# Help me decide what color to paint my house **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 19, 2012, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-decide-what-color-to-paint-my-house/625597 "2012-06-19T01:31:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2012, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-decide-what-color-to-paint-my-house/625597/81 "2012-09-30T22:10:08Z")
Here’s a computer rendering of [my house in red.](http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j127/StG61/Redhouse.jpg) Please note that IRL, the window trim would be painted white. I got samples of sage green and red and I’m waiting for them to dry before I take a pic. I was thinking soft yellow/cream trim with the sage, but my handyman pointed out that if I did that, the white gutters might look funny. StG ---
**Author:** ![missred](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/missred/32/14096_2.png) [@missred](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/missred)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2012, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-decide-what-color-to-paint-my-house/625597/82 "2012-09-30T23:25:52Z")
I like that. It gives the house a rustic-but-tidy look. ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2012, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-decide-what-color-to-paint-my-house/625597/83 "2012-10-01T00:32:59Z")
**missred** - All it needs is a [horse weathervane.](http://www.weathervanesofmaine.com/directory/horse-weathervane/directory/horse-weathervane/directory/horse-weathervane/directory/horse-weathervane/default.asp?mn=1.3.98.286&sfield=content.id&search=520) StG ---
**Author:** ![InternetLegend](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/internetlegend/32/13154_2.png) [@InternetLegend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InternetLegend)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2012, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-decide-what-color-to-paint-my-house/625597/84 "2012-10-01T02:11:27Z")
I think I agree with **t-bonham** about the red. If it were my house, I’d go for a gray that’s maybe a little more towards the blue side than the one you’ve got there. And although I always think I’m going to like yellow on a wall, I have yet to find the yellow I don’t kind of regret after a week or two. What color are you going to paint the horse? ---
**Author:** ![j666](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de0a6/32.png) [@j666](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j666)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2012, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-decide-what-color-to-paint-my-house/625597/85 "2012-10-01T03:22:55Z")
It’s a New England farm-house. It should be white with dark green shutters. Maybe the color of weathered gray shingles with a sharp white trim? No, the only other option is rainbow. The horse would be nice in a roan. The snake is fine. > [@Rocketeer](#): > > I don’t know about paint colors at all, but that porch really needs a nice railing, with turned posts; it would set off the front of the house so nicely! I like it as a farmer’s porch. ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2012, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-decide-what-color-to-paint-my-house/625597/86 "2012-10-01T11:46:47Z")
**j666** - It’s a Tennessee farmhouse. I don’t know how they differ from New England farmhouses. Horses and dogs will stay their same colors. Snakes can do what they want, as long as they pay for it themselves. StG ---
**Author:** ![Walkabout](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/46a35a/32.png) [@Walkabout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walkabout)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2012, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-decide-what-color-to-paint-my-house/625597/87 "2012-10-01T12:19:08Z")
I vote for the light creamy yellow with white trim. The red is too much, and the green will blend into the trees and grass. ---
**Author:** ![Heart\_of\_Dorkness](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/4bbf92/32.png) [@Heart\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heart_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2012, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-decide-what-color-to-paint-my-house/625597/88 "2012-10-01T16:05:24Z")
Go with the red. And indeed, never in my life have I seen a house that so desperately needs a weathervane. ---
**Author:** ![Brynda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e79b87/32.png) [@Brynda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brynda)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2012, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-decide-what-color-to-paint-my-house/625597/89 "2012-10-01T16:17:12Z")
Love, love, love the red! ---
**Author:** ![VOW](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/vow/32/3043_2.png) [@VOW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VOW)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2012, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-decide-what-color-to-paint-my-house/625597/90 "2012-10-01T17:14:55Z")
I’ve lived in too many tract neighborhoods where at least one house is painted in the barn red-white trim scheme. Occasionally, I’ve seen TWO “barn red” houses next door to each other. Bleecchhhh. My mom had our house painted pink for years. It wasn’t Pepto pink, though. She described it as “the pink the rocks in the desert turn when the sun sets.” Hubster and I are gonna have to paint our house soon. I’m leaning in the sage green direction, but I’ll need a perfect color for trim. ~VOW ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2012, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-decide-what-color-to-paint-my-house/625597/91 "2012-10-01T17:23:02Z")
The red would be trendy and cute in a suburban cul-de-sac. In a rural area, it just looks like you’re living in a barn. There’s probably a barn next door. Please don’t. ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2012, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-decide-what-color-to-paint-my-house/625597/92 "2012-10-03T23:18:41Z")
