Choosing paint isn’t always easy, and we had a tough time deciding on a color for our beach house. If you follow us on Instagram or Facebook, you may have seen several photoshopped options flash by in a slideshow a few weeks ago:
We also discussed the options on our podcast. In Episode #28 we explained the factors affecting our choice — like keeping the original wood door — and if you listened further in Episode #31, you heard how our instincts shifted and what unexpected object ultimately inspired our decision. Consider this post a visual recap of the details we covered in those episodes.
The Existing Color
When we bought the house it had green-gray siding with creamy yellow trim. We knew we’d paint the trim white to freshen the look and give it a more beachy feel, and we briefly considered keeping the siding color. Ultimately it felt muddy compared to the brighter houses around us, and since we were replacing rotted siding anyway, choosing a new color seemed like a perfect way to signal the house’s revival.
Blue
We love blue — we’ve used it in several houses and have a particular fondness for navy, teal, and aqua. These hues would suit a beach house perfectly. The issue: our three neighboring houses are already shades of blue. While a blue house could blend into a pleasing gradient, we preferred doing something distinct so ours wouldn’t just be “another blue house on the street.”
We liked the idea of standing out and contributing a complementary hue to the row rather than matching the existing palette.
Green
Mint and seafoam greens were tempting, but most testers read too close to blue when placed next to our neighbors. Even greener tones didn’t provide enough contrast. Since we wanted to enhance the cheerful, painted-ladies feel of the town, we decided a more complementary color would work better than another shade near blue on the color wheel.
Gray / Beige
Neutrals appealed to us because they allow colorful furniture and accents to stand out. A light tan or soft gray with crisp white trim felt beachy and classic. Sherry’s inspiration folders are full of neutral beach houses, and some found around Cape Charles looked right at home by the water. A neutral would balance the bold blues on our side of the street and feel timeless. That said, we weren’t ready to commit to a safe choice without exploring brighter options.
White
White is a classic beach look and many of our pins showed crisp white facades paired with colorful accessories. We also admired a local bed & breakfast painted white. But two practical concerns made us hesitant: maintenance and context. White siding shows dirt quickly and requires regular cleaning — not ideal for a rental we want to keep low-maintenance. Also, many beautiful white examples are surrounded by lush greenery, which we don’t have here because houses sit close together. Finally, ornate porch columns would fade into a white-on-white scheme, hiding trusted architectural details.
Yellow
Yellow was a fan favorite on Instagram and Facebook. A buttery, sunny yellow feels cheerful and beachy, and the idea had sentimental appeal. During the siding process our contractor suggested using factory-finished HardiePlank stock colors, so we checked those samples. While they offered a light Woodland Cream and a few neutrals, most stock hues were muted and better suited for suburban developments. After driving around to compare samples on full houses, our excitement for yellow cooled — none of the stock options felt like “the one,” though we could have custom-painted primed boards.
Pink / Coral
Pink and coral were among the most popular suggestions from readers. A coral or peach shade would be a bold statement — a departure from the calm palette we usually favor — but it could complement the blue houses on either side and pair nicely with our original wood door. We tested pinks early on, and the hue stayed in the running.
The turning point came from a surprising source: a little paper coffee cup. It belonged to a boutique hotel in Richmond and showed up at a family gathering. Sherry spotted the peachy-coral tone and immediately asked if it could be our beach house color. The cup’s shade read like a warm peach/coral, and the closest match we found was Sherwin Williams’ Mellow Coral. We painted swatches on the house and, when neighbors stopped to weigh in, the reaction was unanimous: the peachy-coral swatch felt right.
So that’s our choice: a peachy coral inspired by a tiny coffee cup. It will contrast beautifully with the blue neighbors and give the house a lively, beachy presence that should appeal to renters and passersby alike. One big decision down — many more to go.