Craftsman-style homes are a timeless staple of architectural elegance and simplicity. Stemming from the early 20th century, these homes emphasize handcrafted beauty and natural materials.

While they are characterized by their low-pitched roofs, exposed rafters, welcoming front porches and tapered columns, Craftsman-style homes depend on the right color schemes to enhance their distinctive aesthetic and complement their signature features.

Colors for Craftsman Homes: What To Keep In Mind

Selecting the right exterior colors for a craftsman home is essential for enhancing its architectural beauty and timeless appeal. Some key factors to consider when choosing a craftsman home’s exterior colors include its architectural features, natural surroundings and the building materials used.

Architectural Features and Details

Craftsman homes are known for their distinctive architectural elements, such as exposed rafters, tapered columns and detailed woodwork. When navigating craftsman home color schemes, it is important to choose hues that highlight these features. For a stunning look, opt for contrasting colors for trims and accents to make these details stand out and enhance the home's overall appeal.

Natural Surroundings and Landscaping

The exterior colors of a craftsman home should harmonize with its natural environment and the neighborhood it’s in. For a cohesive look, take note of the surrounding landscape, including any trees, shrubs and other plant life.

Choosing earthy and nature-inspired color schemes for Craftsman-style homes can create a cohesive look that integrates the home with its environment, boosting curb appeal.

Building Materials and Textures

Materials like wood, stone, vinyl and steel play a key role in influencing home color choices. Each material has its unique texture and hue, which can shape the exterior colors of your craftsman-style home. For example, with its warm, organic tones, wood often pairs well with earthy colors like browns, greens and muted yellows. From steel siding to stone accents, the interaction of these materials with historic Craftsman home colors can create a harmonious and cohesive exterior, highlighting your home's features while respecting its connection to nature.

7 Exterior Ideas for Craftsman-Style Homes

The best color schemes create a harmonious and inviting exterior for the home while exuding the homeowner’s personality. Discover seven exterior color options, along with cohesive decor elements and details, that pair beautifully with Craftsman-style homes and be inspired to create an irresistible exterior design.

1. Traditional Craftsman: Timeless Colors

When it comes to house colors for Craftsman-style homes, deep greens, rich browns and mustard yellows are historically accurate colors that reflect the Arts and Crafts movement. These colors create a sense of craftsmanship and complement the natural materials often used in craftsman homes.

To carry the traditionalism farther than the just siding colors, incorporate classic decor elements that pair beautifully with Craftsman homes. From festive flags to wooden porch swings to monogrammed door mats, adding traditional decor can be the perfect way to create a cohesive design.

2. Warm Neutrals: Tranquil Retreats

Neutral colors, such as cream, taupe and warm gray provide a timeless backdrop for Craftsman architecture. These hues offer versatility and can be paired with bold accents or traditional trims to highlight architectural details.

For the ultimate tranquil experience, consider adding comfortable furniture to your front porch for afternoon relaxing. Hang a windchime for soothing sounds or incorporate battery-operated candles to create a peaceful ambiance for your home.

3. Moody Colors: Enigmatic Elegance

Looking for a way to make a Craftsman-style home timeless yet intriguing? Opt for a moody color pallet of dark blues, grays or even black. Adding touches of wood accents or stone features can elevate the deep, rich tones throughout the design, creating a home that can set an exterior trend for the entire neighborhood.

Want to take your enigmatic design a step further? Install gas lanterns on the sides of your door for a moody entrance or add brass-colored accents to your front door to create a luxurious look that pairs beautifully with the dark siding.

4. Contrasting Accents: Bold Details

Adding contrasting accents, like a white soffit against a darker main color or vice versa, can emphasize architectural features such as tapered columns, exposed rafters and intricate woodwork, adding depth and visual interest.

To go a step further in the contrast, try adding bold colors on other parts of your exterior. From your flower beds to outdoor furniture to signs to even sidewalk pavers, you can add a touch of contrast to create a daring Craftsman-style home that will keep heads turning.

5. Modern Interpretations: Contemporary Twists

Contemporary color palettes for Craftsman homes typically include crisp whites paired with bold accent colors like navy blue or charcoal gray. These combinations offer a fresh take on traditional aesthetics while maintaining the home's character.

If you’re looking to pair your siding with stylish decor elements, consider hanging modern address numbers, installing contemporary light fixtures, incorporating neutral outdoor rugs or adding sleek outdoor furniture to make your home’s exterior look bright and inviting.

6. Monochrome Schemes: Seamless Sophistication

Using varying shades of a single color, a monochromatic color scheme can create a sophisticated and cohesive look for Craftsman-style homes. This approach highlights the home’s architectural details without overwhelming the eye.

To go all-in on the monochromatic look, you can keep your color palette consistent in your plant pots, the stones used for the walkway, outdoor furniture, door and window hardware and even your mailbox. This is a style that will make your Craftsman-style home one-of-a-kind and leave a lasting impression.

7. Nature-Inspired Hues: Evoking Serenity

Drawing inspiration from the natural surroundings, colors like slate blue, sage green and terracotta can bring a sense of tranquility and connection to the outdoors, making them ideal exterior colors for Craftsman homes.

For outdoor lovers who want to incorporate more nature into their exteriors, add plant boxes below your windows or planters on your porch with flowers that will complement your home’s color scheme. You can also build wall trellises that allow vines to grow alongside your Craftsman-style home, creating a serene oasis that neighbors will admire.

Enhancing Architectural Features With Accent Colors

Accent colors and details play a crucial role in enhancing the charm and character of craftsman homes, especially for doors, window trim and decorative elements.

Choosing hues that match the home’s main exterior color palette is essential. For instance, if the home’s main color is a warm beige, darker accents in deep brown or forest green can provide a contrast without overpowering the overall look.

The main goal here is to strike a balance between cohesion and contrast. Accent colors should complement the exterior color while effectively highlighting architectural details. Experimenting with sample colors and contrast can help you achieve your desired look.

Choosing and Applying a Craftsman Home Color Palette

Before committing to a home’s exterior color scheme, test potential colors with samples on different areas of the home, considering how they appear under various natural light conditions throughout the day. This helps you gauge how the colors will look in different environments and times of day.

At the same time, it's crucial to maintain the Craftsman home's architectural integrity while adding your style. Respect the home's original design principles and materials, opting for colors that enhance its features rather than detract from them.

Balancing historical accuracy with modern preferences can create a harmonious blend that preserves the home's character.

Depending on your level of experience and the job's complexity, you might choose the DIY route or hire professionals. Professionals bring expertise in classic Craftsman home colors, preparation and application techniques, ensuring a high-quality finish.

However, DIY projects can be fulfilling if you have the time and skills, allowing for more hands-on customization. Consider your budget, timeline and desired level of involvement to make the best decision for your home.

Elevate Your Home’s Exterior With Rollex

Choosing the right colors for your Craftsman home requires a blend of artistry, practicality and respect for architectural tradition. You can enhance its beauty and curb appeal by carefully selecting colors that complement your home's natural materials and surroundings. To take your home’s exterior to the next level, explore high-quality materials like Rollex’s siding for lasting durability and aesthetic enhancement. Explore our offerings to find the ideal siding and soffit options for your current and future projects, ensuring your Craftsman home stands out from the rest.