Choosing the right color for your home’s exterior can have a major effect on the vibe (and value) of your house. It can also be a reflection of the geographical region or time period in which it was built. Unlike your interior walls, painting the outside of your home can be costly and the goal is to do it only once, so it’s important to select your colors wisely. Whether you’re highlighting your home’s architectural details or bringing some vibrance to your neighborhood, there are endless reasons to elevate your curb appeal. Be it the front facade or a private backyard oasis, here are 20 of the dreamiest home exteriors, from woodsy neutrals to vibrantly painted stucco, from all over the world to inspire your home’s makeover—one that’s bound to leave a lasting impression on you and your neighbors.
1
Bright Red in Gothenburg, Sweden
A 17th-century cottage with an all-red exterior sits perfectly amid its verdant setting in Gothenburg, Sweden.
2
Surfer Stripes in Malibu, California
3
Vibrant Blue in Marrakech, Morocco
The Jardin Majorelle in Marrakech, doused in an iconic royal blue, inspires us to go bold or go home.
4
Candy Stripes in Costa Nova, Portugal
The beaches on the west coast of Portugal are known for their striped homes—and the pattern has never looked so flattering.
5
Coral in Marrakech, Morocco
If you live somewhere warm, you can’t go wrong with a coral exterior, as seen at the Marrakech home of actress, model, and beauty entrepreneur Marisa Berenson.
6
Pale Gray in New Delhi, India
This grand mansion by ELLE DECOR A-List designer Jean-Louis Deniot has a white exterior with gray detailing on the window trim, balcony, and columns in the back of the house.
7
Azure in Cape Town, South Africa
Let artist Willie Bester’s house—an artwork in itself—inspire you to add a little pizzazz to the front of your home. The blue and yellow scheme truly makes a statement in comparison to other homes in the neighborhood outside Cape Town.
8
Primary Hues in Burano, Italy
Why choose one color when you can have several? In the colorful city of Burano, you can sail past these eye-catching homes.
9
Pale Pink in Sicily, Italy
Bill Brockschmidt (of ELLE DECOR A-List firm Brockschmidt & Coleman) and his partner Richard Dragisic’s vacation home in a restored palazzo on a narrow street features a pale pink exterior—a perfect contrast to the emerald-green front door.
10
Matte Black in Cali, Colombia
A house in the mountains of Colombia, owned by artist and photographer Anita Calero, has an all-black exterior with asphalt roofing. The contrast of the black against a backdrop of verdant green truly makes the house the star of the show.
11
Rainbow Hues in Washington, D.C.
A colorful spectrum of row houses in Washington, D.C., brightens up this block.
12
Dusty Pink and Blue in Tsarskoe Selo, Russia
Want to feel like royalty? Take notes from this pastel-hued pagoda that was once commissioned by Catherine the Great for her summer palace. The pink and blue shades are reminiscent of florals, which were inspired by the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew.
13
Blush in Rome, Italy
Even without that amazing view of the Colosseum, this terrace would be a stunner. The blush-colored exterior walls of this Roman penthouse designed by the firm Alvisi Kirimoto match the terra-cotta floor tiles—an effect only heightened by the warm Italian sun.
14
Sunshine Yellow in Palm Beach, Florida
When you’re on the water in Palm Beach, why not match your house to the weather? Fashion maven Liz Lange’s home has a stucco exterior painted in a sunny yellow shade with pink bougainvillea creeping up the walls.
15
Hot Pink in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
For this Vietnamese retreat designed by Bruno de Caumont, the pink outdoor areas hint at the hothouse hues inside. “Color reveals who you really are,” he insists.
16
Vibrant Blue in Marrakech, Morocco
Leave it to the French fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent to design the villa of our dreams, where guests can now visit and dine at the chic Café Majorelle. The residence—called Villa Oasis—is painted in a bright shade of blue that stands out from the eccentric array of shrubs, vines, and trees.
17
Glossy Black in the Hudson Valley, New York
For a statement exterior, designer Sheila Bridges doused her upstate New York house in Benjamin Moore’s Black Tar. “I have always loved and been inspired by the black barns and houses of Iceland and Scandinavia,” she says.
18
Terra-Cotta in the Hudson Valley, New York
An easy way to add color? Go au naturel with greenery. The warm, terra-cotta hue of the Hearst family estate, for instance, is made even more dreamy with its sea of vivid climbing greens.
19
Sandy Hues in Beverly Hills, California
The front of this 1932 Mediterranean-style home by ELLE DECOR A-List designer Michael S. Smith is in a sandy shade with warm undertones, which gives off a bright and welcoming vibe for visitors.
20
Classic Gray in Sag Harbor, New York
A neutral shade can make an impact too, according to designer Elizabeth Cooper, while standing the test of time. “Given the expense involved, I always advise going with classic, non-trendy colors for the exterior of a house,” she explains. “For this project, I used Wickham Gray and Stonington Gray, both classic, timeless medium-gray hues by Benjamin Moore.”
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