Popular Color Trends in Raleigh, NC

Popular House Paint Color Ideas in Raleigh NC

The most popular paint colors in Raleigh and the Triangle area range from bright white to dark blue, bronze, and black. White with dark and bright accent colors is a popular outdoor color scheme. Modern and earth tone grays are also still going strong for both interior and exterior uses.

Why Local Paint Colors Matter

Finding color inspiration before painting is often tricky. While the most popular colors from shows, influencers, and popular paint brands are enticing and possibly a good place to start, knowing popular colors in your area creates realistic goals and inspirations.

Getting information, recommendations, and references from others is always a great way to simplify picking paint colors. The issue is that it’s hard to get credible information and resources. Most will have to gain local insight by meeting with painters or paying for a designer.

Not anymore. With over 300 all-time blog articles written, over 20 years of serving the Raleigh area, and 30 years of total painting experience, we are revealing the most popular paint color in Raleigh and the Triangle area.

The Most Common White Colors For Raleigh Home

Sherwin-William Extra White is the most basic white and is great to use for interior and exterior purposes. While basic may sound less than exciting to some, the slight warmth and subtle characteristics make it a brilliant choice. Compared to High-Reflective White, extra white also covers better for trim and dark colors.

• Extra White SW7006: LVR 86 (interior/ exterior use)
• Pure White SW7005: LVR 84 (interior/ exterior use)
• Snow Bound SW7004: LVR 83 (interior/ exterior use)

• Ice Cube SW6252: LVR 77 (interior/ exterior use)
• Crushed Ice SW7647: LVR 66 (interior/ exterior use)
• Origami White SW7636: LVR 76 (interior/ exterior use)

Cream Colors

Cream colors are always a safe and bright choice for a natural tone color. While light can influence them quite a bit, we paint these color tones on homes using various options. Alabaster and pearly white are the most used paint colors, offering consistent and timeless allure.

• Dover White SW6385: LVR 83 (interior/ exterior use)
• Alabaster SW7008: LVR 82 (interior/ exterior use)
• Pearly White SW7009: LVR 77 (interior/ exterior use)

• Creamy SW7012: LVR 81 (interior/ exterior use)
• Ivory Lace SW7013: LRV 77 (interior/ exterior use)
• Cottage Cream SW7678: LVR 72 (interior/ exterior use)

Common Gray Paint Colors Used in The Triangle

Gray, of course, is a long-standing paint color that has stood the test of time for over a decade now. Since the evolution from neutral paint color domination, gray has rivaled almost every error of color trends in Raleigh. So, if you choose a gray for your home, you really cannot go wrong. Our crews have used Light French Gray quite a bit.

• Light French Gray SW0055: LVR 53 (interior/ exterior use)
• Rock Candy SW6231: LVR 75 (interior/ exterior use)
• Olympus White SW6253: LVR 68 (interior/ exterior use)

• Repose Gray SW7015: LVR 58 (interior/ exterior use)
• Alpaca SW7022: LVR 57 (interior/ exterior use)
• Passive SW7064: LVR 60 (interior/ exterior use)

Medium Gray

Medium gray is essentially the standard for evaluating all colors. It’s one of the most common colors that we use for painting large exterior walls on homes. Since the sun makes color appear slightly lighter, medium gray is often the perfect balance between rich and bold and soft and elegant. Lazy Gray is a medium-depth paint color that does not disappoint. Some of the images of work in our gallery have this color.

• Lazy Gray SW6254: LVR (interior/ exterior use)
• Morning Fog SW6255: LVR (interior/ exterior use)
• Online SW7072: LVR (interior/ exterior use)

Dark Gray Colors

With so many designs, patterns, and trends going bold, it is no surprise that dark grays are found more and more. We are always astounded at the drastic change when we paint a house in a super dark color. It takes getting used to at first, but once it’s done, it looks amazing when paired with contrasting and bright accent colors. Cityscape still remains one of our favs.

• Network Gray SW7073: LVR 37 (interior/ exterior use)
• Serious Gray SW6256: LVR 23 (interior/ exterior use)
• Cityscape SW7076: LVR 6 (interior/ exterior use)

Light Earthone Colors

While every inspiration and desire will likely mention modern, it doesn’t mean that earth-tone colors are dead. In fact, we use earth tone colors to accentuate focal points when the rest of the area lacks character. Colors like Worldly Gray and Accessible Beige are still among the top neutral interior wall colors.

• Natural Linen SW9109: LVR 66 (interior/ exterior use)
• Accessible Beige SW7036: LVR 58 (interior/ exterior use)
• Wordly Gray SW7043: LVR 57 (interior/ exterior use)

• Sanctuary SW9583: LVR 76 (interior/ exterior use)
• Soft Sage SW9647: LVR 50 (interior/ exterior use)
• Modern Gray SW7632: LVR 62 (interior/ exterior use)

Black Accent Colors

Colors today are getting so bold that black is a wall color recommendation. There are many reasons that we would never recommend black walls, but some homes in Cary and Raleigh are at least curious about it. Most black colors, like Tricorn Black, are accent colors for exterior windows, gutters, and shutters. But Sherwin-Williams Caviar is also a close contender.

