Mid century modern paint colors sherwin williams

Draw your design inspiration from this iconic era

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The past few years have seen a resurgence in homeowners decking their homes out in mid-century modern style—and for good reason. This post-World War II design period that spanned the mid-1940s through late-1960s played with sleek lines, innovative architecture, and lots and lots of color. 

Want to go bold with your home and capitalize on this trend? Start with your walls and the exterior of your home by using these most popular mid-century modern paint colors.

1. Ochre

The gold standard of this golden age of design, ochre is one of the most ubiquitous mid-century modern paint colors; it’s also commonly found in fabric and linens from this design era. 

A naturally occurring mineral, ochre is the oldest known pigment in the world and the color that derives its name from this brownish-yellow pigment is perfectly poised to work in a variety of scenarios, making it a great exterior paint choice for those who want their homes to blend into the environment. It complements rich navy tones in home decor just as well as it goes with a neutral color palette comprising off-whites and grays.

Recommended colors:

  • Dunn-Edwards Alameda Ochre

  • Benjamin Moore Palace Ochre

  • Backdrop Pablo Honey

  • Benjamin Moore Autumn Gold

  • Benjamin Moore Turmeric

2. Olive Green

Mid century modern paint colors sherwin williams

Photo: supersizer / E+ / Getty Images

For the homeowner who loves color, olive green is fun to play with, as it creates a striking backdrop to show off original artwork and unique pieces of furniture from such design icons as Eames or Eero Saarinen. It meshes well with a variety of other bright colors, too. Olive green also looks great as a contrast trim against many mid-century modern home exterior paint colors like silver, white, or ochre.

Recommended colors:

  • Sherwin-Williams Relentless Olive

  • Backdrop Drive-Thru Safari

  • Farrow & Ball Sap Green

  • Benjamin Moore Split Pea

  • Farrow & Ball Acid Drop

3. Golden Yellow

Mid century modern paint colors sherwin williams

Photo: FollowTheFlow / iStock / Getty Images Plus

The sunshiney nature of yellows made this a popular paint color in the ’50s and ’60s. From more golden shades to mustard, yellows are a playful complement to the muted olive greens and ochres that characterized mid-century design. It’s also not uncommon to see the exterior of a mid-century home painted white or gray with darker trim and a pop of bright yellow coating the front door.

Recommended colors:

  • Sherwin-Williams Midday

  • Behr Yellow Gold

  • Farrow & Ball Corngold

  • Sherwin-Williams Cheerful

  • PPG Wright Mustard

4. Burnt Orange

Capitalizing on the playfulness of the mid-century era, burnt orange was often used in wallpapers, furniture upholstery, and rugs (shag, naturally). To the casual homeowner, orange can seem overwhelming if used liberally, so if you’re dubious, consider it for an accent wall, then tie the room together by weaving shades of it into your wallpaper or pillow coverings. Like any paint color, orange comes in an array of hues, ranging from the redder burnt end of the spectrum to the brighter, more yellow-ish paints.

Recommended colors:

  • Sherwin-Williams Invigorate

  • Benjamin Moore Sharp Cheddar

  • Sherwin-Williams Obstinate Orange

  • Benjamin Moore Autumn Orange

  • Farrow & Ball Charlotte’s Locks

5. Gray 

Choosing the right paint color for the exterior of your home can seem daunting as it’s no small task or minor investment. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by color options, it might be because a neutral color palette is better suited for your taste. 

Darker grays are very common paint colors for a modern home thanks to their versatility and the fact that they play well with others. They also balance out all the mid-century orange, yellow, red, and green accents that might be found within your home and shine through the windows.

Recommended colors:

  • PPG Wright Soft Grey

  • Benjamin Moore Wales Gray

  • Sherwin-Williams Shagbark

  • Benjamin Moore Fallen Timber

  • Benjamin Moore Graphite

6. White

While it may seem rather basic given the overall whimsy of the mid-century era, white is perhaps the most common choice when painting your home’s exterior, no matter what decade’s dominant style you follow. One reason white was such a popular mid-century modern exterior paint color, in particular, is that it gave the homeowner the opportunity to play with color and patterns in other facets of the home, like a bright pink front door or teal window trim. 

