In NZ we have homes which are of all types of architectural, from contemporary using tilt slab concrete, kauri wooden, beach cottages, brick etc and when any of these materials are painted in black they give the wow factor! Paints are so superior these days with UV protectors. I agree with comments where other materials - natural concrete, brick,or wood will compliment the darker exterior. Landscaping with mostly greens looks amazing, add some bright acapulco chairs - wow factor!

Black Modern/Contemporary Goth, smaller residence or in a warm climate: Absolutely not. For a large structure, black rustic forest setting, or sleek black in the city: Yes (w/oversized thermal windows for both; add teak to frame in rustic because it also holds back the moisture; chrome to frame in city), and, if you want to make your home appear smaller, and attract heat! Black in suburbia: your neighbors will hate you.

Cool as a new look on a Victorian or Craftsman, but the problem is that these days, instead of developing individual style, people have become followers. Yes, it's striking for one unique house: but imagine when the followers "copy-cat" it as a trend!?! For example, I live in a neighborhood which, 10 years ago, had a variety of Mid-century houses and house colors colors: mostly warm, welcoming, lively hues, but also greens, whites, neutrals: the colors of life. The neighborhood had a "good feeling" when you entered it. Now there's an influx of new so-called "hip" residents, but in all of their hipness they all seem to be following the same "gray" trend. Unfortunately, with all the gray, it now looks as if our neighborhood is dying house by house! "Without vision the neighborhood perishes" - so I'd have to say "no" to this trend too.

Klas1, you are right about people being followers. Sadly, people seem to have lost their creativity. Same thing with the inside of homes, if I see one more kitchen with white cabinets and gray walls, I think I might scream!

In some cases

I would really analzed the environment surrounding this house...What will it look like in the dead of winter....if it is snuggled in a forest, and receives sun throughout the winter months...I say BRILLIANT! The porch color seems a bit of a boo-boo.....even cream could soften its' lines....imagine the exposed brick in time, weathering......it can work..........

AND - now even all of the "modern" followers! I've been looking through some of the photos on Houzz, and now there are sooooo many houses pretending to be modern: but some of them are actually monstrosities! Colors have vibrations, and react to light in different ways - thereby affecting the living experience itself. There's an art to choosing color, and to good architecture and design. It's actually supposed to inspire good, healthy living and creativity: not make you feel like you'll get cancer just by looking at it (or be attacked by aliens if you're living in it)!

Love dark charcoal or deep bitter brown, but black, not so much.

klas1 … but on the other hand, some homes in the photos are so monotonously neutral that black would actually be a welcome change.

Love love black houses. Check out Turner Road Architecture in Cambridge New Zealand. A beautiful house, I hope they don't mind me sharing it with you. Wished we'd used these guys to design our house and I am not affiliated with them at all.

I think a distinction needs to be made between a black painted house and a black stained house. The original question was "black exterior paint". At least with black stain the innate quality of the wood is not lost, giving it a bit more life. Many of the examples shown are of stained houses. A black painted house like the row house example above, with all traces of the wonderful trim painted out and no contrast whatsoever, looks like a funeral shroud.

A black exterior can be striking if the proper material and color accents are applied. I love the photos Barb shared

Was thinking that a black exterior could become quite energy efficient in a cold climate. In warmer climes, would drive our AC bill through the proverbial roof. Here, the black would fade from the summer sun.
Like Barb's pics, also. The proper contrast of paint, materials and textures makes all the difference.
All of the examples make me wish for bright landscaping. Giant pots of geraniums, coleus, knock out roses ... a plan for year-round color.

I like the black exterior, but I would like a different color trim and door color.

A black or charcoal garden fence can look amazing!

For Margo....

Too much black makes the house looks like it burned in a fire. A little black for accents okay, but the whole house...very depressing.

Absolutely love black wood cladding. So very old-country and easy to add accents - greenery, white flowers etc that would otherwise be lost against a lighter exterior.

You talking about here in Seattle? Any really dark color is going to absorb the sun on the south side and speed up the aging of the siding/paint. I have a dark brown stained home (combed cedar shingles) and you can really see the difference on the south side - nail are pulling out of the siding. I'm sure a lighter finish would have reduced the thermal expansion effect.

