I'm painting the exterior trim of my 100-year-old house and need your help deciding

Five trim colour options and one old house that’s ready for a refresh. Plus, some colourful home exteriors that I love.

When we bought our century-old home, the exterior was a washed-out, tan-ish yellow, like an old bandaid. Not offensive enough to cause concern, but nowhere near charming. The exterior walls are a dusty sage green, but the blah beige-yellow weighs everything down. That changes this summer!

We’ve hired painters to tackle all the trim: around the windows and doors, the fascia, the peaks of the gables—every detail, upstairs and down. It’s a big job. The wood is old and will need sanding and prepping first, which is exactly why I’m happy to hand over to professionals. But I only have two weeks to choose the colour, and I want it to be perfect. I need help choosing.

This is what our house looked like the day we moved in:

Coleman and I on our move-in day, April 1, 2021 <3

One thing you should know is that we live in a downtown neighbourhood with other century homes. There isn’t a new-build in sight. Our block in particular is full of cute character homes, many of them colourful. My neighbour across the street painted her house bright lime with orange trim last summer. It’s a good street for bold choices, and I want my house to look like it belongs in a whimsical storybook.

The front door will likely be painted a different colour eventually, but for the sake of easy reference, the mock-up images show the door in the same colour as the trim. I think it’s less distracting. I’ve narrowed it down to a shortlist: two purples, a dark green, a bright citrus, and one winey brown. Each one transforms the house in a different way and I need your help deciding.

Lilac Veil

A dusty, chalky lavender that almost reads like a neutral in the right light. It’s soft and painterly, but I worry too bright. Pairs well with terracotta planters and moody skies. If The Secret Garden had a guesthouse, this might be it.

Blackberry Jam

A richer, more saturated purple with cool undertones and a just-barely-there hint of eggplant. Dramatic but not shouty. Looks particularly good at dusk. The kind of trim that makes passersby stop and ask what colour it is. It’s darker than I originally thought I wanted, but I like it.

Cabernet

Yes, like the wine. It’s the safest option of the bunch, but also maybe the most nostalgic. Very old library energy. With the walls, it reads sophisticated but still earthy. Reminds me of a scoop of chocolate ice cream melting on a summer porch. If you’re Team Timeless, this one might be for you. It’s less vibrant than I imagined, but I’m into it.

Deep forest

I saw a green on green house on Pinterest. It’s green like pine and paired with the sage, it creates a monochrome effect that feels architectural and grounded. Makes everything else pop. Will I be sad that I didn’t pick something bolder?