While picking the right white paint can seem challenging, pure white is always a safe bet. If you want to stay true to the mid-century era and give yourself a canvas primed for incorporating fun accent colors, a white that reads red or has a hint of pink undertone will open the door to an array of complementary colors.

Recommended colors:

  • Sherwin-Williams Westhighland White

  • Benjamin Moore White Opulence

  • Sherwin-Williams Pure White

  • Farrow & Ball Dimity

  • Benjamin Moore Ashwood

7. Pink

Mid century modern paint colors sherwin williams

Photo: Alex Potemkin / E+ / Getty Images

Whether painting your exterior or adding splashes of color in a kitchen, you can’t go wrong with pink. Yellowish pinks, reddish pinks, dusty roses—they all had a place in the mid-century. A coral shade of pink, in particular, is a popular exterior color in cities like Palm Springs or Miami known for their mid-century architectural relics.

Recommended colors:

  • Farrow & Ball Blooth Pink

  • Sherwin-Williams Ravishing Coral

  • Backdrop 36 Hours in Marrakesh

  • Sherwin-Williams Rejuvenate

  • Benjamin Moore Coral Reef

8. Mint or Aqua Green

Mid century modern paint colors sherwin williams

Photo: Jason Finn / iStock / Getty Images Plus

So much of the whimsy of mid-century modern style is using colors in unexpected ways. For example, while the exterior of a mid-century modern house may be painted white, it’s not uncommon to see a mint green door giving it character and drawing the eye to the entrance of the building. 

Mint green was not only used as an exterior paint color in mid-century homes, but also cropped up frequently inside, often paired with a white-and-black checkerboard floor for a very striking contrast.

Recommended colors:

  • Benjamin Moore Sea Mist Green

  • Benjamin Moore Jamaican Aqua

  • Sherwin-Williams Retro Mint

  • Farrow & Ball Arsenic

  • Benjamin Moore Seafoam Green

9. Earthy Browns

Just like the rustic nature of the shades of ochre often used in mid-century modern design, earth-toned browns were frequently utilized as mid-century modern home exterior paint colors to help houses blend into their surroundings. The neutral nature of brown paints also helps temper the vibrancy of all the busy patterns that were common during the era. 

Recommended colors:

  • Benjamin Moore Woodstock Tan

  • Farrow & Ball Wet Sand

  • Behr Smokin Hot

  • Farrow & Ball Deep Reddish Brown

  • Benjamin Moore Incense Stick

10. Brick Red

Reds were all the rage in the mid-century, as they went well with the other earth tones of the era like browns and ochres. Using a more pinkish-red as your wall color gives you the ability to have a fun complement like Farrow & Ball Nancy's Blushes for your trim.

Recommended colors:

  • Sherwin-Williams Heartthrob

  • Benjamin Moore Terra Cotta Tile

  • Sherwin-Williams Cayenne

  • Benjamin Moore Heritage Red

  • Benjamin Moore Caliente

Don’t see any ​​mid-century modern home exterior paint colors on this list that you absolutely love? Consider hiring a professional interior designer near you to pick the perfect paint colors for your home.

What colors are used in mid century modern?

Ochre, orange, brown and mustard yellow are all classic midcentury modern paint colors. Whether paired with other colors or used for a clean, monochromatic look, these earthy hues reflect the handcrafted, organic nature of midcentury modern design.

Is Mid Century Modern colorful?

Color is an integral part of mid-century modern design. Since many pieces with this aesthetic include pops of color, it can be helpful to settle on a color scheme ahead of time to avoid clashing.

Is turquoise a mid century modern color?

When it comes to home decor and design, turquoise is my top choice, especially in a mid-century home. If your home feels like it's missing something, give it a splash of turquoise. It might be just what you need to set that mid-century modern vibe and bring your decor together.

What color Is SW Doeskin?

Doeskin SW 6044 - Red Paint Color - Sherwin-Williams.