Deciding on Designs: Siding and Shutter Color Combinations

Are you trying to choose the best exterior and shutter colors for your home? Perhaps you are deciding between warm gray and olive green and keep second-guessing yourself. 

The right siding and shutter color combinations can profoundly impact how your home is perceived. 

Colors that work well together to create subtle and bold designs can help give your home’s exterior a cohesive appearance that enhances its style.

This article will discuss where to begin when updating your home’s exterior.

Table of Contents

  • Where To Begin When Updating Your Home’s Exterior
  • Siding and Shutter Color Combinations To Consider Based on the Style of Your Home
  • Factors To Consider When Narrowing Down Siding and Shutter Color Combinations 
  • Let Lifetime Remodeling Systems Help You Decide on the Right Combination of Siding and Shutter Colors for Your Home

Where To Begin When Updating Your Home’s Exterior

Replacing siding or adding shutters can have a big impact when updating your home's exterior. The proper color combinations can make your home stand out from the rest of the neighborhood. However, this isn’t a weekend DIY project. Updating your home’s exterior is a job best left to the professionals.

There are several advantages to allowing professionals to handle the exterior of your home: 

  • Proper installation
  • Customization
  • Time and efficiency
  • Avoiding damage
  • Warranty and insurance
  • Compliance and regulations
  • Long-term durability; and
  • Advice and guidance

When you choose Lifetime Remodeling Systems, you are working with the only siding contractor in Oregon to provide installation and in-house design services. 

We handle exterior remodeling and design-build and are Portland’s premier renovation firm. 

To learn more, contact us today. 

Siding and Shutter Color Combinations To Consider Based on the Style of Your Home

Northwest Traditional

In choosing exterior and shutter paint colors for a Northwest Traditional house, it’s important to consider the regional style and natural surroundings.

As the northwest region is often characterized by lush green landscapes, selecting colors that complement the surroundings can enhance the home's overall appearance. 

In Northwest Traditional, you want to consider subdued colors, which will lead to a subtle appearance. To help create this appearance, you should choose analogous colors that sit beside one another on the color wheel

You can paint your exterior shutters and siding with these Northwest Traditional paint colors:

  • Coastal blue exterior with deep navy shutters – The coastal blue exterior evokes a sense of tranquility and relaxation reminiscent of nearby oceans and bodies of water. Combined with deep navy shutters, this creates a timeless and classic look for a traditional house.
  • Warm gray house with charcoal black shutters – Warm gray complements the natural surroundings and works well with the overcast skies of the Northwest. It gives the exterior a modern yet welcoming appearance. This contrast adds a contemporary edge to the traditional style when paired with charcoal black shutters.
  • Espresso brown shutters on a stone gray house – Adaptable to many architectural styles, stone gray is a cool and versatile color. Designed to blend with the natural environment of the Northwest, it adds a modern touch to the exterior. Dark espresso brown shutters add depth and a sense of coziness to the overall design.
  • White exterior with slate blue shutters – Providing subtle contrast while enhancing architectural features, the soothing blue harmonizes with the surroundings. Modern and serene, it complements the style’s classic charm.

Mid-Century Modern

Mid-Century Modern homes often have a distinctive color palette that complements the architecture's clean lines and minimalist design.

These homes typically feature house and shutter color combinations that are visually appealing and in harmony with the surrounding natural environment. 

Popular Mid-Century Modern color combinations include: 

  • Classic white house with black shutters – This timeless combination creates an air of sophistication. 
  • Gray house with white or light gray shutters – This compliments the Mid-Century Modern style by maintaining a clean and neutral appearance and bringing a contemporary feel.
  • Dark brown shutters on a beige or tan house – These colors convey a warm and natural ambiance by combining neutral colors.
  • Light blue house with white shutters – This combination is reminiscent of the sky and water and creates a fresh and calming look.
  • Olive green house with cream or off-white shutters – Olive green is a color that goes well with this style of architecture. Adding cream or off-white shutters provides a subtle contrast while maintaining a cohesive and natural look.
  • Warm yellow house with gray or charcoal gray shutters – A warm yellow hue can brighten the exterior and create a welcoming atmosphere. Combining it with gray or charcoal adds depth and sophistication. 

Craftsman 

In addition to analogous colors, complementary colors can also look good when paired up on an exterior. On the color wheel, complementary colors are opposites, creating more vivid, dynamic views, which you will often see in Craftsman-style homes. 

Homes built in the Craftsman style should have an exterior and shutter color scheme that complements the home’s architectural features and emphasizes its craftsmanship. 

