Choosing a Yellow for Your House Color
March 25, 2010 § 6 Comments
Yellow can be a tough color, ranging from almost orange to acidic green. This one, Traditional Yellow (170) by Benjamin Moore, gives the house a cheerful, welcoming look. It’s terrific with crisp white trim, a dark charcoal/black roof, wrought iron metal for lights, and a striking red door. The yellow has just enough orange in it to be warm without turning peach.
Yellows that have green undertones tend to look cold on traditional homes. What we commonly refer to as lemon yellow has a touch of green in it, enough to make you pucker when you see a big house that color. Having said that, if you love the green side of yellow, consider pairing it with dark eggplant purple. The combination is a bit edgey and modern but can work, again with a black roof and white trim.
Your Home & Color Coach 
I hope you can help us soon. We are trying to decide on the outside vinyl window color for our house. Our house is predominately a light orange brick color with a charcoal gray metal roof, and light gray trim. It is very long, flat, orange, and needs something!!
My husband likes the charcoal color of the original thin aluminum windows, but it seems so dark, and doesn’t help with the curb appeal.. I wanted something that would “pop,” but not as much as white, especially after reading your post about white vinyl! We were thinking of an off white, but it seems too close to white. The light gray to match the trim seems like a good idea, but I don’t think the windows would “pop” in that scenario either. We have thought about adding shutters, which might help, but we still need to decide on the vinyl color!!
Please help.
Trish in Texas
Hi Trish,
Depending on the line of vinyl windows you are interested in, there are a few choices. (Some lines have lots of colors — let me know if you’re looking at the Andersen Architectural line). But it sounds like the typical Sandtone, Terratone, and Forest Green are simply not going to add much spice to your house. I would have no problem going with white windows in your case. Then when you get around to it, you might paint the trim white too. Try China White (there’s a little bit of gray in it). (Ben Moore)
Then why not jazz up both the front door and the shutters. Take a look at the burgundy colors in the historic line, something like Townsend Harbor Brown (HC-64) or New London Burgundy (HC-61). With your shutters and front door in one of those luscious colors, you’ve got quite a bit of pop.
See what you think. And thank you!
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Can you please tell me the color red you used for the front door? I like the combination with the traditional yellow.
I don’t have my notes with me but try Moroccan Red (Ben Moore). It is a spectacular red!!
What is the paint colour and paint manufacturer of the red door?
Moroccan Red. Ben Moore. 👍