Designer-Approved Lake House Paint Colors That Will Help You Create The Perfect Lakeside Retreat
This post is all about the best lake house paint colors.
Whether you’re updating the exterior or freshening up the interior, here are my go-to lake house colors for both inside and out, plus a few designer tips to help you choose the perfect shade.
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The secret to choosing the right lake house colors
Lake homes are all about relaxation, nature, and the comfort that comes from gathering with friends and family.
The paint colors you choose for your lake house should really emphasize those feelings.
So let’s start with the exterior, because first impressions matter…even at the lake 🙂
The best lake house exterior paint colors aren’t always the brightest or boldest. Instead, you want to lean more into colors that are reminiscent of nature.
And lake house interior colors should support the calm, unfussy vibe that lake living is all about.
I’d recommending thinking about these 3 things as you pick your paint colors:
- The natural surroundings: The trees, the water, and even the rocks and sky will all play into how certain paint colors will look.
- The natural lighting and shadows: The quality of light at the lake can change A LOT throughout the day.
- The architectural style of the house: Some paint colors will just look better together on certain architectural styles than other paint colors.
Remember: When you’re deciding between different lake house exterior paint colors, always test samples in both sun and shade! The sun moving throughout the day and reflections from nearby water can dramatically shift how the color looks.
The best lake house paint colors from Sherwin Williams and Benjamin Moore
Ok…let’s get into it!
These are the top picks for both interior and exterior lake house colors.
All of these are from Sherwin Williams and Benjamin Moore, because those two brands are the most well-known and easily available brands throughout the U.S. Chances are, you can find these paint colors at your local hardware store.
Pure White by Sherwin Williams
SW Pure White is a soft warm white is hands-down one of the best interior and exterior white paint colors. It feels bright and fresh without looking too stark.
- For exteriors: As the main siding color or as accent/trim color
- For interiors: As the main wall color, trim, or cabinetry color
Light French Gray by Sherwin Williams
This light gray is such a pretty color and has just a bit of warmth, so it looks really in different settings.
- For exteriors: As the main siding color
- For interiors: As the main wall color or cabinetry color
Beach Glass by Benjamin Moore
Beach Glass is a color that’s perfect for a coastal/breezy style because the light blue is softened by a touch of gray, which helps keep the color grounded.
- For exteriors: As an accent color on shutters or the front door
- For interiors: As the main wall color or cabinetry color
Santorini Blue by Benjamin Moore
Not to be confused with Santorini Blue by Sherwin Williams, this blue color by Benjamin Moore is mellowed out by gray.
- For exteriors: As an accent color on shutters or the front door
- For interiors: As the main wall color or cabinetry color
Blustery Sky by Sherwin Williams
And keeping with the blue-gray theme…which is inspired by lakeside nature…Blustery Sky is a stormy blue color that brings in moody vibes.
- For exteriors: As the main siding color or as accent/trim color
- For interiors: As the main wall color or cabinetry color
Newburg Green by Benjamin Moore
Despite the name, Newburg Green is actually more of a teal color…dark blue mixes with a green undertone to create a color that feels rich and saturated.
- For exteriors: As the main siding color
- For interiors: As the main wall color or cabinetry color
Blue Note by Benjamin Moore
For an even darker look, I love Blue Note. It’s a deep, moody navy that still feels very blue without going too gray.
- For exteriors: As the main siding color or as accent/trim color
- For interiors: As the main wall color or cabinetry color
Iron Ore by Sherwin Williams
Iron Ore is dark and saturated, but not pitch black. It’s perfect for cabins that want a modern and moody rustic twist.
- For exteriors: As the main siding color or as accent/trim color
- For interiors: As the main wall color or cabinetry color
Creating a whole-house color scheme with lake house color palettes
Whenever I’m choosing paint colors, I’m always thinking about how one color with coordinate with others throughout the whole house.
Here are some ways you can use the suggested lake house paint colors above to create whole-house color schemes for different popular home styles:
Let nature be your guide when you’re picking lake house paint colors
When choosing the right lake house colors for your home, my number one tip is this: let the lake lead the way.
Pull tones from the water, the trees, the sky, and the ground underfoot.
Nature is the ultimate color palette, and your lake house will always feel timeless if you stay in harmony with it.
Don’t get the wrong color – remember to sample first!
You can’t tell how any paint color will look in your home just by looking at photos or even swatches. And paint is expensive, so you don’t want to waste money by getting the wrong color!
That’s why I recommend getting these peel & stick samples from Samplize.
It makes it so easy & affordable to test colors before you commit!