Is your home’s exterior in need of a refresh? Use this list of my no-fail favorite Sherwin Williams exterior paint colors to get drool-worthy, and timeless curb-appeal that will stop your neighbors in their tracks on their morning walks!
Your exterior paint color is one of the first things that people notice when they look at your house. THEN they’ll notice that ugly bush in the yard, the color of your front door, or your front porch decorations.
But my point is that the color you choose to paint your home’s exterior is an important choice and makes a big difference.
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Make Choosing Exterior Paint Colors Stress-Free
Even though it’s a big decision, that doesn’t mean that you need to stress out or lose sleep over it!
I want to help make the process of choosing paint colors as simple and painless as possible. I’ve been posting a series of paint posts where I review individual paint colors and give you crucial information on how they behave, their undertones, and great color pairing ideas.
And I even have a few special posts to help you pick colors for certain parts of your home, such as trims and ceilings.
Now I’m making the process of picking exterior house paint a breeze by narrowing down the sea of possibilities to the most versatile and most popular Sherwin Williams exterior paint colors.
Hang with me – I’ve got your back!
Do you want to be happy with your paint color picks, instead of living in a house of paint color regrets? Grab your free copy of “5 Mistakes People Make When Picking Paint Color” so you can avoid these all too common pitfalls! Click here , or on the picture below, and I’ll email your copy right now!
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FAQs
What Sherwin Williams paint is best for the exterior?
Interior paint must endure some wear and tear, but that’s nothing compared to the beating that exterior paint takes.
In order to be durable enough to take a lickin’ and keep tickin’ for several years, always use acrylic paint (like Sherwin Williams SuperPaint Exterior Acrylic Latex) on the outside of your home. It’s a durable paint designed to resist fading and weather-related damage.
Which SW exterior paint lasts the longest?
Honestly, it depends on several factors, such as the material you’re painting over, how many layers of paint you’re covering up, and the climate where you live.
To learn more about the different exterior formulas and find the one that fits your needs, check out what Sherwin Williams offers.
How long should Sherwin Williams exterior paint last?
Typically you can expect exterior paint from Sherwin Williams to last 5-7 years. However, that can vary depending on where you live. If you live in a moderate climate and don’t experience extreme weather very often, it might last 8-10 years before you need to repaint.
On the other hand, if you live in an area with extreme temperature variations or weather patterns, you might need to repaint after 3-4 years.
What is the most popular Sherwin Williams exterior paint color?
Alabaster (SW 7008) is the clear winner! This versatile and creamy off-white looks incredible on any type of siding and in any climate. It also looks great with bricks, stones, and stucco and is a popular choice for trim color.
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What paint finish should I use on the outside of my house?
It’s probably most common to use either flat or satin as a main body/siding paint sheen, satin or semi-gloss for the trim finish, and semi-gloss or high-gloss for a door finish.
That said, you can choose whatever finish you like, as long as you make sure to select exterior paint (don’t use interior paint outside).
We have a whole article that discusses the ins and outs of choosing paint sheen, if you want to “brush up” on your paint finish know-how.
Keep Your Neighborhood’s Color Scheme in Mind
Many neighborhoods (especially newer ones) have guidelines regarding the exterior house colors you can use. If you have an HOA, they may specify certain colors or provide a general guideline, such as only neutral colors allowed.
Always get approval from your HOA on your color choices to avoid future headaches (and possible fines!).
If you don’t live in a neighborhood with an HOA, you will have more options regarding the colors you can use.
Want the cliff notes for choosing the perfect color every time? Grab a FREE copy of my guide to help you avoid the paint color picking mistakes most people make!
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Thoroughly Test Exterior Paint Colors
Don’t even consider buying any exterior paint without fully vetting the color first. The BEST way to do that is with Samplize peel-and-stick paint swatches. They are the easiest, least messy, and most accurate method for seeing how paint colors truly behave under the influence of lighting and surroundings.
Do you prefer Benjamin Moore paints? Then check out these versatile and popular shades which are also excellent for exteriors:
- White Dove
- Cheating Heart
- Sea Pearl
- Coventry Gray
- Stonington Gray
- Classic Gray
- Kendall Charcoal
- Hale Navy
Now, let’s check out my top picks from Sherwin Williams!
