Take a photo tour of our colonial exterior paint colors, with some fun before and after photos. You won’t believe the difference it made to paint our cedar shingles and bricks in Valspar Du Jour and Woodlawn Colonial Gray!

Learn about these pretty, neutral exterior paint colors and why they worked for us. Who doesn’t love a before and after makeover?

Colonial home painted in Valspar DuJour and Woodlawn Colonial Gray
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Originally shared July 18, 2014, this post was updated with fresh content and details September 29, 2021.

As we start transforming our new home, I have an abundance of things that I am beyond excited to share from our last home. I saved a few gems for these not-so-Pinterest-pretty times!

One that I am particularly excited to share, is how we chose our traditional Colonial exterior paint colors and used it to give the house a completely different facade.

If you’re researching exterior paint palettes, don’t skip this charming White Brick House!

A colonial home exterior in dark shingles and brick, two white rocking chairs on front porch
Before paint | 2 years into updates & curb appeal

Colonial House Colors

I’ll preface this – I’m a huge fan of shake cedar shingle siding. Unfortunately, I received an estimate for $36,000 to reside the house. Uh, no. I quickly moved onto paint and am so happy we did.

I was conflicted with the brick. Normally, I would refrain from painting a brick exterior (unless whitewashed), however, brown brick just screams dated to me. Okay, let’s get started…

Colonial home painted in Valspar DuJour and Woodlawn Colonial Gray
paint looks much lighter in full sun | photo by paper crane photography

Choosing paint colors can be difficult… or maybe even agonizing! I tend to overthink them and worry until the job is complete. In fact, I ended up selecting a completely different color than I originally intended.

I just couldn’t part from traditional Colonial paint colors. Stark white wouldn’t work in the neighborhood where tan is the norm and gray isn’t a great fit because of the color of the roof.

These are all things to take into consideration when selecting your paint color! To see our current home’s exterior paint colors, check out Tudor Paint, and see the full before and after.

Colonial home painted in Valspar DuJour and Woodlawn Colonial Gray

Colonial Exterior Paint Tips

Here are a few more of my favorite tips for selecting exterior paint color:

  • Use the special daylight bulbs in the paint department of the store to see how it will look in direct daylight.
  • Talk to the paint store staff – they see everything and are extremely knowledgeable
  • Always test a few favorites – it can look much different on a shingle than a card. see how they change with sunrise and sunset.
  • Have something you love? An outdoor pillow or any other accessory can be color matched. From there, you can go up or down a shade.
  • If you find a color you love from a paint store, have a hardware store match it with a store name paint to get the look for less.
How to choose exterior paint colors you'll love & the perfect greige

Valspar DuJour and Woodlawn Colonial Gray

Through your help on Instagram and using the tips above, I selected Valspar Woodlawn Colonial Gray for the main exterior paint 6004-1B and Valspar Du Jour 7002-6 for the trim. I wanted a soft, creamy white to contrast and these worked beautifully together.

How to choose exterior paint colors you'll love

Woodlawn Colonial Gray

This is a soft, greige-toned gray with a slightly green undertone.

  • RGB: 187 182 171
  • HEX: #BBB6AB
  • LRV: 46.92%

If you’re looking for similar options, as it seems this one isn’t included in Valspar’s lineup anymore – check out Accessible Beige, Realist Beige, or Pale Oak.

picture perfect paint colors
photo credit: alea lovely

Valspar Du Jour

For the trim, posts, windows and doors, we chose a soft, creamy white to contrast from the gray of the body.

  • Undertone: warm white
  • LRV 86.044
  • RGB 241, 240, 236
  • HEX #f1f0ec
How to choose exterior paint colors you'll love
photo credit: alea lovely

Colonial Exterior Makeover details

A couple more details…the window planter boxes were easy to make and added so much charm!

A gray brick home with white windows and a white window box

and this garden entrance created a multipurpose space that feels defined and adds historic character.

tips & tricks for selecting the best exterior paint colors
Tips & tricks for choosing exterior paint colors

More Paint Projects and Colors You’ll Love

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21 Comments

  1. I would like your opinion please. I have a standard rancher, clay colored siding with white trim. I am looking for a great color for doors & shingles.

    Thank you!

  2. Hi! Stumbled across your blog and am so happy I did as my husband and I are moving into a new home and am in need of inspiration and tips! I absolutely love your home and style~ May I ask whether you had your house professionally painted or whether you and your husband did it on your own? Look forward to hearing from you!
    -Gina

    1. Thanks, Gina! We had it professionally painted. We had painted our previous home and decided it was more than worth paying a professional.