US exterior painting trends, color guides, costs per sq ft and HOA-friendly palettes. Articles written by US-based contractors covering Sherwin-Williams, Benjamin Moore and Behr, with region-specific tips for Sun Belt, Pacific Northwest and New England climates.
Exterior painting & siding: cost per square foot across Los Angeles, Houston, Phoenix, Miami, Dallas, Chicago, Denver and Seattle. Hardie board vs vinyl siding vs stucco repaint comparisons.
US paint brands in depth: Sherwin-Williams Emerald, Benjamin Moore Aura Exterior, Behr Marquee, PPG Timeless - paint sheen guides and climate durability from Sun Belt heat to Pacific Northwest rain.
HOA, permits & climate: HOA-approved palettes, city permit requirements, and picking exterior colors that hold up in Florida humidity, Arizona sun, or New England winters.
Greek Villa (LRV 84, cream-yellow) is the warmer, creamier white; White Dove (LRV 85, gray-cream) is the softer, more muted white. Cross-brand, undertone decides.
Tricorn Black (LRV 3, true black, neutral) vs Onyx (LRV 5, softer near-black): the two blackest paints from the two biggest brands. Depth and purity decide.
Iron Ore (LRV 6, green-brown) is the darker near-black; Kendall Charcoal (LRV 12, green-brown) is the lighter warm charcoal. Cross-brand, depth decides.
Urbane Bronze (LRV 9, brown-bronze) is the lighter warm bronze; Black Fox (LRV 5, brown-black) is the deeper near-black. Same brand, depth and warmth decide.
Peppercorn (LRV 10, neutral charcoal) is the lighter, neutral dark; Cyberspace (LRV 6, blue-gray) is the deeper, cooler dark. Cross-brand, temperature and depth decide.
Drift of Mist (LRV 69, green whisper) is the warmer, softer light gray; Gray Owl (LRV 66, green-blue) is the cooler, crisper light gray. Cross-brand, temperature decides.
Anew Gray (LRV 51, taupe-cream) is the deeper, warmer greige; Agreeable Gray (LRV 60, cream-beige) is the lighter, airier greige. Same brand, depth decides.
Dovetail (LRV 26, greige-gray) is the lighter mid-gray; Gauntlet Gray (LRV 17, warm charcoal) is the deeper warm gray. Same brand, depth decides.
Sea Salt (LRV 63, green-gray) is the greener, airier coastal color; Palladian Blue (LRV 61, blue-green) is the bluer, more spa-like coastal color. Cross-brand, undertone decides.
Oyster Bay (LRV 62, sage-green) is the warmer, more green coastal; Sea Salt (LRV 63, green-gray) is the more neutral, shifty coastal. Cross-brand, undertone decides.
Evergreen Fog (LRV 30) is the deeper, moodier sage; October Mist (LRV 47) is lighter and airier. The tiebreaker is your room's light, not undertone.
Evergreen Fog (LRV 30) is the deeper, moodier sage; Sea Salt (LRV 63) is the lighter, airier coastal sage. The tiebreaker is your room's light, not undertone.
Evergreen Fog (LRV 30) is the lighter mid sage; Pewter Green (LRV 12) is the deeper, earthier cabinet green. The tiebreaker is how much drama you want.
Pewter Green and Rosemary both sit at LRV 12. The tiebreaker is the lean: warm olive-gray versus cool gray-green. Test both on your photo.
Dried Thyme (LRV 21) is the livable everyday earthy sage; Pewter Green (LRV 12) is the deeper, saturated statement green. The tiebreaker is depth and drama.
Clary Sage (LRV 41) is the deeper, grounded mid sage; Softened Green (LRV 53) is the lighter, airier one. The tiebreaker is your room's light, not undertone.
October Mist (LRV 47) is the deeper, silvery sage; Sea Salt (LRV 63) is the lighter, airier coastal sage. Cross-brand, same family, depth decides.
Sea Salt (LRV 63) and Quiet Moments (LRV about 61) sit at the same depth. The tiebreaker is the lean: coastal green-blue versus calming blue-gray.
Halcyon Green (LRV 41) is the deeper, serene blue-green; Sea Salt (LRV 63) is the lighter, airier coastal green-blue. The tiebreaker is your room's light.
Evergreen Fog (LRV 30) is the deeper, moodier sage; Acacia Haze (LRV about 38) is the slightly lighter, quieter green-gray. Cross-brand, depth decides.
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