Medium tan shades are common paint or brick colors for Southwestern homes.
Adobe was the primary material used for Native American homes in what is now the Southwestern region of the U.S. This mixture of water, straw and dirt creates earthy tones of brown that are still used for the outdoor bricks and paneling of Southwestern-style homes; a few accent hues also are common in Southwestern decorating that will give your home curbside appeal. Does this Spark an idea?
Brown
Brown is a neutral color that makes way for any brighter colors you want to feature on the shingles or shutters of your Southwestern home, like sunny shades of yellow. Medium shades of brown represent the color of adobe after it has been dried in the sun, and lighter variations are reminiscent of sand and the desert. Richer brown varieties, like cinnamon or ginger, are similar to the color the dirt for adobe bricks looks when mixed with water. Mixing various brown tones also gives the exterior of your home true Southwestern style as well, such as cocoa brown shutters against a sandy brown collection of bricks.
White
As well as very light shades of gray, white and off-white are ideal for a Southwestern home as well. The tones are especially earthy and neutral, and make adding muted red to the roof shingles or planting deep red poppies in the front of the home easy. White can also make the home appear larger since light shades give a sense of openness. You can combine white with tan for a modest and modern Southwestern theme, like mixing brick siding in various shades of brown with white paneling.
Red or Burnt Orange
Rust-colored red or burnt orange pair well with shades of both light and dark brown and can be used to paint the front or the door of a Southwestern home. If the majority of the home is painted white, burnt pillars by the door or on the porch add a pop of color that gives the front of the home just the right amount of visual appeal. A monochromatic look can be achieved by painting the shutters a muted red if the house is painted a nutmeg shade or if a burnt sienna theme is used for the bricks.
Turquoise
This bold shade of blue is representative of life and water and is a favorite color in Native American jewelry. Since blue is a "cool" color, it automatically adds balance to the warm shades like brown and red that are used for the stone, brick, shingles or siding of the home. Blue is bright but also has a receding effect, which can make the windows or doors that are painted turquoise appear a little larger. If you've planted flowers in the front of the home, bright white or pink blooms will complement the turquoise color well.
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