• Caviar SW6990: LVR 3 (interior/ exterior use)
• Tricorn Black SW6258: 3 LVR (interior/ exterior use)
• Iron Ore SW7069: LVR 4 (interior/ exterior use)

Dark Earth Tone Colors

Dark colors that are not easily distinguished always bring a subtle sense of curiosity and attraction. Slightly warmer than traditional black, dark earth tones are a perfect way to draw attention to an area and add an element of unpredictability. Raleigh homes with stone or other natural elements will benefit from using dark earth tone colors. Urbane Bronze and Black Fox have been classics in our arsenal for over 15 years.

• Urbane Bronze SW7048: LVR 8 (interior/ exterior use)
• Gauntlet Gray SW7019: LVR 26 (interior/ exterior use)
• Black Fox SW7020: LVR 7 (interior/ exterior use)

Dark Blue

Dark blue colors can go several ways. They can be deep, rich, and dreamy colors that betray boldness, or, quite frankly, they can look tacky. The new wave of dark exterior paint colors is not really our first recommendation. But with the right color choice, it really is nice. Outside of subjective options, the first issue is fade. Due to lap marks, brush strokes, and other application challenges, dark blue is also hard to apply. But Naval, in a flat finish for the interior and a satin exterior finish, is our favorite among the dark blues.

• Indigo SW7602: LVR 8 (interior/ exterior use)
• Endless Sea SW9150: 9 LVR interior/ exterior use)
• Naval SW6244: LVR 4 (interior/ exterior use)

Blue Base & Accent Colors

Blue offers an array of color selections for multiple uses. The issue with blue is sometimes the number of options. But our color recommendations provide a shortcut to success or at least a good place to start. A constant color that is a true light blue is Sherwin-Williams Sleepy Blue. If you are looking for a clear ocean water-like oasis color, Serenely is a fantastic interior wall color for a boy’s or girl’s bedroom. In fact, in 2004, one of the first homes that we painted was in Sleepy Blue.

• Sleepy Blue SW6225: LVR 58 (interior/ exterior use)
• Serenely SW9632: LVR 66 (interior/ exterior use)
• Moon Mist SW9144: LVR 68 (interior/ exterior use)

• Misty SW6232: LVR 64 (interior/ exterior use)
• French Moire SW9056: LVR 47 (interior/ exterior use)
• Lullaby SW9136: LVR 65 (interior/ exterior use)

Classic Green Colors That Remain Relevant

While green paint colors in Raleigh are not as common as ten years ago, dark, colorful versions of green are still a design option. From dining rooms and front doors to exterior shutters, green paint colors are relevant today. Basil and Foxhall Green are very different in terms of shade, but both will illuminate a well-lit room or sunny exterior. Several downtown Raleigh homes and newer Cary homes use green embellishments to break up the colors and add a little pop.

• Basil SW6194: LVR 15 (interior/ exterior use)
• Rockwood Dark Green SW2816: LVR 10 (interior/ exterior use)
• Foxhall Green SW9184: LVR 7 (interior/ exterior use)

These are lighter options for the colors listed above.

• Fresh Eucalyptus SW9658: LVR 48 (interior/ exterior use)
• Evening Fog SW9130: LVR 30 (interior/ exterior use)
• Dried Thyme SW6186: LVR 21 (interior/ exterior use)

Dreamy Blue-Green Colors

Blue is a familiar favorite in all forms of design. Blue-green colors offer a sleek and subtle charm that lifts your spirits and makes a home more cozy. There is something wondrous about the combination of blue and green colors that automatically relates to nature. From oceanfront to even breezes, the airy feel of this color family can take us to the mountains, all the way to the beach. You may even see its sky-like qualities if you look up on a clear day. Waterscape, Sea Salt, and Silver Mist exemplify the epitome of what a true blue-green color is.

• Sea Spray SW9651: LVR 61 (interior/ exterior)
• Sea Salt SW6204: LVR 63 (interior/ exterior)
• Eventide SW9643: LVR 41 (interior/ exterior)

• Waterscape SW6470: LVR 62 (interior/ exterior)
• Silver Lake SW9633: LVR 53 (interior/ exterior)
• Rainwashed SW6211: LVR 59 (interior/ exterior)

• Tradewind SW6218: LVR 61 (interior/ exterior use)
• Raindrop SW6485: LVR 52 (interior/ exterior use)
• SilverMist SW7621: LVR 47 (interior/ exterior use)

Looking for professional recommendations and services? Contact us today for your home painting needs!