TLDR
The right exterior paint colors can make a craftsman home stand out while staying true to its roots.
Embrace timeless palettes: Olive green, warm brown, muted taupe, and other nature-inspired tones from the Arts and Crafts era.
Blend old and new: Pair heritage colors with modern neutrals, light colors, or bold dark accents for a balanced update.
Show off the details: Use a thoughtful body, trim, and accent color scheme to highlight porches, wood trim, and stonework.
See it before you paint: Preview color combinations in real lighting to ensure they complement your home’s architecture.
Bring your vision to life with Renoworks Pro, so you can explore every color palette and combination before picking up a paintbrush.
Craftsman style homes…
are a timeless part of American architecture, known for their warm character, attention to detail, and inviting exterior designs. Choosing the right paint colors for a craftsman style home can transform its curb appeal while respecting its historic charm. These homes often feature prominent wood elements, wide porches, and bold trim, which means the color palette plays a huge role in the final look.
In this guide, we’ll explore how to honor the tradition of a craftsman home while adding modern freshness. From earthy greens and browns to contemporary neutrals and light colors, the right color scheme can bring out the best in every architectural detail. You’ll see examples of classic color combinations, tips for choosing exterior paint, and ways to visualize your ideas before committing to a surface finish.
Whether you’re inspired by the art and craft movement or looking for a subtle medium contrast between body and trim color, this article will help you choose color confidently. We’ll even touch on popular brands like Sherwin Williams and show how the psychology of color can influence your decisions. The goal is to give you practical, inspiring ideas to make your craftsman exterior stand out while keeping its authenticity intact.
What Is a Craftsman Style Exterior
A craftsman style exterior is rooted in the early 1900s Arts and Crafts movement, designed to highlight handcrafted details and natural materials. A typical craftsman home often includes a broad front porch supported by sturdy porch pillars, low-pitched roofs, and wide overhanging eaves. The exterior paint and trim color work together to highlight architectural features, from wood trim to brickwork.
Unlike many other styles, the craftsman style home embraces a nature-inspired color palette. Deep greens, warm browns, and earthy shades complement stone and wood elements. Every color combination is intentional, creating balance between the home and its surroundings. Even the psychology of color plays a role—muted greens and neutral tones can create a sense of calm, while a dark color on the trim might provide striking contrast.
The charm of a craftsman exterior comes from harmony. Whether you own a classic craftsman bungalow or a modernized version, the right paint color can showcase the woodwork and make the design shine.
How to Modernize a Craftsman Exterior Without Losing Its Character
Updating a craftsman style home with fresh paint doesn’t mean abandoning its roots. The key is choosing a color scheme that respects tradition while introducing modern appeal. For example, pairing a traditional green body with a crisp trim color in white creates a medium contrast that feels current but authentic.
Neutral tones like soft greige, warm taupe, and even muted yellow can bring a new face light to your craftsman home. Adding a dark door or staining the porch in a rich wood finish can also modernize the look. For homeowners drawn to brighter shades, a light color on the body with darker trim can flip the traditional approach while keeping a balanced color palette.
Brands like Sherwin Williams offer historically inspired collections alongside contemporary exterior paint lines. This makes it easier to choose color options that align with the art and craft origins of the style while meeting today’s durability and surface finish standards.
Popular Craftsman House Exterior Paint Colors
Traditional Heritage Palettes
Body: Olive green, warm taupe, muted brown.
Trim: Warm ivory, cream.
Accents: Brick red, forest green.
These combinations reflect the original craftsman exterior look while blending with natural surroundings.
Coastal-Inspired Craftsman Colors
Body: Pale blue, soft gray, sage green.
Trim: Crisp white.
Accents: Navy, charcoal.
Perfect for craftsman bungalows in coastal or lakefront areas.
Modern Craftsman Color Schemes
Body: Charcoal, moody blue, greige.
Trim: Bright white or soft black.
Accents: Stained wood doors, matte black fixtures.
A fresh take that balances old-world charm with today’s trends.
Is White a Craftsman Color?
Historically, pure white was rare for a craftsman home, but it’s now a popular choice in modern interpretations. An all-white body with a dark color on the trim can look sophisticated while still highlighting the home’s details. White also works well with stained wood accents, providing a clean backdrop for porches, railings, and decorative woodwork.
What Color Were Craftsman Homes in the 1940s
In the 1940s, many craftsman homes used earthy, subdued tones influenced by available pigments and natural materials. Browns, muted greens, and vegetable colors like deep ochre were common. Today, you can recreate these schemes using modern exterior paint formulas that offer better fade resistance and surface finish durability.
Accent Colors That Elevate a Craftsman Home
Accent colors are the secret to making your craftsman exterior memorable. Think about the front door, shutters, porch ceilings, and even the fireplace tile surround. Bold choices like deep red, forest green, or navy can act as a contrast color, while lighter shades keep the tone subtle. Always consider the surrounding landscaping and brickwork when choosing accents.
Visualize Before You Paint
Before committing to a full repaint, test your ideas. Visualization tools let you experiment with every color combination on a virtual version of your craftsman style home. Renoworks Pro, for example, can help you choose color with confidence, previewing everything from trim color to stain options for the porch. This step can save you from costly repainting and ensure your final craft project matches your vision.
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Key Takeaways
A thoughtful color palette preserves the charm of a craftsman home while keeping it fresh.
Use a three-part color scheme: body, trim, and accent.
Preview your colors in real lighting before committing to any exterior paint job.
Balance historical accuracy with personal style for lasting curb appeal.
Choosing colors for your craftsman home is more than a design decision—it’s a way to connect with the style’s rich history while expressing your own taste. By blending traditional palettes with modern updates, you can create a look that feels timeless yet fresh. Test your ideas, trust your instincts, and let your home’s exterior reflect the craftsmanship and care it deserves.
TLDR
1. What are the best craftsman house exterior paint colors for a classic look?
The most authentic craftsman house exterior paint colors often include olive green, warm brown, and muted taupe paired with cream or ivory trim. These body and trim color combinations reflect the original Arts and Crafts color palette and work well with natural wood and stone accents.
2. How do I choose a color scheme that modernizes my craftsman style home?
To modernize a craftsman style home, blend a traditional color palette with today’s popular neutrals, light colors, or a bold dark accent. For example, a soft greige body with crisp white trim color and a stained wood door offers medium contrast while keeping the craftsman exterior timeless.
3. Can white be used in a craftsman style exterior color palette?
Yes—while historically uncommon, white is now a popular choice in modern craftsman exterior design. Using white for the body with a dark color trim or natural wood trim can keep the tone balanced while highlighting porches and architectural details.
4. What color combinations work best for a coastal craftsman bungalow?
A coastal craftsman bungalow often uses a body in soft gray, sage green, or pale blue, paired with a crisp white trim color and navy or charcoal accents. This color scheme reflects the light and complements natural surroundings, especially near water.
5. How can I preview a craftsman style home color palette before painting?
Use visualization tools like Renoworks Pro to try out different color combinations on a digital image of your home. You can test body, trim, and accent colors—plus see how they look in various shades and lighting—before buying exterior paint or hiring a contractor.
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