Choosing exterior paint colors can feel overwhelming. Walk into any paint store and you’re staring at thousands of options. Add in the fact that this decision will be on display for the next seven to ten years, and it’s easy to get stuck.
The good news? We help hundreds of OKC homeowners paint their homes every year and we have found some simple ways to narrow down your options and choose a great color.
You don’t need a design degree or perfect taste. And honestly, there’s not just one perfect color for your home. You just need a simple process to narrow down the colors that actually works with your home, and then pick the one that looks best to you.
Start with What You Can’t Change
Before you look at a single paint chip, take stock of what’s already there.
Your roof is the biggest factor. It covers a huge portion of your home’s exterior, and you’re not replacing it just to match a paint color. If your roof is brown or terracotta, you’ll want paint colors that complement those warm tones. If your roof is gray or black, cooler paint tones tend to look more cohesive.
Brick, stone, and other permanent materials matter just as much. These aren’t going anywhere, so your paint needs to work with them. Take a few photos of your brick or stone in different lighting throughout the day. You’ll start to notice undertones you didn’t see before. Maybe your “red” brick actually has a lot of orange, or your stone has hints of gray or tan. Now if the color of your brick just won’t work with the colors you prefer, you can consider painting the brick too.
Your neighborhood’s overall character is worth considering too. We’re not saying you need to match your neighbors, but a bright turquoise house on a street full of traditional brick ranches might feel out of place. Respecting the general feel of your area usually leads to better results.
A Little Color Theory (Without the Confusion)
You don’t need to become an expert to pick the perfect paint, but understanding a few basics helps.
Warm colors and cool colors. Warm colors have red, orange, or yellow undertones. Think beiges, tans, creamy whites, soft yellows. Cool colors lean toward blue, green, or gray. If your brick or stone has warm red or orange tones, warm paint colors usually look better. If your existing materials are gray or blue-toned, cooler colors make more sense.
The general rule is to pair warm tones with other warm tones. I’ve seen people try to meld bright orangey-red brick with a cool blue/gray paint color. It just doesn’t feel right to the eye.
The 60-30-10 rule. This is a common rule you will see in design. When applied to paint it means: Your main body color should cover about 60% of your home. Trim and secondary areas take up around 30%. Accent colors like your front door or shutters are the final 10%. This balance keeps things from feeling too busy or too flat.
Keep this in perspective. You’re choosing colors you’ll live with comfortably for years, not designing a showroom. Simple and classic beats trendy almost every time.
Consider Your Home’s Style
Different architectural styles tend to look best with certain color palettes.
Traditional homes—brick ranches, Colonials, classic two-stories—usually look sharp in understated colors. Soft whites, warm grays, muted beiges, and classic tans age well and don’t fight the home’s structure.
Craftsman-style homes can handle richer, earthier tones. Mossy greens, deep grays, warm browns, and strong trim contrasts suit the style.
Modern or contemporary homes often work with bolder choices—crisp bright whites, dramatic darks, or unexpected accent colors that highlight clean lines.
One thing to remember for Oklahoma specifically: our sun is strong. Darker colors fade faster here than they might in cloudier climates. If you love a deep charcoal or navy, just know it may need attention sooner than a lighter shade.
Test Before You Commit
Never choose a color based only on a two-inch paint chip.
Buy sample quarts of your top two or three choices and paint them on large poster boards or directly on a small section of your home. This is something we help our clients with all the time and it makes a world of difference. When they can see the color on their home they can move forward with confidence.
Tip: Move those samples around to different sides of the house and check them at various times of day. Morning light is softer and cooler. Late afternoon sun in Oklahoma is warm and intense. A color that looks perfect at 9 a.m. might look completely different at 4 p.m.
Live with those samples for at least a few days. You’ll notice things you didn’t catch at first glance. Sometimes a color that seemed safe starts to feel dull, or one you thought was too bold actually feels just right.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
We’ve seen a few things trip up homeowners more than once.
Choosing based only on a tiny chip. That small square of color looks very different when it’s covering your entire house. Always test larger samples in natural light.
Picking trendy colors. What’s popular this year might look dated in five. If you love a bold or trendy shade, consider using it as an accent on your front door instead of your main body color.
Not thinking about existing features. Gutters, downspouts, window frames, these all interact with your new paint. Make sure you’re seeing the full picture.
When to Ask for Help
When we provide estimates, we’re happy to talk through color options with you. We’ve painted hundreds of homes in the OKC metro, and we’ve seen what works in different neighborhoods and with different architectural styles. It’s part of the process, not an extra service.
Some homeowners know exactly what they want before we arrive. Others bring us a few ideas and want a second opinion. Both are completely normal. You don’t need to have everything decided before you reach out.
Final Thoughts
Choosing exterior paint colors doesn’t have to be stressful. Start with what’s already on your home, understand a few basics about warm and cool tones, test your options in real light, and trust what looks right to you.
A fresh exterior does more than improve your home’s appearance. It protects your siding, trim, and wood from Oklahoma weather. When the project’s done, you’ll have a home you’re proud to pull up to every day.
If you’re thinking about repainting your exterior, we’d be happy to walk through your options with you. Contact us today for a free estimate. We’re your neighbors here in Oklahoma City, and we’re here to help.
