Best Grey Exterior Paint Colours for Your Home: Warm & Cool Shades
Exploring Greys for Your Exterior: A Comprehensive Guide
The trend of grey exteriors has been evolving, with a noticeable shift towards warmer beige tones. However, grey remains a versatile and timeless choice for exterior paint, working beautifully with various materials and house styles. Don’t be discouraged by shifting trends—if grey is still the right choice for your home, it can bring depth, sophistication, and lasting appeal to your exterior.
To determine if grey is the ideal colour for your home, I recommend starting with my blog on “How to Choose Exterior Colours.” Once you’ve confirmed that grey is a suitable option for your project, you can explore the different types of greys and how they can elevate your home’s exterior.
Where to Start: Warm vs. Cool Greys
Dulux Flooded Gum (warm) Dulux Grey Pail (cool)
The first step is to decide whether you want to work with a warm or cool grey. Understanding the undertones of grey will help you choose the right shade to complement your home’s style and environment.
Warm Greys: Warm greys often have undertones that range from brown, green, pink, or even red. These tones tend to have a ‘dirtier’ appearance, giving them a rich, earthy feel. Warm greys are perfect for homes with red brick, warm-toned timber, or creamy coloured trims. They pair beautifully with accent colours like taupe, brown, red, and ivory. These tones also work well with charcoal, creating a striking contrast while maintaining a comfortable and inviting atmosphere. If your home is located in an area with cooler or more muted natural light, a warm grey can help bring warmth and depth to your exterior.
Cool Greys: Cool greys feature blue, purple, or green undertones, making them crisp and fresh, especially in environments with abundant natural light. They shine in coastal areas or places with bright, sunny conditions, creating a vibrant and airy feel. Cool greys pair wonderfully with crisp whites for a clean, modern contrast, and they also look stunning when accented with bold colours like blue or yellow (think of a statement front door) or deep black details. However, be cautious—cool greys can appear more blue or green than anticipated, particularly in low-light environments. Without enough contrasting elements, cool greys can sometimes feel too clinical or stark.
Deciding on the Shade: Light vs. Dark Grey
Once you’ve chosen whether to go with a warm or cool grey, you’ll need to decide on the shade. Do you prefer a light, soft grey or a darker, moodier tone? The shade you select will largely depend on your overall design, other exterior colours, and the level of contrast you desire.
Keep in mind that exterior colours tend to appear approximately 30% lighter than they do in smaller samples, so it’s crucial to test your chosen shade in larger swatches before finalising your decision. This will give you a better sense of how the colour will look when applied to your home’s exterior on a grander scale.
My Recommended Warm Greys (Dulux)
Silkwort
Dieskau
Timeless Grey
Whakarewarewa Half
Silver Tea Set
Mason Grey
Flooded Gum
Winter Fog
Feather Soft
My Recommended Cool Greys (Dulux)
Manorburn Double
Grey Pail
Coastal Drift
Celtic Sky
Terrace White
Tranquil Retreat
If you're just starting your colour selection process, I recommend ordering A4 swatches from the Dulux website to see how these colours look on a larger scale. It’s a great way to begin visualising how each shade will fit within your design vision.
Grey exteriors will always remain a versatile and timeless option, no matter how trends shift. Whether you choose a warm or cool grey, it’s essential to understand the undertones, lighting, and complementary colours that will work best for your home. Take your time selecting the perfect shade and always test your colours before making a final decision. With the right grey, your home’s exterior will be stylish, welcoming, and enduring for years to come.
