Outdated Exterior Paint Colors to Avoid in 2025 - Say Goodbye to 'Builder Beige'
In 2025, homeowners are moving away from formulaic palettes for exterior paint colors, seeking more warmth, depth, and individuality. Here are the top four outdated exterior paint colors to avoid and their recommended alternatives:
- High-gloss and high-contrast black is considered outdated due to its harsh appearance and lack of trendiness for modern exteriors. Alykhan Velji suggests choosing a slightly less intense color like a deep charcoal or tricorn black as an alternative.
- Beiges and creams, often referred to as builder beige, are seen as tired, easily show dirt, and require frequent maintenance. A more contemporary option would be warm and soft modern neutrals, such as Warm Greige and Cloud White.
- Soft sage green and lighter gray-tinged greens are no longer favored. Deeper, warmer green tones are preferred instead. For a fresh, timeless look, consider earthy and natural tones like Olive Green, Terracotta Clay, and soft olive greens.
- Overly plain beige and cream neutrals are considered dull and are being replaced by richer earth tones. These neutral paint colors bring soul and character to a home and create a more curated, lived-in feel.
Recommended alternatives for 2025 exterior paint colors include bold colors like Deep Navy, Forest Green, and Black Onyx for an eye-catching but sophisticated appearance. Airy light shades such as Misty Seafoam and Buttercream White are suited to coastal or minimalist homes. For a more organic inspiration, opt for deeper, richer greens with brown base notes, like Oakmoss by Sherwin-Williams, or verdigris-inspired and sea-sprayed shades.
Emma Bestley, co-founder and creative director of YesColours, a UK-based paint company, suggests choosing fresher, more expressive tones that still feel timeless but bring more life to a property. Bestley, who has Grapheme Colour Synesthesia, a condition where her brain merges her senses so she always sees color and emotions in words, numbers, and even days of the week, also mentions a move towards colors that complement the surrounding landscape, creating harmony between the home and nature.
Alykhan Velji, with over 15 years of experience in the design industry and a dynamic force in the Canadian design scene, recommends pastels as an alternative to ultra-bright primary colors. Velji, who was recently recognized as one of Canada's top 100 design firms, also suggests using color to reflect the personality of the homeowner and the architectural story of the house.
Dan Staupe, owner of Compass Exteriors, advises against using navy blue, which has become predictable and overused in 2025. Instead, he recommends pastels, such as baby blues and butter yellows, as an excellent alternative choice for adding a pop of color and enhancing curb appeal.
Matt Boden, owner of Fresh Coat Painters of North Tampa, notes that practical considerations like heat absorption, fading, and resale value also play a role in the decline of navy blue as an exterior paint color.
In summary, in 2025, homeowners are embracing more vibrancy and personality in their color choices, including bold hues like rich blues. By avoiding outdated colors like high-gloss and high-contrast black, builder beige, soft sage green, lighter gray-tinged greens, and overly plain beige and cream neutrals, and opting for alternatives such as warm and soft modern neutrals, earthy and natural tones, bold colors, airy light shades, deeper, richer greens, and pastels, homeowners can create exteriors that are both stylish and timeless.
- Homeowners in 2025 are veering away from formulaic living room designs, opting for more vivid and distinctive interior decor instead.
- In the realm of fashion-and-beauty and lifestyle, there's a growing trend towards using color to express individuality and personality in one's personal space.
- As homeowners seek to infuse their homes with a sense of warmth and depth, they are increasingly focusing on the interior design of their kitchen and finding innovative ways to decorate the flooring.
- Art enthusiasts may find inspiration in the bold color trends emerging in home-and-garden, with shades like Deep Navy, Forest Green, and Black Onyx being popular choices.
- For travelers, a more organic inspiration can be found in the use of deeper, richer greens with brown base notes, like Oakmoss by Sherwin-Williams, which evoke images of lush, natural landscapes.
- In relationships, the move towards fresher, more expressive tones in painting may reflect a desire for more honesty and authenticity in communication.
- Cars enthusiasts might appreciate how the use of pastels as an alternative to ultra-bright primary colors in home exteriors can create a softer, more harmonious ambiance, much like a vintage car's inviting and timeless allure.
- As people seek unique shopping experiences, they might find it intriguing that the trend in 2025 is to choose colors that complement the surrounding landscape, creating a harmonious blend of home and nature, much like the perfect outfit that complements one's personal style.