Black stain or almost black slate color stain can be stunning provided the contrasting trim can carry it and has a statement to make. To me, you need gorgeous landscaping and nice detailing in the trim work--like well proportioned divided lights that will really pop with the dark house for example. With a dark house you are staging the details of your house front and center which is the idea.

This look could be really intriguing and mysterious on some houses, but I live in Houston and an all black interior would mean attracting a huge amount of sun and heat. With out summer norm being "feels like 120 degrees," all black would be murderous!

Mostly, not for me, but sometimes, yes!

too me black works good in cool climate places...where i live it would be a Hot Box. even a black roof, the houses need an air-conditioner, for about 3 seasons. we have a white/grey roof and might use our air 4 times last summer. we have ceiling fans.

All black can look absolutely amazing on a house with the right architecture and background, See below:
Pic #1 - absolutely a no
Pic #2 - absolutely amazing

I love black...black accents, black shutters, black front doors, but when it gets to the complete building...of course, you must make sure it is the right type building...before moving forward with this...

Wow. Quite surprised. Never personally seen a house painted black but actually like the look of the photo shown

I've seen some very dark-colored houses that look good, though they're mostly environmentally-unfriendly. These all-black houses are hideous; they look like the fire department got there too late to save them. I'm not in favor of telling anyone what colors they can or can't use, but I'd sympathize if their neighbors sued them for creating such eyesores.

i like black as an accent.. but that big 3 story house on the corner ..well for 1 doesnt look real. it has a void look. that house needs to be in the woods..well hidden by trees..

If I came across that house in the woods I'd run like hell....

if that house were in the woods ..i doubt they would have any service.. couldnt get anyone out to hook up service for it....LOL

in Texas heat, oh **** no.

No joke. Imagine trying to cool those monstrosities in a hot sunny climate.

not in So Idaho either.. here they still shingle homes with black shingles.. ugh! ours is grey. so much easier to keep cool.

I like black, but this one looks like Darth Vader.

I think black exterior paint can be fabulous. Of course there are a lot of things to consider (style of the house, heat gain, hoa, etc). But if there's a will there's a way. Black is so sleek, exciting and bold! I say black paint all the way!

I like a black house, especially the one shown at the top. And, agreeing with other people, it does just depend on the style of the house.

the black u are showing on this house has lots of big window so u can see into the space an opposite color..the black on the other huge house also has black windows. this black looks to be stained so each of the boards have taken the stain in a different hue. only the trim around the windows look to have been painted . also the trim on the house. with paint not stain..

I live in the Philippines and my house is almost done except the exterior paint. Our weather is hot esp during the summer, will this little part of the facade to be painted black can broiled us inside? btw I'm planning to paint the attic's side white. you think guys it's a good idea?

I love black, its bold yet not too flashy, it has authority and is timeless, however on the exterior of a home that is in direct sunlight.... I wouldn't want to go for it. functionally the home would get too hot and it would fade - fast. Using black as accents on some trim or finishes in small areas (like foundation, shutters, trim, doors, etc ) it would look great, but it would get so hot in the summer it might kill the gardens!

Too gloomy!

I realize that this is an old post, but we just had our house painted last week. We went with Magnolia Homes Prairie Smoke. I realize that dark colors absorb more heat, but we have a lot of protection from the elements. I absolutely love many photos that I have seen of very dark exterior colors. We decided to go for it and just love the result. It is not for everyone!! But you only live once and it is something that can be changed the next time it needs painting:)

The first photo is before new windows and paint.

We built a couple years ago, and went with dark exterior, I love it! Ever since we finished, 2 more houses in our very tiny community used the same siding color, and door color too! Imitation is the best form of flattery!

@letty_inc it looks incredible! I wonder what kind of roof you have with this (my imagination draws a grassy green roof)

Agia: I wish! I live in canada, and am buried in snow most of the year! plain boring shingles I'm afraid!

We painted our house black 1 year ago and love it.

Yes I love black, and I would love our house to be black!

No thank you. Not in stiffling Florida heat.

I live in the CA high desert. Hard pass on dark exteriors.

On the right house, in the right place, a black exterior can be beautiful.

I like dark colors - but black is not one of them. A dark gray or a dark brown, certain dark greens, or blues. On the exterior of the house, it just seems to look out of place, like the house is not part of the natural landscape. And as others have pointed out - darker colors are affected by the sun, so in a hot climate, that is important.