Expert-Backed Exterior Paint Colors For Stone Houses

Selecting the perfect exterior paint colors to complement the natural stone elements of your home can feel like an intimidating task. With so many factors to juggle--like the hue and texture of your home's stone, the style of the architecture, and outdoor lighting--it's easy to feel overwhelmed with choices. That's why we asked paint and design experts to share their top tips for choosing exterior paint colors that enhance, rather than compete with, the beautiful stone materials used on your home's exterior.

With this expert-backed advice, you'll feel confident picking exterior paint colors that highlight your home's stone details and give your property instant curb appeal.

Research Popular Exterior Paint Colors for Stone Houses

When starting your exterior paint selection journey for a stone home, it helps to look at real-world examples to see which colors and color combinations homeowners and design professionals favor. Here are some of the best ways to research the most attractive and effective exterior paint colors for homes with stone accents.

Look at Photos for Inspiration

One of the easiest ways to gather ideas is to look at photos of charming stone homes and take note of the exterior paint colors. Study houzz.com, home design websites, or local home tours to see stones houses decked out in their finest paint hues. Pay attention to colors that complement gray stones versus warm, red-hued stones. Also note which shades seem to fade into the background to let the stone shine, versus bolder hues that pop against the stone backdrop. This visual research gives you a jumping off point to select exterior paint colors that work beautifully on stone.

Consult Design Experts

Interior designers, exterior painters, architects, and other design professionals are treasure troves of knowledge when it comes to selecting exterior paint colors for stone homes. They have created color schemes for dozens of stone houses over their careers, and understand which hues enhance and flatter different types of stone. Set up consultations with a few designers and pick their creative brains for stone and paint pairings that create stunning curb appeal. They may even have go-to paint color combinations in their back pocket that they know complement local stone types and styles.

Visit Paint Stores

The employees at paint supply stores and major paint brands spend their days surrounded by and studying paint colors, so they are perfectly primed to offer exterior color advice for stone homes. Bring in samples of your home's stone material and siding, then ask for recommended paint colors that would coordinate well. With gigantic paint decks at their fingertips and expansive knowledge, paint store employees can help assemble a palette of exterior paint colors to beautifully showcase your stonework.

Key Factors to Consider

The above research tactics provide a robust starting point for selecting exterior paint hues for a home with stone elements. But the final colors you choose also depend on factors unique to your actual house. Keep these in the back of your mind as you evaluate and test potential paint colors for your stone house.

Stone Type and Color

The specific type of stone used on your exterior, along with its underlying color and finish, significantly impacts the paint colors that complement it best. For example, warm-toned travertine or sandstone work well with beige and terra cotta paint shades, while cool-toned gray slate pairs elegantly with light blues or sage greens. Look closely at the dominant undertones in your home's stone to find compatible exterior paint hues that enhance those base colors.

House Style and Age

A modern farmhouse calls for a different aesthetic than a historic Victorian when it comes to exterior paint colors. Take your home's architectural style and age into consideration when dreaming up paint colors. For century-old homes with stone foundations and facades, select period-appropriate palettes. And if stone is paired with sleek, contemporary features, feel free to get creative with bold, modern color combinations to highlight those elements.

Outdoor Lighting

The angle of sunlight hitting your stone exterior dramatically impacts how paint colors appear over the course of the day and year. For the most accurate sense of color, view paint swatches on your home at different times of day during varying seasons. Colors that pop in the morning sun may appear muted by the afternoon light. And shades that shine in summer may seem dreary come winter. Pay attention to how lighting affects prospective paint colors.

Personal Preference

While expert input provides guidance, at the end of the day your personal preferences should drive the paint selection for your own home. Incorporate favorite hues that bring you joy. Just be strategic in how you apply them: bolder colors often look best on accent features like doors and shutters rather than overtaking the entire exterior. The goal is exterior paint colors you love seeing every time you come home.

Use a Color Wheel for Pairing Paint with Stone

A color wheel provides a helpful visualization tool for seeing how different paint colors complement each other and your home's existing stone elements. The structured color organization on a wheel makes assembling harmonious exterior color palettes much easier. Here are some tips for effectively using a color wheel when selecting exterior paint colors to use with stone siding or accents:

Select Within Same Color Family

Choosing exterior paint colors that are adjacent on the color wheel provides an inherent cohesiveness to your home's exterior color scheme. For example, you might choose a warm, subdued orange as your primary exterior paint color, and pair it with hues from the yellow and red families on either side of orange on the wheel. Keeping within one color family creates a coordinated look.

Include Range of Tones

Don't use just one hue from a color family for your exterior palette. Pick two to four coordinated hues that complement each other. For example, select a dark, medium and light green to use throughout your exterior paint job. Having lights, darks and shades of a color gives dimension and depth to your home's facade.

Try Complementary Colors

Colors located opposite each other on the color wheel provide striking visual contrast. Use a complementary color pairing strategically on accent features like your front door or window shutters to make them pop against your main exterior paint color and stonework. For example, a cool blue-green exterior pairs wonderfully with maroon shutters or front doors for an eye-catching combo.

Best Paint Colors for Stone Houses

Now that you know how to use a color wheel and what factors to consider, here are some specific exterior paint colors that design experts recommend pairing with stone facades and accents to create a beautifully coordinated exterior.

Warm Neutral Tones

For homes with stone features that have warm undertones, like sandstone, travertine and granite, look to neutral exterior paint colors with warm, golden undertones to complement the stonework. Think beiges, light browns, tans, peach and other muted earth tones. These colors enhance the stone's natural beauty without competing with it. Soft warm neutrals also soften the hard edges of stone for a welcoming exterior aesthetic.

Cool Gray Palettes

Bluish grays and other cool-toned neutrals with hints of green pair elegantly with many types of gray and blue-hued natural stone, like limestone, bluestone, slate, and basalt. Whether you opt for a light silvery gray or deeper charcoal, gray paint has a modern yet natural look alongside these stones, bringing out their inherent colors and textures.

Earthy Color Schemes

For homes with stone facades that give off an earthy, organic vibe, such as rubble stone masonry, select paint colors that reflect that natural aesthetic. Layer shades of green, brown, and terra cotta to emulate the tones found in nature and stone. Not only do these colors beautifully coordinate with the stone itself, they also help your home feel connected to the surrounding natural landscape.

A bright white exterior pops against the muted, darker tones of many types of residential stone. White paint accents make architectural details stand out and add visual interest to stone facades. Use white strategically as a trim, accent wall or front door color to provide lovely contrast against the natural backdrop of stone siding and walls.

Choosing exterior paint colors for your one-of-a-kind stone house requires a thoughtful approach. Arm yourself with inspiration from photos of charming stone homes, expert guidance from paint and design professionals, and a methodical strategy using a color wheel. Test potential paint colors on your home's facade at different times of day. Most importantly, pick shades you'll love seeing when you pull into your driveway. With the right exterior paint colors, your home's stone details will wow and you'll enjoy instant curb appeal.