Drool-Worthy Sherwin Williams Exterior Paint Colors
Use this list of 19 exterior paint colors from Sherwin Williams to narrow down your list. From light hues to dark shades, there’s something here for everyone!
1. Sherwin Williams Pure White
Classic! Another great option here that highlights that timeless combo of black and white! The House of Hood Blog used Pure White from Sherwin Williams (SW 7005) for a balanced look to avoid undertones that may ruin the chic black and white look.
PinPure White is a bright (LRV 84) exterior paint color, but it’s dark enough to avoid the need to wear sunglasses when you see it!
3. SW Snowbound
Snowbound (SW 7004) is a beautiful, warm creamy white that won’t look yellow.
PinIt looks like it was made to go with dark gray or black, like this image from @thehouse.thesmiths.built. I wouldn’t recommend pairing it with warm browns since it has a subtle pink undertone.
4. SW Alabaster
Sherwin Williams Alabaster (SW 7008) is a bright, creamy off-white (LRV 82). It won’t look yellow, but it is a warm white and will pair exceptionally well with wood tones and earthy colors.
PinIsn’t it perfect on this front porch from Downtown Acres? I can totally see myself enjoying a glass of iced tea on that swing!
5. SW Eider White
Eider White from Sherwin Williams (SW 7014) is darker with an LRV of 73, making it a great choice when you want a soft white that isn’t too bright or too creamy.
PinThis house exterior from Paper Moon Painting is stunning. I love how this shade looks with the stucco texture!
6. Oyster White
White or light greige? Potato…potahto! Oyster White (SW 7637) is part of the off-white family, but it’s just dark enough with a touch of creaminess that it could pass as light greige.
PinUtilize its versatility on modern farmhouse-style homes or traditional-style homes, and pair it with dark greiges to really let it shine like this home from Go Willow Homes.
7. Accessible Beige
Ah, one of my favorite Sherwin Williams exterior paint colors of all time. Isn’t Accessible Beige (SW 7036) incredible?
PinThis image from Curls and Cashmere shows just how expertly this shade shines while also allowing other features (like those gorgeous flower beds) to be the star of the show.
8. Natural Choice
Wyrick Residential Design created a stunning design here with Natural Choice (SW 7011).
PinWith an LRV of 73, it’s still a light color, but its strong beige undertones make it a natural choice (ha!) to pair with warm wood tones or creamy stone accents.
9. Dorian Gray from Sherwin Williams
Dorian Gray (SW 7017) has an LRV of 39, which you would never realize in this image from @mcneillburbank!
PinI love this endlessly versatile and sophisticated warm greige – it was a sure thing for a spot in my list of favorite Sherwin Williams exterior paint colors.
Oh, and guess what the off-white trim and siding color is on this home? SW Eider White, which also made our list (it’s above at #5).
10. Sherwin Williams Dovetail
If you live in a hot or very sunny climate, Dovetail (SW 7018) may be the ideal exterior paint color for you.
PinIts LRV of 26 lets you know it’s got plenty of depth to handle even the brightest of days like a champ. Addison’s Wonderland shows us just how striking and lovely it is.
11. Gauntlet Gray
This home from A Simpler Design puts Gauntlet Gray (SW 7019) on display as an exterior paint color from Sherwin Williams. And the clean white used for the trim here? It’s again, our friend SW Eider White. A perfect mix, I’d say!
PinPair this rich greige (LRV 17) with a warm off-white and dark accents for a timeless look that will never go out of style.
12. Mindful Gray
Want to make your home look chic and inviting, like this example from Tara Nelson Designs? Check out Mindful Gray (SW 7016)!
PinWith an LRV of 48, it’s a mid-tone shade that plays well with a large variety of hues, so you can use it worry-free for an effortlessly sophisticated color scheme.
And speaking of exterior paint color schemes, Tara has a beautiful one going here. Besides the body color in Mindful Gray (flat sheen), she uses what I’d say is one of the best white paint colors…Benjamin Moore Simply White as her trim (also in flat finish), and SW Tricorn Black (in semi-gloss) for the front door. It’s approachable, but sophisticated and a palette that will never go out of style!
