Not exactly the house style But an idea of what a midtone green would look like with the wood tone decking you've selected.

A deeper color for the body. The color samples on the wall are already washed out.

green would compliment the decking choice...

SW Retreat for the siding,

SW Pewter Green for the gable trims and SW Sea Salt for the window trim.

any bright color for the door. When you are ready to paint the front door, paint the ceiling over the porch a light blue for a fresh look.

bump

I don't like any of your samples with the stone foundation colors or your deck. You need a warm tone; yes there's some grey in the stone but overall it reads warm. If you want light, there are lots of creamy whites to try (what you have now reads as kind of a biscuit color on my monitor). Something in the sage-y green family like Lyn Nielson suggested might also look quite nice, but make sure it works with the stone (nothing too blue-green).

Maybe a rich warm grey would complement the stone and deck and be sure to paint the front door.

I agree with porkchop’s comment. How about SW’s color of the year, Khaki? Sounds a little neutral but says it has yellow undertones which would look good with your stone. SW suggests pairing it with ”Silken Peacock” which might look good for your front door.

Green, cream and a accent color of your decking would be striking.

How about Benjamin Moore Hawthorn Yellow (shown in pic below) Or you could go with a paler yellow, such as Butter.

In other words, you choose a color that goes well with the stone, the decking and the roof. You don't choose the in color of the year, and you certainly don't choose the in color of five years ago.

I really like the Hawthorn Yellow.

What color is the roof?

What color is the roof?

Your sample picture of several grays - all just look wrong. So I believe you should go with warmer colors and for sure compare new color samples against your proposed decking instead of against your current house color. Your current house color has no bearing on your new house color.

My choice would be a warm pale green.

If the gray/greens suggested would appeal, SW Oyster Bay is one that could be nice. It can lighten up quite a bit on the exterior.

You need some depth of color - those greys are all too silvery. If you want something as light as those greys, I'd go with warm whites instead.

If you want the house to go from ”sad” to clinically depressed- paint it grey... :)

To be honest, I really don’t see a problem with the existing house color. I think a bit more enhanced landscaping, and a different door color- for example here I used a Tiffany blue.

I agree that the color needs to come from the stone. And also, just becuse there are some gray areas (pun intended) that doesn't mean gray is the right choice. It needs to be one of the browner neutrals. Chantilly isn't the ideal trim color for the stone, but worse things could happen.

All things considered, I'd invest in a sample of Warm Stone.

Not sure what the substrate is (the siding) but check its LRV specifications from the manufacturer. That's always step one, a good plan before painting anything exterior.

The OP wrote "...make sad exterior lovely" and "We live in the DC area". The Hawthorne Yellow is a cheerful, distinctive and historic color. When you drive up, you will see a lovely house with character. It will be far different from the dull beige apartment building next door or the gray government buildings in Washington DC.

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My daughter and SIL painted their house SW Pewter Green last year - it looks nice (lighter on the exterior than it looks on a paint chip).

The reason you house looks sad it because there is no contrast between the siding and trim. And you're only making it worse with your selections. You seem to equal light with happy. ????? You make your home any lighter and it will become invisible in the winter months.

Since your home has virtually no architectural details of interest, Increasing the contrast between the siding and the trim and your house will make a 'statement' with it's presence.

I like the combination from @oncape.

I think a shade of yellow would be awesome not the Victorian 3 color scheme for that house