The downspouts, as shown in the first photo, are located in an attempt to "equalize" the rainwater flow in the gutters, toward the downspouts.

The second photo is certainly one approach, but if you look at the added length of the gutters leading to the downspouts, plus you look at the waterflow towards the corners of each set of gutters you can see that the chances of water splash and overflow are much greater.

Regardless of location, the gutters will be much less noticable if they are painted to match the wall finish color.

Virgil Carter,

Actually, the downspouts were located based on where my hubby asked them to place them. Original placement with gutter folks was like the 2nd one.
Perhaps, one will be more efficient than the other, but at this moment in time trying to see visually which makes sense.
Because the gutters are white and trim on windows is white, downspouts are white. Intentional placement of the “white” downspouts makes them part of a more acceptable visual hopefully.
For example, on the front section, while the architect only had one downspout only on one side, we added a “matching” one on the other because they are white and become part of the house design.

I saw a house where they painted the downspout to match the house and left the top part of downspout the color of the gutter. One part black and one part white. Not a good look imo.

Wow. It looks like a downspout demonstration home. Most architects would take this builder off the referral list but I'm seeing more of this with trailer gutter companies.

Always paint downspouts to blend with body paint. Pro painters somtimes cut in facia color to bottom of facia. Yes that's two colors sometimes to make the facia "continuous" and mask the downspouts. That's a painter who cares.

Depending on expected rainfall, you could eliminate a few, especially at the entry where one only flat at the inside corner could do the job.

Jeffrey Grenz,

Painting downspouts could help as Virgil Carter suggests but fascia is white. :/

It is not just a matter of downspouts (or leaders) but the gutters. Usually the gutter is sloped in one direction. Maybe over a large expanse, it could be two. At the lowest point should be the leader.

Personally, I would have had them installed the way they were supposed to be installed and painted both the gutter and the leader dark gray.

You don't even have to paint gutters. Most reputable gutter companies offer a good selection of colors. I think the gutter photos look terrible and show little thought to the materials and their placement.

I have a Spanish style house which badly needed gutters when we bought it. My house is a light tan stucco with dark brown trim. I did a bit of research on line and by driving around looking at what others had done.

My gutters are brown and blend in with the trim/fascia. The downspouts are a light tan and match the stucco. As you drive by, the gutters will never be the first thing that catch your attention and they shouldn't be.

When my gutters and downspouts were installed I was told that they install them so that it looks good from the front. So yours are correct on the main part of the house. I'm curious why they didn't order the color of your home? My fascia is white, and the gutters are white, but my downspouts are tan to match the siding.

place your gutters for where they work best when it rains. saves a wet basement.

1. relocate and get rid of a few
2. match the walls
3. Consider fabricating custom round downspouts.

4. Screw up as few elevations as you can.

Wow!! Look at that Downspout House!!

(Paint them)

"...Location of Downspouts..."

The question raises two issues, both important:

1) Function: Where is the best or optimum location for downspouts to contain and drain the roof runoff water most efficiently;

2) Aesthetics: How best can the downspouts be minimized visually and not detract from view of the house.

The answers to both issues can be found above.

Can you reorder the downspouts in a gray color? You can keep the white gutters.

Consider hooking up black corrugated tubing if you need to remove and paint. Don't paint them while they are on...might be obvious but you never know!

It appears the center portion of the main roof of the home doesn't have any gutter. Without one, a large volume of water will fall from the main roof (and splash) on the porch roof. It is preferable to control rain water as soon as your can-- which is at the upper roof eaves. If you add gutter on the main roof, you can probably get by with a diverter on the front portion of the porch roof and maybe omit the gutters on the sides, too.

As for the gutters, half-round copper or lead-coated copper gutters with collector boxes and round downspouts would be a nice complement to your home.

Because the gutters are white and trim on windows is white, downspouts are white. Intentional placement of the “white” downspouts makes them part of a more acceptable visual hopefully.

Why do you want your downspouts to be the first thing someone sees when they drive up? It will be because it's the lightest color against a darker house and when there is that much contrast, it becomes the focal point.

Skilled gutter sales pitch included expert color consulting.