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.
Sherwin-Williams Creamy SW 7012 decoded: its soft yellow undertone, LRV 81, the rooms where the warmth works, and the trim and decor that pair best.
Natural Linen SW 9109 decoded: soft warm-beige undertones, LRV 66, the rooms it flatters, the green flag to watch, and the trim and decor that pair best.
Dover White SW 6385 decoded: a soft warm white at LRV 83, its yellow-cream undertones, the rooms it suits best, and the trim and decor that pair with it.
Clary Sage SW 6178 indoors: a warm gray-green sage with an LRV of 41, the undertones to watch, the rooms it suits, lighting behavior, and trim pairings.
Sherwin-Williams Dried Thyme (SW 6186) decoded: LRV 21, its sage-gray-olive undertones, the rooms it flatters, lighting behavior, and the trim that suits it.
Pewter Green SW 6208 indoors: the deep gray-green that anchors cabinets and studies. Its undertones, LRV 12, best rooms, light behavior, and pairings.
Drift of Mist SW 9166 indoors: the soft warm gray with a whisper of green, its LRV, how light flips it gray or greige, the rooms it suits, and trim pairings.
City Loft SW 7631 is a warm greige off-white at LRV 70 that shifts taupe, pink or purple by the light. See its undertones, best rooms, and trim pairings.
Dorian Gray SW 7017 is a deep warm greige that can flash green or blue. See its undertones, LRV 39, best rooms, and the trim that keeps it grounded.
Is Sherwin-Williams Emerald interior paint worth the premium in 2026? Honest review of coverage, washability, sheens, best rooms, and Duration vs Aura.
Hale Navy HC-154 indoors: a deep grayed navy at LRV 6, its real undertones, the rooms it flatters, trim and decor pairings, and how to test it.
Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace (OC-65): LRV 90 crisp white, undertones, best rooms, trim and cabinet pairings, how it compares to White Dove and Simply White.
Benjamin Moore Simply White (OC-117): LRV 91.7, warm yellow undertone, best rooms, lighting behavior, trim and decor pairings, and how to test it.
Benjamin Moore Classic Gray OC-23 decoded: the barely-there warm greige at LRV 73.42, its undertones, best rooms, trim pairings, and how to test it.
Benjamin Moore Gray Owl OC-52: its green-blue undertone, LRV 61, how it shifts by light and room, the best trim pairings, and the grays it gets confused with.
Benjamin Moore Pale Oak OC-20 decoded for interiors: warm greige undertones, LRV 68.64, the rooms it flatters, lighting behavior, and trim pairings.
Benjamin Moore Balboa Mist OC-27 decoded: LRV 67, warm greige with a violet undertone, the best rooms, trim pairings, lookalikes, and how to test it.
October Mist 1495 indoors: a soft gray-green sage at LRV 49, its real undertones, the rooms it suits, trim and decor pairings, and how to test it.
Edgecomb Gray HC-173 decoded: the light warm greige with LRV 63, its undertones, best rooms, trim and decor pairings, and how to test it before you paint.
The best Valspar interior paint colors for 2026: warm whites, greiges, and moody picks with LRV values, room ideas, and how Valspar compares to SW and BM.
Upload a photo and see the result in 30 seconds. 1 free HD simulation with 3 variations (magic wand), no sign-up required.
Upload my photo nowFree - no credit card required
