Choosing An Exterior Paint Combo For A Bungalow

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Jun. 16

Friends of mine in Calgary have asked for help in choosing a paint colour for the exterior trim and front door of their oh-so-cute little bungalow. Two years ago they refreshed the interior on a small budget - with big impact (check out the before and after).

After getting married last year and now expecting a baby any day, they can't take on a project that's too big, but they still want to improve curb appeal - primarily with paint.

Painting a home's exterior can hugely amplify curb appeal, but it's difficult to pick exterior paint colours, as they often look much lighter outdoors than they would inside. You really need to take your time and examine patches in different light on different days.

Here are some colour options I'm recommending for my friends, who want to keep the current off-white stucco but are willing to change up trim and door colours. These options would, I believe, be good choices for any bungalow style home with a base colour of white or off-white.

(Click on photos for sources)

Option 1:

Choose a pewter gray for the trim like CIL Fine Silver, and make the door a more vibrant red, such as CIL Old Glory. I really like this crisp cottage feel - it's my fave... I think...so many good combos below...

Best paint colours for bungalows — Pretty Old Houses

Option 2:

Try a darker gray for the trim and a deeper charcoal of the same family for the door. SW Rare Gray and SW Thunderous would work well in this example.

Choosing An Exterior Paint Combo For A Bungalow — Fly Through Our Window

Option 3:

Similar to above, but with white trim and dark slate doors and shutters. SW Iron Ore would match up well here.

what Colour should I paint a bungalow — via Maria Killam

Option 4:

A variation on the white/gray theme would be to keep the trim white, but add light gray window boxes below the windows, and paint the door brown for a wood look. Try SW Techno Gray and SW Best Bronze

Option 5:

I like the idea of a soft green trim, and would err on the side of a mossy gray-green. This example with a wooden door is wonderful, but a red or yellow door would work well here too. A nice mossy gray to try would be SW Svelte Sage.

Another variation of this would be to also paint the door in the same mossy green, only a couple of shades deeper.

Colourful paint combinations for your home — Terracotta Design Build

Option 6:

For a bolder look, pairing bright navy trim with a yellow door is a really cute option. Try SW Blueblood with SW Confident Yellow.

Cozy paint ideas for bungalows — House & Garden

Option 7:

Now, if they wanted to get crazy and take on a little more work, they could keep the trim white and paint the stucco for a whole new colour palette. Here are a few options that would look nice.