modern Makeover
Updated: Feb. 24, 2024
Give the exterior of your home an updated look with these timeless color ideas.
Going With a Gray Exterior
From cool blue grays to warmer greige tones, there are endless options when choosing a gray exterior color.
“Many shades of gray work across the board with lots of home styles,” says Lee Sapata, owner of CertaPro Painters. “However, I prefer Agreeable Gray by Sherwin-Williams or Revere Pewter by Benjamin Moore. I like these because their appearance tends to change throughout the day based on the lighting.”
Along with Sapata’s choices, I’ve gathered my favorite gray paint colors to help you find the right one for your situation. Gray will give your house a fresh, modern new look, especially among the barrage of white homes filling the design world recently. Ready to go gray?
Light Gray
This client home from interior designer Lotte Meister (@lottemeister) featured a dated dark brown exterior that needed a refresh. The solution: A new lighter and brighter color, Cliffside Gray by Benjamin Moore.
When choosing gray paint, Meister says always keep in mind other architectural elements like the roof to ensure the undertones don’t clash. This roof’s green tones coordinate well with the light neutral gray.
Craftsman-Style Gray
The right gray exterior looks beautiful in any setting, but how stunning is this snowy shot from @carolineondesign? The gray board-and-batten sections are painted a custom color to match the vinyl cedar-style siding. For a similar look, check out Dorian Gray by Sherwin-Williams.
Other exterior details include a charcoal gray roof, crisp white trim and beige stone accents.
Gray and Black
This cute cottage-style home, captured by @charmingaustintexas, features pale gray siding and pure black accents.
The black shutters, front door and bay window roof add beautiful contrast to the lighter gray body and white trim. The overall look is timeless, while offering a distinctive twist on the more common black-and-white exterior color scheme.
Dark Gray
If you’re looking for a bold, moody color, check out this home from @plumproexteriors. It features James Hardie siding in Iron Gray. Not quite black, but close! A dark gray exterior like this makes your home stand out among the rest.
Although dark gray may feel like a daring choice, it’s still a classic neutral that will look chic for many years to come.
@jqpaintingco A warm earthy greige paint color. #barnwoodgray #dunnedwardspaints #exteriorpaintcolors #socal #griegepaint ♬ original sound – JQ Painting CO
Warm Gray
Watch as this stucco house gets a paint job from @jqpaintingco. Barnwood Gray by Dunn Edwards is a warm and earthy greige — a combination of gray and beige. According to Dunn Edwards, the color is “a smoky, brownish-gray color that is elegant and timeless.”
Because of its warm undertones, it works well paired with natural wood trim or brick accents.
@hearthsidehomeskc 👇Need help picking colors for the exterior of your home? We’re loving this Sherwin-Williams paint combo. Main Body: Tin Lizzie Doors: Grizzle Gray Trim: Passive #kansascity #kansascityhomes #kansascityhouseforsale #kansascityhomebuilder #kansascitybuilder #homebuilder #kcmo #kc #kansascityrealestate #buildingahouse #buildingahome #housefever #paintcolors #sherwinwilliams #homeexterior #houseexterior #exteriorpaint #exteriorpaintcolors ♬ original sound – Kansas City Home Builder
Gray on Gray
This color scheme from @hearthsidehomeskc features two shades of gray for dimension, both by Sherwin-Williams. The main body is a light gray, Tin Lizzie, with the garage doors and front door painted a darker gray, Grizzle Gray.
Choosing two colors off the same paint strip is the best way to execute this idea. All the colors on a paint strip are different intensities of the same color formula.
@tampa_flippers 🏚👉🏼🏠 #flippinghouses #flipper #flippingahouse #adultmoneythings #Tampa #WorthTheWait #realestatetiktoker #hgtvtiktok #tamparealestate #fyp ♬ original sound – John Derting
Blue Gray
Ready to watch a jaw-dropping exterior transformation? This dilapidated house gets a second life thanks to house flippers @tampa_flippers, including a new color — Boothbay Gray by Benjamin Moore.
Described as “a fresh, steely gray with hints of blue,” the color produces a nice calming effect and looks gorgeous paired with white trim and dark wood accents.
@_everyhousehasastory Exterior Color Scheme, white brick with medium gray stone. #whitebrick #whitebrickhouse #realestate #newhome #designtips #milliondollarslistings #friscotx #newbuild #exteriordesign @sherwinwilliams ♬ Locked out of Heaven – Bruno Mars
Gray Trim
Gray also works well as an exterior trim color. This house from @_everyhousehasastory features a white body with dark gray trim (Web Gray by Sherwin Williams). Gray trim has a softer look than the traditional black trim, and better compliments creamy or ivory shades of white.
Notice the stonework includes shades of gray to tie the whole exterior color scheme together.
Originally Published: January 19, 2024