Alright. I’m back again. [Here are the two latest samples actually on my house - the sage green and dark red](http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j127/StG61/PaintSample-Red-Sage.jpg). I’m very seriously considering the red. The more I look at it, the more I like it, unlike the other colors. I’m not worried about looking suburban chic - I’m in the country, surrounded by cattle and goats and horses. I’m not worried about looking like a barn, my house isn’t barn-like. The sage is running a pretty close second, but I don’t think it’ll look good with white trim. I’m sure people are tired of looking at my house by now. I really hope I can soon post pics of it looking all spin and span. With a weather vane. StG ---
**Author:** ![Brynda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e79b87/32.png) [@Brynda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brynda)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2012, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-decide-what-color-to-paint-my-house/625597/93 "2012-10-04T00:04:18Z")
Go with the red. People are too damn timid with color. Does the color make you happy? If so, go for it. ---
**Author:** ![missred](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/missred/32/14096_2.png) [@missred](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/missred)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2012, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-decide-what-color-to-paint-my-house/625597/94 "2012-10-04T01:26:48Z")
Red. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2012, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-decide-what-color-to-paint-my-house/625597/95 "2012-10-04T02:29:57Z")
> [@StGermain](#): > > Alright. I’m back again. [Here are the two latest samples actually on my house - the sage green and dark red](http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j127/StG61/PaintSample-Red-Sage.jpg). I’m very seriously considering the red. The more I look at it, the more I like it, unlike the other colors. I’m not worried about looking suburban chic - I’m in the country, surrounded by cattle and goats and horses. I’m not worried about looking like a barn, my house isn’t barn-like. The sage is running a pretty close second, but I don’t think it’ll look good with white trim. > > I’m sure people are tired of looking at my house by now. I really hope I can soon post pics of it looking all spin and span. With a weather vane. > > StG Of those two I actually like the red better. It looks more tomato-y than barn red. The sage is a little too grey and looks run-down. ---
**Author:** ![a35362](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@a35362](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/a35362)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2012, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-decide-what-color-to-paint-my-house/625597/96 "2012-10-05T02:13:36Z")
THAT’s sage green? It looks like taupe to me. I’d say go with white and white or a very pale blue with white trim, but I’m vanilla that way. You seem to be leaning toward the red, so go for it. P.S.: I’ve seen the rainbow house on the now-retired Lovely Listing website. I love it too. Someone put a lot of thought into that. People would drive out of their way to go look at “the rainbow house.” ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2012, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-decide-what-color-to-paint-my-house/625597/97 "2012-10-05T02:40:21Z")
When I decided to paint my all-white house, I went with a beautiful grey-blue with white trim. I got so many compliments on it that I know I made the right choice. Here’s a shot of it not quite done but showing the color and the before pic. [http://www.juliecarter.net/blog/2009/11/blue-house-smiling-at-me/](http://www.juliecarter.net/blog/2009/11/blue-house-smiling-at-me/) ---
**Author:** ![chela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chela/32/21582_2.png) [@chela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chela)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2012, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-decide-what-color-to-paint-my-house/625597/98 "2012-10-05T15:50:52Z")
> [@t-bonham@scc.net](#): > > Already did, back in post #2. > > Red is for barns. > Houses should be white, with green trim. I suppose if you want to be really radical, you could reverse that to a green house with white trim. But red is for barns. Period. Sez who? Anne of Green Gables? the Davidians, the mormons,.. who? Red is bold, I like it… ---
**Author:** ![Vita\_Beata](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/a9a28c/32.png) [@Vita\_Beata](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vita_Beata)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2012, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-decide-what-color-to-paint-my-house/625597/99 "2012-10-05T16:04:04Z")
St. Germain, I love the color of that roof. How about a deep teal (green-blue) with caramel color trim. ---
**Author:** ![gwendee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/35a633/32.png) [@gwendee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gwendee)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2012, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-decide-what-color-to-paint-my-house/625597/100 "2012-10-05T17:10:52Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > I like the idea of gray with white trim, especially for an older house like yours. It’s very smart-looking, and more interesting than plain white. Just don’t use a very dark gray. I’m advocating [this soft blue/green grey](http://st.houzz.com/fimages/71525_1000-w394-h394-b0-p0--eclectic-exterior.jpg), not necessarily the purple door, unless that’s your thing. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-decide-what-color-to-paint-my-house/625597.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-decide-what-color-to-paint-my-house/625597.md?page=6)