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What color goes with a cream house?

What color goes with a cream house?

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Choosing an exterior house color that complements the look and feel you want for your home can be challenging. When your house exterior includes cream colored siding, trim, brick, or other elements, you have an abundant palette of accent colors that can work beautifully. The key is selecting the right hue and tone that enhances the cream rather than clashing with it. This article explores the most stunning color pairings that go with a cream house exterior.

Consider the Cream Tone

Cream encompasses a range of hues from dark tan to pale off-white. The specific cream tone of your house exterior impacts which colors look most attractive with it. Here’s an overview of cream shades and complementary colors:

Cream Tone Description Best Color Matches
Golden cream Rich, warm yellow-brown Sage green, terra cotta, cream
Beige Light brown with gray undertone Red, olive green, navy blue
Oatmeal Soft gray-brown Cornflower blue, plum, evergreen
Tan Golden brown Robin’s egg blue, cherry red, lemon yellow
Buttercream Pale yellow Royal blue, cornflower blue, sage green
Off-white Creamy white Charcoal, navy blue, crimson

As shown, the depth of the cream shade provides a good starting point for selecting a matching exterior color. Light creams pair well with bold, saturated hues, while deeper creams match softer, more muted tones.

Top Color Combinations for a Cream House

These popular pairings look stunning against a cream house exterior:

Navy Blue

A timeless, versatile choice, navy blue has a sophistication that works with any shade of cream. Its rich hue provides striking contrast on a cream background. For light creams, opt for a deep navy, which pops against the pale backdrop. With darker tans and beiges, try a slightly lighter navy blue. The color pairs beautifully with white and black exterior accents.

Olive Green

Earthy olive green has a natural allure with cream siding or brick. From sage to forest green, its earthy tones match light to dark creams equally well. Olive green takes on a modern, trendy look against golden cream exteriors. Against beige and tan, it feels more rustic and traditional.

Red

For a bold, eye-catching contrast, red is a spectacular match for a cream colored house. Bright cherry red makes lighter creams glow. Burgundy and terra cotta offer rich dimension with beige and tan. Red doors and shutters give cream exteriors extra curb appeal.

Yellow

Cream and yellow are analogous colors that complement each other beautifully. Soft buttery yellows pair elegantly with off-white siding. Golden hues of yellow match darker cream tones. Yellow adds cheerful brightness to a cream exterior. Try cornflower yellow with oatmeal or lemon yellow against golden cream.

Purple

From lavender to eggplant, purple in all shades creates a stylish pairing with cream. Light purples contrast exquisitely with white or off-white houses. Deeper plums and mauves match darker cream walls for a sophisticated look. Purple doors or shutters make a stunning statement.

Gray

While very similar, cream and gray produce an elegant neutral-on-neutral exterior. Light grays energize off-white houses while darker charcoal shades contrast beautifully with tan or beige. Consider gray for exterior elements like siding, brick, or stone with cream trim and accents.

Factors that Impact Color Pairings

Besides the cream tone, a few other factors affect which colors coordinate best with your home:

House style – Victorian and cottage-style homes traditionally pair well with lighter, softer hues like sage green, sky blue, and buttery yellow. For contemporary, colonial, or ranch houses, deeper, brighter colors like navy, red, and purple create more impact.

Existing features – Look at roof color, stone accents, and landscaping to inform your color choice. Cool-toned colors like green and blue complement brown roofs while warm reds and yellows match gray. Coordinate with colors present in stonework or plants.

Personal preference – Consider the mood you want to create. Soft greens and blues convey tranquility while reds and purples speak to boldness and drama. Choose colors you find pleasing and that reflect your style.

Tips for Painting a Cream House

Follow these tips to ensure your cream and accent color exterior paint job looks fantastic:

– Clean surfaces thoroughly before priming and painting
– Use high-quality exterior primer and paint designed to withstand weathering
– Opt for satin or semi-gloss finishes, which resist moisture and hold up better than flat paints
– Paint brick or stone trim a shade lighter than siding to add dimension
– Use the accent color on front doors, shutters, window boxes, and accent trim for best visual impact
– Add a third color for trim or accents to provide extra interest

Visualizing Color Options

It can be hard to envision how a color will look against your home without seeing it. Create sample boards painted with cream and potential accent colors. Move the boards around the house exterior at different times of day to get a sense of the colors together. Many paint brands offer small samples pots so you can test colors directly on exterior surfaces.

Viewing other houses in your area with similar cream exteriors and accent colors can also help narrow your preferences. Driving around to admire color combinations in real life is extremely helpful.

Conclusion

The key to choosing the perfect color for a cream house is sticking to complementary hues. Cooler tones in greens, blues, grays, and purples look elegant with off-white and beige backgrounds. Warmer shades of red, yellow, olive, and terra cotta pair beautifully with tan and golden cream. Consider the exact cream color along with your home’s style and architecture before selecting an accent hue. With the right accent color, your cream house exterior will have fantastic curb appeal and give you joy for years to come.