Porch Paint Colors - Paint Your Way to a Better Porch

The best porch paint colors can transform your space from a worn-out wasteland into a homey haven worthy of early morning lounges and magical summer sunsets. And if you enjoy your outdoor spaces, exterior porches play a big role in making your guests feel welcome—and in your residence’s curb appeal. A fresh coat of paint is about more than just aesthetics—it will also help protect your porch from the outdoor elements, UV rays and heavy foot traffic. A traditional porch is often an extension of your home’s exterior, reinforcing and complementing the design and architectural elements that define your house. For example, if the exterior of your home has a country feel, you can carry that style onto to your porch by giving your deck a warm cedar stain, or painting the floor and fencing moss-green. If your home has a coastal vibe, you can liven up a sun-bleached wood deck with a fresh coat of Sherwin-Williams porch paint colors like Aviary Blue (SW 6778) or Benjamin Moore Early Spring Green (2032-50).

While a stain may sound less striking than paint, it can actually dramatically change the appearance of your porch, bringing out the natural color of the wood and depth of the grain. Linen White (912): Also from Benjamin Moore, this decorator favorite is the perfect porch paint color for those who want a clean and traditional look for their home’s exterior. If you love the look of a white porch but still crave a pop of color, paint your front door with Benjamin Moore’s Dark Lime, an undeniably modern shade that will also play well off your home’s existing greenery.

Kendall Charcoal (HC-166): This rich, deep, and luxurious neutral from Benjamin Moore pops beautifully when paired with bright white accents and trim. Bennington Gray (HC-82): Part of Benjamin Moore’s Historic Color Collection, this refined, time-honored hue has more warmth and depth than your average beige, and can be used in traditional as well as contemporary spaces. Once just an old Southern tradition, blue porch ceilings are trending all over the country for a number of different reasons, from preventing bugs and birds from making nests in your outdoor sanctuary, to mimicking the color of the sky and, yes, even to ward off evil spirits.

The tradition dates back centuries to when Southerners believed that painting your porch ceiling a pale blue-green hue would repel haints, or ghosts. Even if you’re not the superstitious type, you might opt to paint your porch ceiling blue to make those sunny summer days feel even longer.

But Ellen O’Neill, the director of strategic design intelligence at Benjamin Moore, recently offered another bug-related theory to Today .