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One of the quickest and easiest ways to transform the look of your house is to simply give it a fresh coat of paint. As you can imagine, a freshly painted house makes a fantastic first impression. If you have decided to update the exterior of your home and want to give it some tropical style, you have come to the right place.
In this article, we provide helpful tips and advice along with 10 ideas about how to paint the exterior of your home in a tropical color palette. It doesn’t matter if you live in a bungalow, a townhouse, or even a tiny home. It doesn’t matter if your home’s style is ranch, craftsman, or any other style. We have tips on how to choose the color and what to do and not do when changing the look. Whether you just want to highlight your home’s architectural details or add more vibrance across the whole exterior, we’ve got just the inspiration you need!
How to Choose Paint Colors
Adding a fresh coat of paint can make a huge impact on the overall look and vibe of your home. That’s why the first thing you should do is carefully evaluate the condition of your home’s exterior to determine the amount of prep work that will be needed and then choose the right color scheme. After you have selected the perfect shades of color, you can fully freshen up your home’s appearance by tidying up your landscaping and adding a few finishing touches such as awesome porch furniture or a really nice piece of yard art.
While you may be more familiar with painting your home’s interior as that is something people tend to do a little more often in one or more rooms, painting the outside of your home can be different. Most people don’t really think about painting their home’s exterior until it is really obvious that it needs it. The exterior is subject to a lot more wear and tear due to the weather, insects, dirt, dust, and everything else that goes on outside. So it can be a more difficult and more expensive project to do.
After you have confirmed how much prep work will be needed such as replacing any damaged or rotted wood, choose your colors wisely. You’ll need to consider three colors – primary, trim, and accent. Ideally, you should try to match your colors with the architectural details and character of the house so that your end result doesn’t have it sticking out in a weird or obnoxious way. If you are not confident enough to make the choices yourself, talk with a manager at your paint store or an exterior design consultant, or seek out information online. Often times, your primary color should be more neutral while accents can be either white or finished in rich and vibrant hues. Since we are discussing tropical styles, consider deep greens, muted blues, grays, coppers, and creams.
- Choose colors that blend in with the surrounding natural environment
- Consider architectural details (eaves and soffits, doors, windows, and any decorative trim)
- Pick a primary color that is either lighter or darker than the roof color
- Look for additional inspiration online or consult with a professional painter or designer if necessary before beginning any work
Tropical Colors for Home Exterior: Key Factors to Consider
When choosing exterior paint colors, there are several things to keep in mind such as the architectural features of the house, the roof color, its identity in the community, its overall visual harmony, and things like the intensity of sunlight and temperature fluctuations.
Using certain colors in tropical hues (brilliant fuchsia, bright tangerine, radiant orange) on doors, shutters or trim may seem like a great idea at first. But based on the type of paint you choose and the intensity of sunlight during the year, those choices might not be such a great idea after all. Unless you have purchased a high-quality product that is designed to withstand extreme heat and sunlight, darker and more pigmented shades will fade quickly due to the sun’s UV rays. These types of colors also absorb more heat which can cause bubbling and peeling. This is why it is essential to choose premium paints that can withstand local weather conditions and maintain their durability.
Photo Credit: FancyHouse-Design
Your Front Door
Painting your front door in bold, exotic color can be the simplest and easiest way to add a pop of color to your home.
If you want the vibrant, refreshing look of exotic rainforests, try bright pinks (Peony by Benjamin Moore), deep greens (Deep emerald by Behr), or shades of orange (Copper Mountain by Sherwin Williams). These will pop against neutral colors and create visual interest that is fun and inviting. Just be sure that the resulting look will blend in reasonably with your surroundings and any neighboring homes.
Photo Credit: Jasmine Roth
If you’re after a more serene, coastal look, go for lighter shades (white, sandy beige, pale green, or soft blues) on walls with playful accent colors such as coral, yellow, or turquoise. The image below is a wonderful example of a beach style exterior. The walls and trim are painted in crisp white while the shutters are Bahaman sea blue by Benjamin Moore.
Photo Credit: OurHomes.ca
How to Paint the Exterior of Your Home: Do’s & Don’ts
Painting your house yourself can be challenging. To help cut down on the difficulty, here’s a list of dos and don’ts:
Do’s
- Thoroughly clean all surfaces prior to painting.
