The Joyful Exterior: Rev Up With Red

If you opt to go big with bold red on the exterior of your home, think about keeping the other colors in the palette neutral. The cement-gray and black here are the perfect base hues for the stop-sign-red accent. With the most eye-catching hue used on the windows, one’s eye is really drawn to this appealing element of the home.

For a similar palette, try: Flint Rock with accents in Stiletto and Cross My Heart, all from Kelly-Moore Paints.

The previous example showed red accents paired with cool neutrals. Here we have red with a warmer gray, plus other materials in warm white and tan. There are quite a few different materials and colors employed, but because the bulk of the palette is neutral it flows nicely, with the splashes of vibrant red thrown in to make it interesting.

For a similar palette, try: Gypsum with accents in Antique Silver and Autumn Ridge, all from PPG Pittsburgh Paints.

This charming modern-rustic hybrid has a fantastic, dramatic color scheme. One way to soften the impact of a bold red exterior is to use a semitransparent stain rather than full-coverage paint.

For a similar palette, try: Valley Forge Tan with accents in Silhouette and Caliente, all from Benjamin Moore.

If the main color on your house is white or off-white, you can likely add an accent of just about any color you like. Just make sure you use the bolder color for elements or details that you want to call attention to. Balance is important too, as this house shows, with the splashes of red used in a few areas around the exterior, drawing the eye up and around the delightful structure.

For a similar palette, try: Wimborne White with trim in Pitch Black and an accent of Rectory Red, all from Farrow & Ball.

This fetching contemporary home sports a mostly cool exterior color palette. The steely gray contrasts nicely with the off-white stucco and warm red stained wood screen.

For a similar palette, try: Westchester Gray with accents in Origami White and Stolen Kiss, all from Sherwin-Williams.

The light silvery gray siding here gets a colorful boost with bright red accents. I like how the red is carried over into decorative elements on and near the house.

For a similar palette, try: Armory with trim in Wraith and an accent of Red Carriage, all from Pratt & Lambert.

If you favor warm exterior color palettes, take inspiration from this gorgeous rustic lake house. This is an especially smart color scheme for homes in cooler climates.

For a similar palette, try: Bronze Amulet with accents in Camelcoat and California Claret, all from Glidden.

Here’s another charming lake house, but this one is dressed up in clean white, cool gray and deep red. This color scheme would be a better option than the previous one for homes in warmer climates.

For a similar palette, try: Delray Gray with trim in Distant Gray and an accent of Dinner Party, all from Benjamin Moore.

Your turn: How have you used red accents to dress up your home’s exterior?

More exterior colors: Blue | Green | Yellow | Orange