White Painted Exteriors: A growing trend in the Orange County area

White painted exteriors have always been a classic look in California. However this year (2021) we have seen a sharp uptick in requests from customers asking for white exteriors. White stucco exteriors have a classic look that has stood the test of time, in this post we will showcase some of our favorite projects from the year that featured white paints, and explain some of the nuance that comes with selecting a shade of white for your homes exterior.

Looking for help with an exterior painting project?

Choosing a White Paint for a House Exterior:

White paint comes in a wide variety of types and shades, it can be overwhelming for homeowners to review options and decide on a shade of white for their home. Natural sunlight does have an effect on how the color will look when dry. Homes that sit in a lot of shade may end up with a different appearance that other homes (with the same color) that get full sunlight during the day.

Undertones in the shade of what are a critical component to how the final paint will look on the home. We can help by providing recommendations via our color consulting service. If you intend to choose a color yourself, it can be helpful to get a few samples and paint small sections of the exterior next to each other to compare how the shades will look on your home when dry. All paints have undertones that relate to primary colors. Blue, red, and yellow undertones are common even in white paints. Holding a stark white piece of paper against a painted area is a great way to quickly see what undertone is showing more prominently.

Can white painted exteriors make the home cooler?

White paint absorbs less energy than darker colors and can help reflect heat away from a home. This is an added benefit, especially in the hot summer months here in Los Angeles. It won’t remove the need for air conditioning systems, but it should help reduce the heat that ends up soaking in through the exterior walls.

Examples of White Painted Exteriors we Painted this year

Below are a few examples of homes that utilized white paint on the exterior that we painted this year. These homes are in the Yorba Linda, Anaheim, and Orange County areas of Los Angeles.

Siding with White Painted Trim

White works extremely well as a secondary color on elements of the home like door frames, trim, and windows. The picture below utilized Dunn Edwards – Play on Gray for the siding and ‘Swiss Coffee’ for the white trim portions of the home.

COLORS: Dunn Edwards, Play on Gray (DE 6228)
TRIM: Dunn Edwards, Swiss Coffee, (DEW341)
DOOR: Dunn Edwards, Mythical Blue (DEC787)

White Painted Wood Siding Exterior

White as a primary color with black trim gives a modern and clean look with great results. The below project utlized Dunn Edwards ‘Milk Paint’ for the white and ‘Space Black’ for the trim
Colors: Dunn Edwards, Milk Paint
Trim: Dunn Edwards, Space Black

White Painted Stucco Exterior

This project was completed for a local real estate investor. What a great property to welcome new neighbors to our community. White painted stucco like this is a very common and classic look in the area.

Decks, Fences, And Pergolas

In addition to house exteriors, white is a popular choice for secondary exterior structures like decks, fences, and pergolas. We did many projects like this in 2021 and expect to see even more next year.

The Classic ‘California White’ Home Exterior

The all-white painted stucco home is a classic California look that works well in most neighborhoods. We have done many homes in the area in this style.