This episode is for anyone out there who is building a lake house and, more specifically, looking for trending exterior paint colors for lake houses in 2025.
I decided to record this episode because, ironically, a significant number of my clients inside BEFORE YOU BUILD℠ are planning to build a lake house.
For some, it’s a secondary home, but for others, it will be their primary residence.
Either way, they obviously want to get their exterior colors RIGHT!
And hey … even if you aren’t planning to build a lake house, this episode will still be very helpful because the paint color palettes are popular for home exteriors in general in 2025.
Affiliate links are used for your convenience. Please see my disclosure for more information.
Links Mentioned in this Episode:
- BEFORE YOU BUILD℠
- 4 STEPS TO CHOOSE A PAINT COLOR
- PEEL + STICK PAINT SAMPLES (affiliate link)
Ready to confidently build a house that you absolutely LOVE … without blowing your budget? Join us inside BYB and get immediate access to the BYB BLUEPRINT℠ framework, floor plan feedback, personalized support, and so much more. Click here to get allll the BYB details.
Below is the full transcript for this podcast episode.
Welcome back to the Before You Build Podcast! I’m your host, Carrie Barker (a.k.a. Caroline on Design), and today in episode 79, we’re talking about popular exterior paint colors for lake houses in 2025.
I’m considering doing a mini-series of episodes because I think it could be helpful to cover popular interior colors and kitchen cabinet colors for lake houses, but I’m not fully committing yet, but just know that there might be more episodes coming out soon regarding trending interior colors. 🙂
(let me know if you’re interested in this)
For now, we are solely focused on exterior paint colors that are popular for lake houses in 2025.
I don’t want you to get hung up on the word popular or trending because, while these are popular colors in 2025, they’re also classic traditional lake house color palettes.
These color palettes are simple, beautiful, and (best of all) will stand the test of time.
The Ultimate Guide to Trending Exterior Paint Colors for Lake Houses in 2025
When it comes to designing your lake house (whether this is your primary residence or a vacation home for your family), your exterior paint color is one of the most important choices you’ll make.
The color you choose sets the tone for your home’s curb appeal (which is everyone’s first impression of your house so you want it to be GOOD), and it should seamlessly blend your house into its natural surroundings.
In 2025, exterior paint trends for lake houses are all about blending in with the environment and embracing nature-inspired color palettes, whether that be the blues of the water, greens of the trees, or the earthy tones of the shoreline.
Top Trending Exterior Color Palettes
Let’s go over four of the top trending (yet timeless!) exterior color palettes (complete with paint color ideas) …
1. Nature-Inspired Greens
The first color palette is nature-inspired greens.
This is probably no surprise to you because green tones provide a fresh and natural feel that mirrors the lush greenery that usually surrounds lake houses.
Earthy greens evoke a sense of calm and connection to the outdoors.
These colors offer a timeless and sophisticated look to lake house exteriors.
Popular Earthy Green Paint Colors:
(click on any color to see what it looks like and to order a peel-and-stick sample)
- Sherwin-Williams: Evergreen Fog
- Sherwin-Williams: Earth Green
- Sherwin-Williams: Clary Sage
- Benjamin Moore: Cedar Path
- Benjamin Moore: October Mist
- Benjamin Moore: Rushing River
- Benjamin Moore: Saybrook Sage
- Farrow + Ball: Green Smoke
- Farrow + Ball: Card Room Green
2. Warm Whites and Creams
The second color palette is warm whites and creams.
Not only are warm whites and creamy off-whites trending, but they also provide a timeless classic look.
These shades brighten up any exterior and reflect sunlight beautifully which makes your lake house really glow against a picturesque natural backdrop.
Popular Warm White + Cream Paint Colors:
(click on any color to see what it looks like and to order a peel-and-stick sample)
- Sherwin-Williams: Alabaster
- Sherwin-Williams: Greek Villa
- Sherwin-Williams: Shoji White
- Benjamin Moore: White Dove
- Benjamin Moore: Swiss Coffee
- Farrow & Ball: School House White
- Farrow & Ball: Pointing
3. Moody Blues
The next trending (yet classic) color palette is moody blues.
Deep, moody blues bring sophistication and a water-inspired theme to lake house exteriors.
Popular Moody Blue Colors:
(click on any color to see what it looks like and to order a peel-and-stick sample)
- Sherwin-Williams: Naval
- Sherwin-Williams: Commodore
- Benjamin Moore: Hale Navy
- Benjamin Moore: Blue Note
- Benjamin Moore: Stillwater
- Farrow & Ball: Inchyra Blue
- Farrow & Ball: De Nimes
4. Earthy Neutrals
And last but not least, earthy neutral colors are trending for lake houses in 2025.
Earthy tones are perfect for blending a lake house into its surroundings. Soft browns, taupes, and greiges give a warm, cozy, and inviting vibe while maintaining a sophisticated, understated elegance.
Popular Earthy Neutral Colors:
(click on any color to see what it looks like and to order a peel-and-stick sample)
- Benjamin Moore: Revere Pewter
- Benjamin Moore: Clay Beige
- Benjamin Moore: Weimaraner
- Sherwin-Williams: Agreeable Gray
- Sherwin-Williams: Accessible Beige
- Sherwin-Williams: Gossemer Veil
- Farrow & Ball: Shaded White
4 Steps to Choose the Right Exterior Color
I’m going to give you my TOP TIP to help you choose the right color for your home exterior, and I highly encourage you to check out my past blog post titled ‘4 Steps to Choose a Paint Color (Without Regrets)’.
In this blog post, I’ll walk you through four EASY steps that I use to get a much better idea of what a paint color will look like on a larger scale and this will help you choose the perfect paint color for your home exterior.
This four-step method is easy to follow and the best part is that you’ll feel great about the final color when you drive up to your house.
So definitely check out that blog post … you don’t want to miss it! (I’ll link it in the show notes)
But real quick, my TOP TIP for choosing the right home exterior color for you …
Test Paint Samples in Various Lighting (and on all four sides of your home exterior)!
Always test paint colors outside at different times of day to see how they’ll look in different lighting throughout the day.
And test the colors on various sides of your house. If you haven’t yet built your house, go stand on your land and see how the paint color looks on the north, south, east, and west of where your house will stand.
(psst … I recommend ordering multiple peel-and-stick paint samples of your desired colors to test on each side of your house … and remember to look at it in different lighting)
Next Steps
In 2025, trending exterior paint colors for lake houses are those that connect with your natural environment while also offering timeless style and character.
Whether you opt for nature-inspired greens, warm whites, moody blues, or earthy neutral colors, these trending color palettes will ensure your lake house is as stunning as its surroundings.
As you plan the design for your lake house exterior, be sure to let these trending color palettes inspire you to create a beautiful and welcoming retreat that’s perfectly suited to lakeside living.
Check out the trending colors listed in this episode (blog post) and order peel-and-stick paint samples of your favorites so you can start narrowing down the perfect color for YOUR family’s lake house.
Ready to confidently build a house that you absolutely LOVE and is perfect for YOUR family (now + into the future) … without blowing your budget? Join us inside BYB today and get immediate access to the BYB BLUEPRINT℠ framework, floor plan feedback, personalized support, and so much more. 🙌 Click here to get all the BEFORE YOU BUILD℠ details.