These homes often feature: 

  • Natural materials
  • Exposed wood elements; and 
  • An inviting aesthetic

A Craftsman-style house looks great with the following shutter and siding colors: 

  • Warm beige exterior with forest green shutters – A warm beige exterior creates a cozy and inviting atmosphere, while forest green shutters add a touch of natural beauty. This combination emphasizes the craftsman's natural aesthetic while celebrating the surrounding environment.
  • Earthy brown outside with cream shutters – An earthy brown hue adds a sense of grounding, while cream-colored shutters provide a soft contrast that complements Craftsman home materials.
  • Olive green house with chocolate brown shutters – In nature, olive green is a warm, natural color. Chocolate brown shutters add depth and create an earthy yet elegant look.
  • Cream house with dark red shutters – Cream exteriors exude warmth and simplicity, while dark red shutters enhance Craftsman's artistic style.
  • Deep teal shutters on a taupe house – As a neutral base, taupe offers a versatile look, while deep teal shutters add a pop of color. 

Factors To Consider When Narrowing Down Siding and Shutter Color Combinations

The Shutter Material You Choose

PVC composite, vinyl, and wood shutters have benefits and drawbacks. 

For example, wood shutters provide an authentic appearance and customization possibilities, while vinyl and PVC composite shutters require little maintenance. 

Take a look at this concise pro and con list so you can make an informed decision based on your budget and style: 

  1. PVC composite shutters
  • Pros: 
  • Highly durable and resistant to moisture, rot, and insect damage, they are suitable for various climates.
  • Requiring minimal upkeep, they usually only need occasional cleaning with soap and water 
  • Designed to mimic the appearance of wood shutters, they offer a cost-effective alternative without compromising aesthetics
  • PVC is generally more budget-friendly than real wood shutters. 
  • Cons: 
  • While PVC composite shutters can resemble wood, some homeowners may prefer the authenticity and natural beauty of real wood shutters. 
  • PVC is synthetic and not biodegradable, which may concern eco-conscious individuals.
  1. Vinyl shutters 
  • Pros: 
  • As with PVC shutters, vinyl shutters are easy to maintain and require little maintenance. 
  • In humid or coastal environments, they are highly resistant to moisture.
  • Cons: 
  • Vinyl shutters may have limited design and customization options compared to wood shutters. 
  • While durable overall, extreme weather conditions or impacts can cause vinyl shutters to crack or break. 
  1. Wood shutters 
  • Pros: 
  • Wood shutters enhance a home's curb appeal with their natural, authentic, and timeless look. 
  • Styles, finishes, and paint colors can be customized to fit specific window dimensions. 
  • Wood shutters can last for decades if properly maintained, making them an excellent long-term investment.
  • Cons: 
  • Compared to PVC or vinyl shutters, wood shutters require more maintenance, including regular painting or staining and protection against moisture and pests.
  • Due to the higher cost of materials and craftsmanship, wood shutters are more expensive than PVC or vinyl options. 
  • Extreme weather conditions, such as damp climates, can cause wood shutters to warp or rot. 

In the end, the choice between PVC composite shutters, vinyl shutters, and wood shutters depends on your: 

  • Preferences
  • Budget; and
  • Specific needs

The Style of Shutter You Choose

Your choice of shutter style significantly impacts the overall aesthetics of your home. 

Choosing the right style of shutter: 

  • Complements your architecture
  • Enhances your curb appeal; and
  • Adds a personal touch

If you are interested in wood shutters, you can choose from various styles, such as: 

  • Louvered
  • Raised panel; and 
  • Board and batten

Depending on the home's exterior, they can be stained to emphasize the natural wood grain or painted in a wide range of colors. 

If you choose composite fiberglass shutters, they offer enhanced durability and low maintenance while emulating natural wood. There are several styles of fiberglass shutters to choose from, including: 

  • Louvered
  • Raised panel; and
  • Flat panels

It’s important to note various colors and textures can be applied to composite fiberglass shutters, including wood grain textures. With composite fiberglass, vibrant colors last longer, thanks to their resistance to fading and weathering. 

If you are looking for a modern style, consider horizontal layouts. Do you prefer a contemporary style? You have more choices, such as wood shutters. Do you want your home to look modern? Stay away from vinyl. 

Visualize What Your Siding and Shutter Color Combination Will Look Like Before It's Installed 

When dealing with so many design choices, it's easy to get lost in the details. Updating your home’s exterior is expensive, and the last thing you want is to be unhappy with your design and color choices. 

Lifetime Remodeling Systems uses HOVER technology to accomplish this. As a result of this technology, we can: 

  • Make a complete representation of your home in digital form to show how colors, textures, etc. work together so you can see how it interacts before starting construction.
  • Add components that are not currently on your home using photorealistic renderings.
  • Provide a 15-page estimating packet with accurate measurements up to two inches.

Let Lifetime Remodeling Systems Help You Decide on the Right Combination of Siding and Shutter Colors for Your Home

With decades of experience, unmatched craftsmanship, and a commitment to customer satisfaction, Lifetime Remodeling Systems is Portland's premier siding installation and exterior design company. 

With top-quality materials, innovative designs, and reliable service, we transform homes with stunning and long-lasting results. Through our HOVER technology, our clients know what their build will look like before construction begins. 

Ready for an estimate? Contact Lifetime Remodeling Systems today for a free, in-home consultation. 

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