Best exterior paint colors for ranch style homes

Ranch style houses were popular in suburban developments from the 1920's all the way to the 1970's! No wonder they come with so many quirky details from chalet style bump outs, as seen here, to textured glass and Spanish style railings.

I'd been looking for a ranch to render for this Sweet 16 series when an enthusiastic homeowner sent us this picture asking for help. I was ready for the challenge!

So, here's the house as it's currently painted. Read on to discover sixteen color palettes to help it sparkle again. Per usual, I'm including some selection and placement guidance to help you translate these ideas to your house. Never be afraid to make it your own!

White houses are still so popular, and great for Ranches. Dressed in white, smaller homes feel bigger and bigger looking homes feel more livable. 

Many Ranches started out white with black shutters, but you can update this palette with deep off-white and softer black trim for lower contrast than your typical black and white house.

A very modern approach I happen to like in the right setting is painting a house one color. It's a great way to blend uneven and undesirable elements with an opportunity to focus on one or two specific features- even if that's the landscaping!

Those who know me have heard my rant about garage doors. Why are they so often in front of the front door? Why is the tiny trim around them painted in contrast? So many questions!

Let's just make a pact: If you an amazing garage door with beautiful materials and glass- that's a great feature! If it's a 'regular' mostly functional door, let's try to minimize the impact of such a big element on the rest of the house. 

Here, I chose a slightly darker color for the garage door AND trim to soften the size of it. Notice how your eyes go to the front door and bump out instead of the garage? That's elegant success!

You can also paint the garage door AND trim to match the body color. This allows the front door to stand out and provides a great opportunity to add fun planters, colorful plants, and cool light fixtures.

Another great option is to paint your garage door the same as the trim, which eliminates that stripe-y look.

Here's a similar placement plan. We added the garage door color to the planter ledge on the bump out to create a nice background for modern planters and colorful flowers. You can also keep that ledge empty and fill the area below with gorgeous planters and colorful flowers.

Ranch homes also benefit from monochromatic schemes. Here, we used light, medium, and darker tones of the same warm neutral color. The front door feels more visible and welcoming with this plan.

Black and dark stained doors are common on Ranches. We say mix it up with an updated red door color that's bold and bright. And notice we painted the door trim to match! This is a great technique for making front doors look bigger and stand out in deep or dark porches.

Why outline things you don't really want to notice? I give you permission - right here - to say no to painting trim where it doesn't serve the best look of your house. We camouflage the uneven and small windows here by painting them to match the body.

Ok, its time to talk about more color. Not everyone feels this bold, but in a sea of matching houses, I always consider colorful options to add more personality. Here's a monochromatic scheme of Mediterranean style yellow with a gorgeous green door for balance. It's not for everyone, but it does have a nostalgic quality and fresh look.

To make colorful exterior palettes work, look for more neutral versions of the colors you love. Here, coppery soft tones make the landscaping look lush and full.

Choosing unexpected colors requires careful consideration for the placement. This dark sexy palette needed minimal detail. I only called out the planter ledge, which is a ripe opportunity for simple plantings.

And since we're looking at darker paint colors, here's how a darker scheme can work on a long low roofline. The main contrast is the fascia, which actually make the walls look a little taller. And make sure your front door is an amazing color too.

Or go for a sophisticated and sedate palette that allows for magical landscaping and stand out light fixtures.

Whatever color palette you choose, consider breaking the standard rules to place the best colors in the best places for your architecture, your neighborhood, and even more importantly, your style.

Tag us on Instagram with your great Kelly-Moore paint project! And stay tuned for another Sweet 16 house.

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