Here we share our design guide to Cape Cod house colors including the best historic & curb appeal shades, best exterior paint options, and ideal color combinations to consider.
The appeal is likely to our zest for simplicity, and the Cape Cod House colors are the perfect defining feature to inspire a new purchase or build of the traditional home. Generally, cape cod houses are painted with simple color palettes with white as a universal trim color, with the puritan tradition of painting the trim with similar color as the house’s body.
Today, with the wide range of color paints, one can combine one’s personal taste and style with the traditional aesthetic without overwhelming the look.
Historic Cape Cod House Colors
Historic cape cod houses also have colors that are available during the time period. This limit in pigments, usually using two to three color variants, is a part of the simplistic charm of the Cape Cod architectural style.
Georgian Colonial: The Federal period features ochre, russet, brown, green, and blue hues, with white as a predominant color.
Colonial Revival: During this period, white was the main color, with only one earthy tone to be used for the trim or body.
Mid Century: A more introduction of color as more features are introduced to the architecture. A classic combination of mid-century cape cod includes sage gray exterior walls with ivory types of shutters and a Sierra red door.
20th Century: The color palette of Cape Cod homes built in the early 20th Century still embodies classic colors such as gray, buff, white, brown, and grayish blue. With the trims as always white.
Curb Appeal Cape Cod House Colors
Dark Ocean Blue: An intense deep ocean blue color is a beautiful match to crisp white trims and shutters. The color is inspired by the jewel-like tones of the bright blue tropical waters creating a striking yet works well with the subdued colors of the Cape Cod home.
Cool Bluish-Gray: Repainting over a traditional Cape Cod house can be tricky, and looking for the right shade that’s modern yet not too extreme or daunting. A cool bluish-gray color pairs well with white, green, beige, and gray accents. The color scheme is great for the beach or coastal locations, matched with organic and leather textures to imbue a contemporary feel.
Iron-Gray: Embracing the dark mood of black-gray color on a brick-batten exterior can create a stunning modern twist to the traditional home. The almost black tone is not too intense and expresses the architectural profile without being too stark or bland. Pair the color with deep brown and light gray accents.
Blue and White: A more youthful combination, repainting a red-bricked Cape Cod style house with white and off-white elevates the look and lessens the heavy look of the brick exterior. Painting the roof with blue outlines the roofing profile and gives a good contrast against the white wall exterior.
Spring Mint: Reminiscent of the vintage mint-green colors of the 1950s, the vintage color can give a fresh and light spruce to a Midcentury Cape Cod home. The lighter tinge of mint matches white, beige, and gray colors, giving it a fresher look without appearing overbearing. Use a light green hue for the front door for a start.
Cape Cod Exterior Paint Colors
Choose accents that contrast the soft color, as they can leave a stale and boring look. Moody tones such as navy blue, deep greens, and hints of red tones are great combinations.
Cape Cod Exterior Color Combinations
2. Coastal Views: Inspired by the colors of the Northern Coast, the color combination puts forward the warm sandy white hue with a gray color to ground the coastal colors.
• Body and Trim: White – Sherwin Williams Navajo White (SW 6126)
3. Suburb Hues: When it comes to melding contemporary living with a traditional home, layering white and grays is the perfect compromising approach.
4. Traditional Hues. Layered neutrals provide a soothing and familiar look, with a light gray becoming the foundation of the color palette with a bit of vibrant color.
5. Picket Fenced: A picket-fenced Cape Cod home adds charm to the classic home, and with white, as the dominating color, a soft yellow provides a subtle contrast to the crisp color without overwhelming the ensemble.
• Body: Soft Yellow – Sherwin Williams Impressive Ivory (SW 7560)
• Trim: White – Sherwin Williams Extra White (SW 7006)
6. Garden Backdrop. A well-manicured garden needs an affable and relaxed backdrop, and this color combination layers the cool neutrals beautifully and allows a canvas for colorful or lush gardens.
• Door: Indigo – Sherwin Williams Dress Blues (SW 9176)
• Body and Trim: White – Sherwin Williams Extra White (SW 7006)
7. Rustic Brick. Many Cape Cod houses boast wood and brick pillars mainly showcased on their facades. To give an emphasis on the natural stone, a rustic brick color provides a contrasting effect to the neutral tones. A brass-colored front door gives emphasis to the element while complementing the earthy neutral tones.
Cape Cod Front Door Colors
1. Light and Creamy Yellow: A cheery color to greet guests, yellow in a creamy and light shade will have a beautiful contrast with a white or light gray exterior. The bright color makes it easy to spot the entryway while giving that welcoming vibe. Yellow also looks great on shingled exteriors.
2. Royal Red: The medium dark red tone provides the same contrasting effect against the conservative colors like yellow, but its brown undertones are less loud and convey a more somber and serious character.
3. Navy Blue: Relaxed and casual, the navy-blue channels the deep coastal colors. The color is a beautiful match against an all-white or with a white and light gray exterior, as it defines the entryway while keeping the look cool and subtle.
4. Warm White: Channeling the traditional colors of Cape Cod homes, a warm white door suits Cape Cod houses with the gorgeous wood shingle cladding, as the bright and clean hue contrasts beautifully with the weathered exterior.
5. Forest Green: Reminiscent of the pine tree forests in summer camp and certain types of cabins in the woods, the forest green is a deep green color than symbolizes stability and balance. The fresh and organic color gives a hint of contrast among the white trims.
Cape Cod Interior Paint Colors
The blue tint can convey that beachy vibe, energetic and casual. Turquoise can also be matched with pastel hues as well as vibrant colors.
3. White – Sherwin Williams Pure White (SW 7005) – Crisp and Bright: The ultimate dichotomy among the colors, white, goes with the simplistic architecture of a Cape Cod home. The classic canvas creates a clean and spacious interior.
Moreover, white provides a continuous flow of spaces creating a cohesive environment and an opportunity to inject more personalized elements.
See more related content in our article about a cape cod kitchen on this page.