- Protect your landscaping by covering it.
- Use high quality paint and tools.
- Plan to paint as the weather allows. The ideal temperature for this type of project is 50 – 70F.
- Paint top to bottom: Doors and windows first so they are dry enough to close at the end of the day, then entry way ceilings, eaves and soffits, followed by walls.
Don’ts
- Paint surfaces that receive direct sunlight early in the day. If temps are too high, the paint will dry too fast and won’t have enough time to cure properly.
- Don’t paint over dirty, damaged, or rotted surfaces. Your paint will not adhere properly and dirt along with any stains can show through the paint. Repair or replace all damaged wood and trim before you begin.
- Don’t forget to apply a coat of primer first if you are not using a paint and primer blend. Primers not only help to prevent old colors from showing, they are also stain sealers so stains don’t bleed through to your new color.
- Don’t put unused paint in the trash. Ask your paint store about how to correctly dispose of unused paint if you don’t plan to keep it. Some stores will dispose of it for you.
Homeowners Associations: Are There Restrictions?
If you live in a community which is governed by a Homeowners Association (HOA), pay close attention. You need to know what restrictions there are before you begin painting because if you charge ahead without getting their approval first, they can legally force you to repaint your house in colors that are within an approved color palette for the neighborhood. There are usually limitations in terms of which paint colors you can use.
To be honest, most people have a love-hate relationship with their HOA. Their main purpose is to help maintain a harmonious and cohesive look for the community with houses complementing each other as much as possible. While some people truly do not care what their neighbors do when it comes to curb appeal, most people don’t want to live across the street or next door to a house that is painted in bright pink and purple or some other overly bold color combination which can be seen from space. In those instances, HOAs are a great thing to have because in neighborhoods where there is no HOA, pretty much anything is allowed and you are simply forced to live with what you see. But if you are more of a free spirit who happens to live in a HOA, carefully contemplate your desired results and get any required approvals before reaching for that paintbrush.
HOAs are required to have their guidelines published and accessible for homeowners. It is very important to understand and adhere to your HOA’s guidelines. So check your HOA's website for the approved list of colors. If there is none, call them so they can tell you how the color approval process works. You will most likely have to provide them with color samples for their review. Certain bold colors that are the epitome of tropical styles (luscious lime, hibiscus pink, or banana yellow) might not be approved by the HOA, so again, be sure you check the rules and regulations.
Photo Credit: istockphoto.com
Top 10 Ideas For Tropical Home Exteriors
With so many different colors available and the wide range of results they can have on architectural detailing, finding the right color palette can be overwhelming. This is why we have compiled a collection of 10 striking tropical and coastal color combinations for you to consider. They all have one thing in common – they evoke a sense of peacefulness, tranquility, and a connection with nature that you experience when you are at the beach. So with tropical jungles, lush rainforests, sparkling white sand, and the azure waters of distant islands in mind, let’s check them out.
1. Highlight Architectural Features
This is a lovely idea for using color to highlight prominent architectural details. The color blue is known for promoting feelings of serenity and relaxation which is why it’s a perfect choice for creating a coastal style exterior. Choose your favorite shade based on the architecture, environment, and of course, your personal taste. This welcoming coastal cottage projects the ambiance of being on an exotic island. Benjamin Moore’s Icy Moon Drops is the primary color which is paired perfectly with the darker shutters that were painted in Bahaman Sea Blue. The white porch railing and trim make these well-chosen blue shades come to life.
Photo Credit: This Old House
2. Rich Coastal Luxury
Getting creative with decorating is fun because you have the opportunity to really give some character to your home. However, try to pick colors that will not clash with the surroundings. You can still have a house that stands out without it being too obtrusive. To get the most out of your curb appeal, make sure your house and the lot on which is sits are in harmony. If you have a lot of trees and vegetation, using shades of green exterior paint won’t work because they will get lost in all of the greenery. On the other hand, if you have minimal landscaping, using a bright shade of a contrasting color may look too harsh. The goal is to have your exterior color choices blend in with your landscaping while allowing your house to still standout in a true tropical or coastal style. In this example, the green used on the shutters against the dark wood of the doors is all that is needed as this accent color exudes a hint of a faraway island and tropical life.