13. Urbane Bronze
This rich, earthy, warm greige was Sherwin Williams 2021 Color of the Year, so this popular shade earned its place as one of my favorite exterior paint colors.
PinWith an LRV of 8, it SW Urbane Bronze offers so much depth and complexity that you can pair it with other shades (like Sherwin Williams Shoji White or Extra White) or let it be the star on its own like @gritcitypainters did.
14. SW Retreat
Sage green is the new neutral! Traditional, contemporary, and coastal homes can all take a page out of @inspiredstylehome’s book by using Retreat (SW 6207) as an exterior paint color.
PinWith an LRV of 21, this shade offers rich depth with just a pop of subtle color.
The trim here has already been mentioned in our best paint colors list…it’s none other than SW Alabaster (#4 above).
15. SW Pewter Green
Just one glance at this home from Average Inspired, and you can probably see why Pewter Green (SW 6208) is one of my favorite Sherwin Williams exterior paint colors.
PinIts earthy, rich nature lacks unpleasant yellow undertones, so you just get deep, neutral, muted green.
16. Sherwin Williams Naval
Rich, timeless sophistication awaits you with Naval (SW 6244). It’s dark (LRV 4), but this deep navy has a purple undertone that provides depth.
PinFor best results, pair it with a crisp white like @missminicole did for a color scheme you’ll love.
17. SW Black Fox
Go Willow Homes gives us a perfect example of why Black Fox (SW 7020) is one of my favorite Sherwin Williams exterior paint colors.
PinThis rich, bold shade has an LRV of 7, and indoors it often reads as soft black. But (surprise!) look at those brown undertones!
18. Iron Ore
When you want a soft, matte black, opt for SW Iron Ore (SW 7069). With an LRV of 6, it’s definitely deep but oh-so-gorgeous.
PinAlthough it can look amazing on traditional and modern farmhouse-style homes, as you can see from @minimal_nest, it’s a dream on contemporary and modern houses.
19. Sherwin Williams Tricorn Black
Are you looking for a reliable and surprise-free black? Check out Tricorn Black (SW 6458).
PinIts LRV of 2 makes it the darkest exterior paint color on this list, but as you can see from @mrsemily, it 100% nails the classic black-and-white color scheme.
Second String SW Exterior Paint Options
With thousands of colors in multiple collections, it’s downright difficult to narrow down the list of “best Sherwin Williams” exterior colors to under 20.
So here’s our short and sweet JV squad choices. If you didn’t find one on our varsity team that fit your fancy, check these beauties out, too:
More SW Paint Options for the Exterior of Your Home
- Sherwin Williams White Duck – SW 7010 is a soft, light off-white with greige undertones
- Light French Gray SW 0055 – so balanced, some call this the “perfect gray”
- Repose Gray SW 7015 – its brown and taupe undertones makes it leans warm, but just slightly
- SW Agreeable Gray 7029 – a warm greige that’s a popular color for both interiors and exteriors
- Evergreen Fog SW 9130 – a cool, medium-depth sage green
- Want to coordinate with your brick? Check out our 15 Top Paint Colors That Complement Red Brick
So, which exterior paint color from Sherwin Williams will you choose? If you’ve been considering updating your home’s exterior, stop the endless scroll of searching for colors and go with one on this list. You won’t be disappointed!
Seriously considering any of these shades? Remember, it’s always better to sample, than to be sorry!! It’s a good idea…no, absolutely necessary step….to s-a-m-p-l-e any color you’re really thinking about using in your exterior paint color schemes.
And the samples I’d highly recommend are these re-usable, re-positionable, mess-free peel and stick sheets that are large and easy to use. Try some! 👇
Want to remember this list of the best exterior paint colors later? Pin it! And if you use one of these paint shades, leave a comment on the pin. That helps others decide whether they’d like to try one of these color choices as well!
PinPssst…before you go, I sure would love to hang out with you again really soon! And before you’re on your way, make sure you grab your free copy of the 5 Biggest Mistakes People Make When Picking Paint, so you can avoid the heartache (and hole in your wallet) when your paint choices don’t quite work out! Click here, and I’ll send your free copy right now!
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