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rawkitgrl

Exterior paint color Navy or White?!

3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago

I live on a small lake in the Pacific Northwest. I am in the middle of the process of designing my remodel and I need to pick my exterior colors. When I started this process I wanted Navy exterior but since I started my design I have seen multiple homes in my area get repainted in... Navy! Now I am second guessing my choice since it seems quite a few are going in. Or maybe that is okay? I still love the color. Especially BM Hale Navy. But since I have seen so many houses going Navy I have started to LOVE white houses. Now I am in a quandary. Navy or white exterior?

Regardless of siding color:

The roof will be metal standing seam, light gray.

The siding will be board and batten style.

The windows and trim will a nice thick size and will be white.

The front door and garage door and some accents will be clear cedar.

The front and back porches will be covered.

The style of home is lake house-ease rambler with daylight basement.

There are approximately 80 homes around the lake. The colors of the homes around me are:

Most of the homes (~40) are various shades of tans/browns/mushroom/light gray.

The next most popular color (~25) are various greens.

Around 10 are blue, mostly Navy, but 2 are medium blue.

There are 5 yellowish houses.

There are no white houses.

My next door neighbors homes are Brown with tan trim & brown roof on one side and tan with tan trim and green roof on the other.

So my question for you lovely Houzz folks is...

Stand alone and look amazing in White or go with what is apparently becoming a trend around the lake and stick with my 1st idea of Navy? or something else?

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Comments (10)

  • PRO
    3 years ago
    last modified: 3 years ago

    We need to see your house . So post a pic of it in a comment no need for a vote just some brainstorming but we need context . Post the pics here in a comment do not start another post . BTW IMO house colors need to suit the house not the rest of the neighbors

    Rawketgrl thanked Patricia Colwell Consulting
  • 3 years ago

    Thank you Cheryl and Patricia. I agree fitting the color to the house is important, I just kind of had a thought I would be alone in the neighborhood with the Navy house and now that I am" just one of the crowd" I second guessed it. Thanks for reinforcing my Navy decision. The house was originally dark brown with white trim and it was quite adorable. Then I think they got a sale on mint green and yellow and went wild! Turning it back into a dark field with white trim will bring it back to the cute original idea of the house but give it a more forward color. By the by the house looks like this now but is getting a full to the studs remodel and will have a large covered porch, a converted garage, an unattached garage/ shop is now being built with a breezeway between the house and garage so this modest home wont look like this much longer... More posts to come as I get closer to demo day! Thanks again, :D


  • 3 years ago

    Lake homes beg for dark green!

    Rawketgrl thanked Rachel Lee
  • 3 years ago

    Wild card: nice deep red with lots of wood accents to warm it up?

    Rawketgrl thanked Lauren S
  • 3 years ago
    last modified: 3 years ago

    Depends on how ”lakeside” you want house to feel and white might not be the best choice. Front door (color and design), roof, and landscaping will play a big part. Also consider maintenance of white.


    I would opt for blue, but a softer more earthy shade than navy. I really like something similar to below and suggest (in general) only deciding on roof color until paint is chosen.




    Rawketgrl thanked Maureen
  • 3 years ago

    Do you have plans for what it will look like after remodeling? How much trim will it have and what color will your roof be? More important than what the neighbors have, is your fixed elements. But I also understand that you don’t want to feel like you just copied everyone else. IMO white looks great on a house with a lot of architectural interest, but falls flat on an ordinary home. I love the Phillipsburg Blue that Maureen suggested, but it’s probably one of my favorite colors - blue but a little green and not too saturated.

    Rawketgrl thanked Susie .
  • 3 years ago
    last modified: 3 years ago

    Thank you everyone for responding! Paint color is such a huge deal! I have just ordered 10 different paint sample papers from Sampilize in various shades of Navy.

    Does anyone have any input on how to best view them? I can put them up on the siding and look at them at various times of day and night. Any other tips?

    Thank you Rachel Lee- Dark green is lovely and would blend in nicely around here but I look at SO much green I am kinda starved for other colors.







    Lauren S. Deep red would be different that is for sure! With all the green around here I don't want to go Christmas 24/7 lol.

    Maureen I love the teal-ish colors and that will be my 2nd choice if Navy doesn't work, now that white is off the table.

    Susie, no plans yet, they are in process now but here is a couple of inspiration pics

    No stone, Big luscious white trim, board and batten siding, Cedar doors and accents. most likely light gray metal roofing.


    Hickory Hill - Cozy Lake Cottage · More Info



    Daniel Island Custom Home- Golf Course · More Info


  • 3 years ago

    Dark blue does look great with lots of white trim.

    Rawketgrl thanked Susie .
  • 3 years ago

    I think your house will look fabulous in Navy. Go for it!

    Rawketgrl thanked houssaon