Photo Credit: Caribe Destin
3. Coral Pink Accents
To give your home a new and updated look, consider adding one bright accent color on certain exterior trim areas such as the window frames, shutters, columns, and moldings. If you are concerned that this might take things a little too far because of the amount of accent color used, you can easily balance this by using your accent color on certain trim elements while using a shade of white on the others. In this example, shutters and the door are painted in brilliant coral pink, transforming the entire aesthetics of the house. The eaves, windows, door frame, and entryway balance out the look in white. Coral pinks, salmon, and peach pair well with teal, slate blue, navy, and deep gray colors.
Photo Credit: Art Fasad
4. Nautical Vibes
Pale yellow lap siding combined with deeply saturated navy blue accents creates an impressive contrast and a ‘wow’ effect. With windows, stairs, and the porch painted in an off-white, the whole color combination echoes a classical nautical vibe. With decorative items that add to this vibe, such as pots and window boxes overflowing with flowers, lantern entryway lighting, and healthy landscaping, your house will surely be noticed in your neighborhood.
Photo Credit: Maria Killam
5. Modern Vibrancy
Although we are used to seeing modern, energy-efficient houses in neutral colors (grays, blacks, and whites), there is no reason not to add a little energy and life to them. This ultra-modern home features a combination of black, dark brown, and vibrant red-orange which creates a striking style that will not go unnoticed. Fiery and fun accent colors against neutrals, metal, and glass, add playfulness and warmth to this home’s exterior.
Photo Credit: Sigma Doors
6. Connect With Nature
Tropical design doesn’t have to be reserved only for your living room or backyard. You can showcase it with your home’s exterior too. The most important thing is to stay connected to your natural environment. Think about whether you want your home to blend in or stand out from the surroundings. Tropical style is characterized by large and lush foliage so before beginning your painting project, see if you want to plant more trees, bushes, and other landscaping first. To have your house connect with its surroundings, you need to blur the line between your yard and the house. By choosing neutrals or more muted colors for the house, you will create enough interest and vibrancy as the foliage of your landscaping will provide the necessary color.
Photo Credit: Construction Landscape
7. Plain And Simple White
White with all of its various shades is a gorgeous color that goes with everything because it is neutral. By using lighter and darker shades on different parts of the house, you can accomplish the look of a tranquil retreat similar to what you would find in the Caribbean or in Hawaii - a truly laid-back look and feel with an amazing allure.
Photo Credit: Zillow
8. Go Monochromatic
This condo building exudes a nonchalant tropical vibe in monochromatic color. The clapboard siding in olive green with shingles in a darker olive shade and the beige trim create a beautiful color combination that pairs very well with greenery of the landscaping. The curb appeal is unique and inviting.
Tropical Home Exteriors - Go Monochromatic
9. Craftsman Home
When choosing exterior paint colors, it is very important to take into consideration how they will look with the surrounding environment. If your home is located in a wooded area with lots of natural scenery, opt for natural tones like beiges, browns, and creams. In urban areas, it is easier to go with bold, vibrant colors that will stand out against backdrops which many times contain commercial and even industrial buildings. To highlight the heavy use of exterior trim on craftsman style homes such as this one, choose rich colors for walls and lighter ones for the trim. This helps to accentuate features such as thick columns and the porch itself.
Photo Credit: FancyHouse-Design
10. Cozy Cottage
This cottage duplex features exquisite architectural components accented in charming coastal hues. Symmetrical doors and windows, a beautifully detailed porch ceiling, intricate iron railings, and shutters all come together for this cozy Creole cottage painted in coastal colors. Here, the primary color is a light beige with turquoise used to accent the transoms and window moldings, the porch ceiling, and the eaves. Warm brown shutters and doors complete the look of this beautiful coastal style home.
Photo Credit: Witry Collective
Closing Thoughts
Thank you for exploring our guide to exterior tropical house colors! We hope we have been able to help with enhancing your home’s curb appeal. By incorporating vibrant hues, bold accents, and serene coastal tones, you can transform your home into an inviting paradise that reflects the beauty of the tropics. Whether you prefer to highlight architectural details, experiment with bold front door colors, or harmonize your home with its lush surroundings, there are endless ways to achieve a stunning tropical exterior. So take your time, plan carefully, and let your creativity shine!
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