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Exterior shutters, garage doors and front doors are among the first features people notice on a home, and they collectively have a significant impact on a home’s curb appeal.
These elements tend to stand out because they’re often street- or driveway-facing attributes that are highly visible to residents, visitors and passers-by. Shutters, garage doors and front doors are also opportunities to provide colorful visual flair that complements other design facets.
Shutter colors and door colors don’t have to match, but they should augment a home’s architecture, exterior materials and color palette. Following are key considerations for a cohesive color scheme among shutters, exterior doors and home facades.
Natural Home-Exterior Materials
A home’s primary exterior material is a good place to start when narrowing down color options for shutters, garage doors and front doors. Raw materials like brick, stone, stucco and wood welcome a variety of colors, and they have their own unique tones and textures that can offer color inspiration for shutters and doors.
Brick Exteriors
Brick is a popular and sturdy material that accommodates a spectrum of colors from classic black to cherry red. When assessing shutter and door colors for brick homes, look to undertones in the brick.
Browns, oranges and reds within the brick can inform shutter and door colors for a harmonious appearance. For example, if the brick’s dominant color is a peach hue with black, brown and burgundy subtones, charcoal- or chocolate-colored shutters with deep-red doors may be a good fit, particularly if the garage door or front door are framed with white or another neutral color.
Speaking of white, pure white and off-white are also time-honored shutter and door colors for brick homes. Other favored accent colors for brick include earthy greens, blues and grays.
Stone Exteriors
Like brick, stone exteriors feature a variety of shades with diverse undertones. Instead of aligning shutter and door colors with the stone’s dominant hue, appraise accent colors that occur within the stone or consider complementary tones.
For instance, stone that is predominantly slate or another grayish hue is receptive to cool blues, greens and purples, as well as stain finishes if the shutters or doors are wood. If the stone leans toward a brownish tint with hints of black, gray, orange or yellow, it may be desirable to draw on those undertones for shutter and door colors.
Lighter stone hues may benefit from bright or dark tones — such as deep reds or rich blues — that provide depth and visual pop. Darker stone may be enhanced by softer colors or earth tones, including those that occur naturally within the stone itself, like cream, maroon, rust or olive.
Stucco Exteriors
Stucco comes in differing hues, though it generally lacks the subtone variations of brick and stone. Stucco is most often a consistent off-white, tan, cream, peach or light-gray tone, but it can also be painted nearly any color.
As such, stucco obliges a wide range of shutter and door colors. That said, it’s best to avoid colors that are too close to the stucco; similar colors, such as white or off-white shutters and doors on cream or tan stucco, can get lost among the overall facade.
Stucco presents a great opportunity for contrasting colors that add dimension and personality. For example, shutters and doors in turquoise and other pastel tones can enrich an off-white or yellowish stucco; shutters and doors in dark shades of primary colors are often optimal for tan and gray stucco.
Wood Exteriors
As with brick and stone, wood exteriors are available in different types that feature distinctive tints and grains. But like stucco, wood is suited to shutters and doors in practically any color or stain finish.
While it’s advisable to choose a tone that’s not too similar to the wood, wood exteriors can look beautiful with light-on-light color combinations or contrasting hues. White shutters or doors, for instance, can lend elegance to both dark brown woods and flaxen-toned woods.
Shades of red, green, blue and gray are also popular on wood houses. If opting for wood shutters or doors with a stain finish, choose a stain that’s considerably lighter or darker than the wood used for the home exterior.
Home Exterior Colors
Homes with colored siding or painted exteriors also have a world of color options for shutters, garage doors and other exterior entry doors, although a color exterior can make selecting the right accent tones challenging. Too much of the same color family can be overpowering, but clashing hues are also a concern.
White and Gray Exteriors
Gray and white are among the most popular home exterior colors, and for good reason. Their clean appearance suits many home styles, and their neutrality allows color versatility on shutters, doors and trim.
Because white and gray also come in several shades, it’s recommended to avoid colors that are similar in tone. White homes pair especially well with earth tones, but both white and gray houses are flattered by deep blues, greens, purples and reds.
Blue Exteriors
When pairing shutter and door colors with blue homes, seek colors that contrast the particular blue’s shade or lightness. For instance, match light blues with darker tones like black, slate, chocolate brown or holly green.
On the other hand, a home whose blue is closer to navy may be enhanced by dark red or even lighter blue shades like topaz. Blues that are closer to gray look refined with deep earth tones of brown and green.
Green Exteriors
On the topic of earth tones and greens, green exteriors are also receptive to shutters and doors in earthy hues. Even shades of green.
Though if something of a monochromatic style is desired, it’s crucial to choose shutter or door colors that are several shades lighter or darker than the home’s exterior. The shutters and doors will fade into the background if the shades are too close.
Tan Exteriors
Among browns, tan and similar light tones are widely favored for home exteriors. Pale-brown hues can be matched with an array of both light and deep colors depending on the desired effect.
Shutters and doors of royal blue or crimson red provide eye-catching elegance. For a more subtle appearance and added dimension, earth tones and cool blues are perfect.
Yellow Exteriors
Yellow is another common home-exterior color family, particularly pale yellows. Black and white are classic matches for light yellow, and they can be alternated among shutters and doors.
For a burst of contrasting color, try a darker blue, green or red. Yellow exteriors also look stunning with deep grays and saturated colors, though it’s best to steer clear of other yellows.
About Timberlane: Custom Shutters and Garage Doors for Distinguished Homes
Timberlane has decades of experience crafting elite exterior shutters and garage doors for the finest homes.
Our knowledgeable design consultants love working with homeowners and trade professionals to create shutters and garage doors that unify a home’s design and provide long-lasting beauty and performance. All of our products are custom made to the unique specifications of each project.
To learn more about Timberlane’s shutters or garage doors, or to request a quote, connect with Timberlane today.
