Future-proof your home with this year’s biggest exterior paint trends
This house is painted with Dulux colours Cardrona on the exterior, The Remarkables on the fascia and Masterton on the door.
Whether it’s bold, sumptuous hues or complex neutrals, a fresh coat of paint on your home’s exterior transforms your house from plain to wow. Choose a colour that catches the eye of your neighbours and creates street appeal.
Since the uncertainty of lockdown over recent years, many homeowners are treating their homes more like sanctuaries than before, painting them in feel-good hues; there are soothing dark colours that evoke drama and warmth but still a place for soulful and luminous pale tones, with a welcoming optimism about them.
A dark colour scheme gives homes a contemporary look and will also make the house stand out on the street.
Which types of home exteriors need regular painting?
Most homeowners give their homes a fresh coat of exterior paint about every 10 years, by which time you may notice the colour fading, but this timeframe can vary depending on your substrate (the surface you’re painting on).
“Homes with stained weatherboards need more regular maintenance, usually every two to three summers,” says Karen Warman, marketing manager at Resene.
Which colour is best for the exterior of your house?
Unless you want an exterior palette that stands out, stick with a similar colour group as your neighbours for visual unity. Check with your local council to see if they have a colour range to follow – some have restrictions so as not to obstruct the local landscape. Remember that colours can look lighter once on the exterior of your home, so don’t be afraid to go a shade or two darker to get the colour you want.
The best exterior paint trends 2024:
Ivory tones
Easy, gentle and classic, off-white ivory appeals with its warm undertones such as pink or yellow. Its beauty lies in its soft, uplifting personality and versatility; its ethereal quality pairs prettily with trims in a gentle apple green with dusky rose pink or a terracotta with a soulful greige. Or bring in a rich coastal navy for a Hamptons look or a soothing taupe for a gentle combination.
“I have always loved a light, fresh villa and Resene Half Concrete contrasted with white windows is one of my favourite combinations for these beautiful old charmers,” says Katie Scott, director of Sticks + Stones Design. Katie has noticed a growing trend towards white-on-white exteriors, using light colours with minimal contrast: “More so in coastal areas and inner city areas, I’ve seen the use of whites and soft light earthy tones with white powder-coated metal details and light joinery.”
Bear in mind that if you use an ivory with a strong yellow undertone, it can look too yellow, whereas a version that is too light can be glary in the sunlight.
Soft neutrals and greyed whites, such as the Resene Sea Fog used on this house exterior, are popular choices for a refresh.
Bold and black
Soft blacks are taking the limelight among the smoky colour palette with its timeless and contemporary flexibility. Drive to any West Coast beach, such as Piha, and you’ll see many black houses fitting right in, receding into the landscape. However, a modern black home tends to become prominent in an urban setting, drawing the eye in.
“Dark colours and earthy tones are becoming more popular,” says Katie. These darker colours contrasting with timber or stone of architectural brick cladding are popular. “It also feels like a New Zealand vibe as it works so well with our landscapes.”
Charcoals or near-black exterior paint hues work well in our intense New Zealand sunlight, says Davina. They also look good alongside natural materials such as wood or brick.
The colour of your exterior paint will impact how often you repaint, however, says Davina. “The sun can cause some of the chemicals in the paint to form fine particles, leaving a dusty residue over the surface. This problem is known as chalking and can be prominent for dark colours.”
Some substrates have minimum light reflectance requirements, usually requiring a colour with a light reflectance of 40 percent or higher, so it is important to check that your substrate suits a dark colour.
It’s not just contemporary homes that look good in black, this house is painted in Dulux Castlecliff with Dulux Rāwene on the trim.
Grey tones
Gone are the days of steely, lifeless greys, now we gravitate towards those with more character, such as a touch of mushroom taupe or earthy stone.
“Another trend we are seeing in exterior paint colours is the growing use of ‘greiges’ (a combination of grey and beige) or warmer browns,” says Dulux colour specialist Davina Harper. “These are warm and balancing colours that can easily be paired with other, brighter colours.
Blue-greys bring a perfect balance of personality with restraint to New Zealand exteriors. They’re a good balance of neutral with a hint of colour.
Tip: For a timeless colour scheme contrast a soft grey on the siding with a crisp white trim.
Natural browns
Complex browns will be seen more and more in 2024 in interiors and exteriors alike. Following the trend towards feel-good interiors, homes are grounded in nature, adopting peaceful browns with undertones that evoke a sense of security. Think rich chocolates or soothing caramels with an indulgent feel, connecting us to the tones of Mother Nature.
Chocolate shades are on-trend this year.
Lively green
Greyed greens are gaining traction, drawing on the calming qualities of misty and icy mountain streams. Using greens in a green landscape will also help the house blend into the surroundings. Use the same colour roof and joinery colour for the ultimate camouflage effect.
Dulux Franz Josef Quarter was used on the weatherboards matched with a Colorsteel Ebony roof.
Go bright and bold
If bolder, brighter hues appeal, follow your heart. Try walls in the green of Dulux Te Horo with trims in a muted rose of Dulux Evening Blush. For a soft, light look, Dulux Paekākāriki resonates with the pink-brown of Dulux Ponsonby on the trims. An uplifting citrus-inspired palette looks right at home, too, with walls in the sweet beige of Resene Tua Tua and trims in the indulgent Resene Salted Caramel.
“We are also seeing people being more adventurous with colour, particularly when it comes to blues, greens and even soft pinks,” says Davina.
Dulux Lakeside is used on the weatherboards here, a shade that pairs well with crisp white Dulux Ōkārito.
How do I choose the best trim colour for my house?
Trims are the decorative touch to your exterior paint scheme; they are the edge of your roofline, window and door frames. To choose your trim hue, consider your home’s general colour palette – is it earthy, greige or coastal? From there, follow the rule of one colour for your walls, one for the trim and another for the room trim.
Traditionally, you’d choose a lighter variation of your wall colour for contrast.
If you prefer a muted look, simply go a few shades lighter than your wall colour.
“Using different shades of the same colour works well to create depth and interest, but make sure the house’s colours all work and tone in together,” Katie says. “The roof colour matching another area such as joinery or balustrading/decking can be a good link between the layers of a house and balancing the colour.”
The exterior of this house is painted in Resene Revolution, with Resene Half Alabaster used on the trim.
The painting process
If you’re considering painting the exterior yourself, clean the surfaces for dirt and mould. Then sand and prime any bumps and holes, filling them and then sanding this filler before layering some primer.
When dry, sand it back and apply your top coats in your chosen colour – two layers are ideal.
If you aren’t feeling sure about painting your exterior – remember it’s a significant job and you need the right equipment – or lack time to paint your home or don’t feel confident, call a professional painter.
Words: Catherine Steel
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