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.
Coventry Gray HC-169 or Stonington Gray HC-170? The real LRV gap, the shared blue undertone, room-by-room verdicts, and a free way to test both.
Sea Salt SW 6204 (LRV 63, greener) vs Rainwashed SW 6211 (LRV 59, bluer): undertone table, room-by-room winners, and how to test both on your photo.
The best Behr gray paint colors for 2026 ranked: Silver Drop, Light French Gray, Mined Coal, Cracked Pepper and more, with undertones and best rooms.
Accessible Beige SW 7036 (LRV 58, greige) vs Kilim Beige SW 6106 (LRV 57, warmer): undertones, room-by-room winners, and how to test both on your photo.
Agreeable Gray SW 7029 (LRV 60, greige) vs Accessible Beige SW 7036 (LRV 58, warm beige): undertone table, room-by-room winners, how to test both.
Agreeable Gray SW 7029 (LRV 60) vs Edgecomb Gray HC-173 (LRV 63.88): undertone table, room-by-room winners, and how to test both on your own photo.
Agreeable Gray SW 7029 (LRV 60) vs Revere Pewter HC-172 (LRV 55.51): undertones, room-by-room winners, and how to test both greiges on your photo.
Alabaster SW 7008 (LRV 82) vs Greek Villa SW 7551 (LRV 84): undertone table, room-by-room winners, and how to test both warm whites on your photo.
Alabaster SW 7008 (LRV 82, creamy) vs Pure White SW 7005 (LRV 84, neutral): undertones, room-by-room winners, and how to test both on your photo.
Chelsea Gray HC-168 (LRV about 23) vs Coventry Gray HC-169 (LRV about 48): depth gap, undertones, room-by-room winners, and how to test both on a photo.
Classic Gray OC-23 (LRV 74, the gray side) vs Pale Oak OC-20 (LRV 70, pink-beige greige): undertones, room-by-room winners, and how to test both on your photo.
Dorian Gray SW 7017 (LRV 39) vs Gauntlet Gray SW 7019 (LRV 17): same warm gray family, a big depth gap. Room-by-room winners and when to pick each.
Dried Thyme SW 6186 (deep olive sage) vs Clary Sage SW 6178 (light silvery sage): depth, undertones, room-by-room winners, and how to test both on your photo.
Edgecomb Gray HC-173 (LRV 63, warm) vs Balboa Mist OC-27 (LRV 67, gray-violet): undertone table, room-by-room winners, and how to test both on your photo.
Gray Owl OC-52 (LRV 65.77) vs Classic Gray OC-23 (LRV 74.78): the depth gap, undertones, room-by-room winners, and how to test both on your photo.
Iron Ore SW 7069 (LRV 6, near-black) vs Peppercorn SW 7674 (LRV 10, charcoal): depth, undertones, room-by-room winners, and how to test both on your photo.
Iron Ore SW 7069 (LRV 6, soft black) vs Tricorn Black SW 6258 (LRV 3, true black): depth table, room-by-room winners, and how to test both on your photo.
Kendall Charcoal HC-166 (LRV about 12) vs Chelsea Gray HC-168 (LRV about 22): depth, undertones, room-by-room winners, and how to test both on your photo.
Mindful Gray SW 7016 (LRV 48) vs Dorian Gray SW 7017 (LRV 39): same warm gray strip, 9 points of depth apart. Room-by-room winners and how to test both.
Natural Linen SW 9109 (LRV 66) vs Accessible Beige SW 7036 (LRV 58): the depth gap, undertones, room-by-room winners, and how to test both on your photo.
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