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Need help picking exterior paint for craftsman bungalow

HU-11658
3 years ago

I’m having my house painted later this month and I’d love recommendations on paint colors because I’m at a loss. I’m planning to use Sherwin Williams paint. The roof is a light brown and I know I also need to factor in the color of the stones. I’m not going to keep the current shutters because they are too small. TIA for any advice!!




Comments (28)

  • jck910
    3 years ago

    Lots of choices for a craftsman. No shutters. I think the details will be better appreciated with a darker color. Looks washed out now.


    Some possibilities





    HU-11658 thanked jck910
  • houssaon
    3 years ago

    Look at earthy colors and pick three like the photo above.

    Here are come other options:

    Front Exterior · More Info


    Craftsman Exterior · More Info


    AA Trueline Construction Services Inc. · More Info


    HU-11658 thanked houssaon
  • Melissa R
    3 years ago
    last modified: 3 years ago

    Visuals for you



    SW Roycroft Bronze Green and Real Red door



    SW Sage Green Light and SW Real Red door



    SW Rockwood Sash Green and SW Positive Red door



    SW Rockwood Blue Green and SW Positive Red



    SW Roycroft Bottle Green and SW Fun Yellow door

    I agree with the poster that said to pick a darker color for your house. My favorite is the Rockwood Sash Green

    HU-11658 thanked Melissa R
  • Anna (6B/7A in MD)
    3 years ago
    last modified: 3 years ago

    I think you should paint the sashes as well.

    Go to your local library or find used versions of books on Craftsman and/or Bungalow exteriors, "Bungalow Colors" comes to mind.

    Oldhouseguy.com might also have some guidance.

    HU-11658 thanked Anna (6B/7A in MD)
  • PRO
    Lisa Caudill Designs
    3 years ago

    Download the colorsnap app and match to the stone colors and chose you favorite. From the picture this is what I got. You can also save the palette and see the colors on the house

    HU-11658 thanked Lisa Caudill Designs
  • tartanmeup
    3 years ago

    Hope you don't mind, I'm tagging @cpartist for you. Great eye for all things Craftsman, especially colour schemes.

    HU-11658 thanked tartanmeup
  • PRO
    Lisa Caudill Designs
    3 years ago

    it cut off this one in the screen shot sorry.

    HU-11658 thanked Lisa Caudill Designs
  • Rachel Lee
    3 years ago

    Dark, earthy!

  • Melissa R
    3 years ago

    Visuals from Lisa's color match app

    SW Labradorite


    SW Sensuous Grey


    SW Shade Grown


    SW Pachyderm


    SW Smokehouse


    SW Emerging Taupe


    SW Chateau Brown

  • tangerinedoor
    3 years ago
    last modified: 3 years ago

    I would not do "earthy" if this is an area that's gloomy in winter. Definitely don't do "mud" if it rains a lot! IMO, since this is a new "Craftsman", you're not particularly tied to "authentic" craftsman colors.

    I think I would add more heft to the decorative triangles in the large gable, but perhaps someone else can weigh in on this. This would be a simple (and not expensive IMO) adjustment. You will see on the model photos, that those triangles are bolder than yours.

  • HU-11658
    Original Author
    3 years ago

    Thank you everyone for the awesome recommendations! For reference I live in NC so it’s never really gloomy. I was thinking about a navy blue for

    the siding with a creamish trim. Any thoughts about that? It’s not earthy.

    And I’ve found a few other pics I like but don’t know if they would work in my house or what the actually color names are




  • Anna (6B/7A in MD)
    3 years ago

    I like the navy idea. Are your sashes and muntins vinyl or wood?

  • PRO
    Lisa Caudill Designs
    3 years ago

    I do think a blue color would be great and thanks to Melissa great rendering, you have a preview of Labradorite.

    I would do a natural wood door or Cool avocado.

    Trim in Oyster White or Extra White.

    HU-11658 thanked Lisa Caudill Designs
  • HU-11658
    Original Author
    3 years ago
    last modified: 3 years ago

    @Anna (6B/7A in MD) They are vinyl and a bright white

  • PRO
    Lisa Caudill Designs
    3 years ago

    Some darker blues

  • HU-11658
    Original Author
    3 years ago

    @Lisa Caudill Designs I like the idea of a natural wood door. I also have side doors that I need to paint or replace. If I did a natural wood for the front door do you have any recommendations for the side doors? They are fairly prominent on the house.

    .

  • Melissa R
    3 years ago


    SW Charcoal Blue and Obstinate Orange


    SW Anchors Aweigh and Obstinate Orange


  • PRO
    Lisa Caudill Designs
    3 years ago

    Looks like they are French doors and they have that same door in that option, just double check your door widths

  • HU-11658
    Original Author
    3 years ago

    @Melissa R Thanks, I really like those color combos with the orange doors. Do you think a cream trim is better than a bright white?

  • Melissa R
    3 years ago
    last modified: 3 years ago

    I like white. Nice and crisp. To me a cream would just look like dirty white lol


    I really like the Anchors Aweigh/Obstinate Orange combo!

  • flopsycat1
    3 years ago


    I love this color palette. And definitely delete the shutters. Great house!



  • HU-11658
    Original Author
    3 years ago

    @Melissa R what do you use to create those renderings? I’ve tried using the ColorSnap app and they look awful. I’m trying to see what it would look like with navy siding and a yellow door.

  • Melissa R
    3 years ago

    I use the tool on the Sherwin Williams site.



    SW Honey Bees


    SW Daisy


    SW Decisive Yellow

  • PRO
    Celery. Visualization, Rendering images
    3 years ago

    Off-white with wood trim


  • PRO
  • PRO
    Celery. Visualization, Rendering images
    3 years ago

    with proper shutters?



  • PRO
    Beth H. :
    3 years ago
    last modified: 3 years ago

    I like the blue one celery just did. more of a grayer blue, or a greenish blue

    and yes, correct sized shutters. the ones you have are too skinny. (or remove them completely. )

    Don't forget the accent colors.


    love this blue, but the adjoining warm wood really accents the look.


    Pink not your thing? choose a coral, or green



    this w/natural cedar looks beautiful. do the cedar shutters