Exterior House Paint Ideas: Gray & Charcoal

Thinking about painting the outside of your house grey? In this guide we share modern exterior house paint ideas in gray and charcoal, plus tips for using grey house paint effectively.

Good paint color can make an average house look great or make a beautiful house look even better. Thus, choosing the right paint color is no small decision and modern gray exteriors are a timeless choice.

The exterior of your home could be primed and painted a dull grey within a week, but if you’re looking to save money while making a stylistic change that doesn’t turn out to be a flop, then it is worth taking the time to do your research first.

As a formally trained fine artist, today I’m going to share some quick tips and recommendations for choosing and using a grey or charcoal color scheme for your house, plus practical exterior house paint gray ideas you can use.

Modern gray exterior house paint ideas: Paint your trims white for contrast and highlight. Solid gray panels could look sterile by themselves, but here natural stone alongside gray paneling gives nice balance to the whole.

Things to Consider With Exterior Gray House Paint

Gray is not a color you see very often in houses. It can be considered a neutral color, and it goes well with many different shades of other colors. If you are looking at gray house designs, here are some things to keep in mind:

Gray is timeless: Gray is a timeless color, and it’s been around since the beginning of time. Charcoal was even used in cave art, showing how far back this classic color goes. Gray can be used for any home style, whether contemporary or traditional, so don’t worry about getting something that won’t go with your home’s style.

Gray goes with everything: Gray can be paired with just about any other color because it’s such a neutral color. You can pair it with reds, blues, and yellows without worrying about clashing colors or creating an overly busy look for your home’s exterior. This makes gray an excellent choice if you’re looking for an alternative to white or black homes that can sometimes feel too stark on their own.

Gray doesn’t show dirt easily: Gray tends not to show dirt as quickly as other colors, so it’ll look nice longer before needing another coat of paint (or two!).

Designing an Exterior House Paint Grey Scheme

A gray exterior house paint scheme is one of the easiest ways to add a modern look to your home. Gray exterior paint color can add sophistication and elegance to any home. Choosing the right gray house paint can be tricky, however. Gray is a neutral color that can work well in interior design and exterior design. It is also a popular color for exterior house paint schemes.

When choosing an exterior color, there are many factors to consider, including the style and age of your home and its location and climate. But if you follow these basic steps, you’ll be able to choose the perfect gray paint scheme for your home.

DO‘s of using exterior house paint grey (Good Ideas):

• Grey can complement all kinds of landscaping styles; a light or medium-toned neutral gray will work well in most situations.
• Choose a color that reflects your style and tastes, to use alongside the grey.
• Use white trim for simplicity.
• Consider using multiple shades of gray on different house areas – such as trim or shutters – to create interest and depth in your design scheme.
• Combine a grey color scheme with natural features, such as stone, timber or plants. Otherwise the grey can look sterile and overly-utilitarian just by itself.
• Pay attention to the shade of grey you choose. Some greys are warm, others are cool. When choosing a color to pair with, make sure the shade of grey (warm or cool) you choose works with the color. This article from Masterclass gives a good explanation of how to identify whether a color is warm or cool, and how to pair warm and cool colors of house paint effectively.
• If you have difficulty choosing a shade of grey, then paint a discreet section of wall in grey, to test it out for a few days in different light. Quite quickly you should be able to tell whether it feels right or not.
• Try a color-testing app to virtually test out different color schemes before you paint, like one of the paint color apps in our article here.

DON’Ts of using exterior house paint gray (Bad Ideas):

Avoid painting too much of your house in one hue; this will make it look monotonous and boring! Instead, use several different shades on different parts of your home (such as shutters) to add interest and visual appeal to your design scheme without having everything look too uniform or drab.

Modern Exterior House Paint Ideas: Gray

Gray is a neutral color that can be used to create a sleek, modern look. If you’re thinking about painting your house exterior gray, here are some ideas:

1. Try painting the trim white or another bright color such as yellow or blue-green. This will help make the house look more extensive and more inviting.
2. Use a darker shade of gray for the shutters or window frames, so they stand out against the lighter wall color.
3. Light gray paint is perfect for those looking to add some flair to their home without being overbearing.
4. A green lawn or leafy plants will add contrast to the grey, as well as give the home a colorful feel. Try using dark green grass for your lawn instead of traditional turf grass like Bermuda or Kentucky Bluegrass.
5. Use white trim around the windows, doors, and garage door. This will help give the front of your home more definition than just all gray.

TAKE HOME MESSAGE: Don’t paint everything grey. Instead, combine it with another color or natural features like plants or timber.

Tips for Using Grey Exterior House Paint

You’re in good company if you’re considering using grey exterior house paint. In recent years, gray has become one of the most popular colors for exterior home painting. Here are tips for using grey exterior house paint:

Use a Grey-Tinted Primer

If you’re using a dark or charcoal shade of paint, you must use a tinted primer to ensure that the color sticks to your walls. This will also help prevent unsightly brush marks and splotches from showing through your final coat of paint. If you don’t have access to a tinted primer, use a light-colored base coat instead of white before applying your darker color. Ask your local hardware store if they can add some grey tint to the tin of primer you are looking to buy; many stores are happy to help if you just ask them.

Use the Right Tools for the Job

When painting with dark shades like charcoal or grey, you must use high-quality brushes and rollers to ensure smooth coverage and avoid brush marks or splotches in your finish coat. Brushes with synthetic bristles will hold more paint than natural bristles, so they’re ideal for large surfaces such as walls and ceilings where you need to cover large areas quickly without thinning out your color too much (which can cause streaks). Mini rollers are great for covering small areas like window frames, molding trim work, and door frames without worrying about drips or brush marks marring your finish coat.

Use an Exterior Grade Paint

When painting your home’s exterior, it is essential to use exterior grade paint formulated specifically for outdoor use. These paints typically have better adhesion, durability, and weather resistance than standard interior paints, which can be exposed to harsh UV rays and moisture in the air during the summer months.

Paint One Section at a Time

It is always best to paint one section at a time so that you don’t have any overlapping areas or drips between areas, which can lead to uneven coverage and an unattractive finish on your home’s exterior walls or trim work.

Wrapping Up

Color is an important aspect that should be considered when painting your house or any structure. You can easily paint your house, but you need to take the time and find the perfect color scheme. Considering a few different gray exterior house paint ideas and taking time to create an effective color scheme is worth it in the long run, to ensure the house creates the look and feel you really want.