Looking for ways to boost your home’s value and street appeal? A fresh coat of exterior paint does exactly that! Real estate experts confirm that homes with modern exterior painting sell faster and command higher prices in today’s competitive market.
Your home’s exterior paint does much more than just look good. It acts as a protective shield against weather, lasting 5-10 years depending on quality and environment. Plus, the right paint creates that perfect cohesive look, tying together your architecture, garden and surroundings.
Want to get the perfect finish for your home? This guide covers all aspects of exterior house painting for 2025. We’ll take you through new paint technologies, colour trends, professional techniques and cost breakdowns – everything you need for stunning, long-lasting results that will make your neighbours jealous!
Get Started
Request a Callback
Get one of our team members to give you a call to discuss your painting project!
2025 Exterior Painting Trends You Need to Know
The painting world is changing fast with exciting innovations that make exterior paint more durable, eco-friendly, and smart. Want to know what’s hot in 2025? These trends are completely changing how homeowners approach their exterior painting projects!
Smart Paints and Innovative Technologies
Graphene-infused paints are taking the market by storm! These advanced formulations create stronger, moisture-resistant coatings that last longer than traditional paints. They prevent cracks, fight off corrosion, and offer brilliant thermal regulation – perfect for homes facing harsh weather conditions.
Sick of cleaning your home’s exterior? Self-cleaning paints might be your answer! The newest formulations repel 20% more dirt and grime, keeping your surfaces cleaner for up to five years longer than previous products. Meanwhile, heat-reflective paints are becoming extremely popular, reflecting up to 50% more solar radiation compared to standard coatings from just ten years ago. These smart paints can lower indoor temperatures by up to 6°C in hot climates and slash cooling costs by around 20%.
UV-resistant technologies have come a long way too! Products like Star Smart Paint’s UV Resistant Coating stop fading even after years in the sun. Many feature dust-repellent properties that prevent dust from sticking, with each rainfall essentially giving your home a fresh wash!
Sustainable and Eco-Friendly Options
Environmentally-friendly paints are booming in 2025! Low-VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) paints now dry 30% faster and last longer compared to versions from just five years ago. These healthier options release fewer harmful emissions, improving air quality around your home.
Bio-based paints now make up 15% of the market, with their reduced carbon footprint attracting environmentally-conscious homeowners. Companies like Peter Lewis Paints offer completely natural products made from plant-based resins and natural pigments with zero VOCs. Dulux’s envirO₂™ range has earned impressive Global GreenTag™ certifications with Level A GreenRate™ and Platinum HealthRate™ credentials, containing less than 1g/L of VOCs.
The best part? These eco-friendly paints don’t sacrifice performance! Many feature mould-resistant properties, excellent stain resistance, and high levels of washability – staying functional while being kind to our planet.
Popular Colour Palettes for 2025
Exterior paint colours in 2025 are showing a clear shift towards natural harmony. Homeowners are choosing colours that not only look great but also blend beautifully with their local surroundings.
Dulux predicts rich burgundies and wine hues will take centre stage alongside various green tones including olive, sage, and vibrant yellow-green. Their colour forecast features three stunning palettes:
- Emerge: Uplifting paired-back pastels with soft greens, mauves, and a striking deep red
- Recollect: Moody nostalgic colours featuring yellow-based greens and deep olives paired with rich wine shades
- Still: Calming tones creating nourishing and comforting environments
Earthy colours are dominating exterior applications, with smoky greens, muted sages, and sea greens leading the pack. For a more dramatic look, black and white combinations remain timeless and sophisticated. Want to add personality? Try unexpected pops of colour on doors or architectural features without overwhelming your home’s overall look.
Warm neutrals are gaining serious momentum across all colour palettes. During today’s uncertain times, we naturally gravitate toward muted colours and calming, softer hues that help us feel grounded and provide relief from daily stress.
How to Choose the Perfect Exterior Paint Colours
Choosing the right exterior paint colours is one of the biggest decisions you’ll make for your home’s appearance. The perfect combination showcases architectural features, complements your landscape, and even affects how people see your property’s size and character.
Assessing Your Home’s Architectural Style
Your home’s style should guide your colour choices – not just what’s trending! Victorian homes look stunning with elaborate colour combinations, often using three or more hues to highlight their ornate details. Colonial-style homes, however, shine with simple, timeless palettes – usually white, muted blue, or grey for the main body with black accents for distinction.
Contemporary homes pair beautifully with sleek colour schemes and geometric forms, while Craftsman-style houses love earth tones and rich neutrals that match their natural material focus. For Mediterranean homes, sun-inspired colours like tan, gold, and coral create casual elegance when combined with earthy browns and greens.
Remember that size matters too! Large homes in dark colours might look intimidating, while small houses in very light schemes can feel like they’re floating rather than properly grounded.
Considering Your Surroundings and Landscape
Take a good look at your neighbourhood for colour inspiration. Notice nearby properties to make sure your home stands out in a good way without clashing. This creates a harmonious street presence while keeping your unique identity.
Don’t forget about your home’s fixed elements! Brick foundations, stonework, and even roof colours create a base palette you can’t ignore. These elements should guide your selection rather than working against them.
Your garden plays a huge role too. Homes with natural, flowing gardens often look fantastic with sea foam green, pastels, or soft neutrals. Properties with more formal landscaping might need stronger, more defined colour schemes.
Testing Colours Before Committing
Proper testing saves you from expensive mistakes! This is especially important when switching between dramatically different shades. Instead of random patches that make comparison difficult, isolate each colour in a specific area.
Paint looks different throughout the day as light changes. Test your samples at various times – morning, noon, and evening – to see how they transform. South-facing homes will generally make colours appear lighter (even two to three tones lighter than expected), while north-facing homes have more consistent but subdued lighting.
For best results, paint large swatches on A4 or A3 paper to hang on different walls or paint directly on exterior surfaces. This lets you see how colours interact with your specific environment and existing elements.
Digital Tools for Visualising Paint Colours
Technology offers brilliant alternatives to physical testing. Virtual room painter tools give you realistic previews of how colours will look on your home before buying any supplies. These digital solutions save loads of time and effort in the selection process.
Many paint manufacturers now offer sophisticated visualisation tools featuring:
- Edge-detection technology that automatically maps walls in uploaded photos
- Realistic light simulation showing shadows and time of day effects
- Colour-matching capabilities from uploaded images
- Sharing features to get opinions from friends and family
Just remember that screen colours never perfectly match reality due to monitor differences. Whenever possible, combine digital visualisation with physical samples for the most accurate results.
By carefully thinking about architectural style, surroundings, proper testing, and using digital tools, you’ll confidently select exterior paint colours that enhance your home’s character while creating lasting street appeal.
Essential Preparation for Exterior House Painting
Want your exterior paint job to last? Proper preparation is the secret to success! Even the most expensive paints will fail quickly if applied to poorly prepared surfaces. Let’s look at the essential steps that ensure your paint job stands the test of time.
Inspecting and Repairing Surfaces
Start with a thorough inspection of your home’s exterior. Look for peeling paint, cracks, holes, and rotting wood – these all need fixing before painting begins. Here’s a pro tip: if masking tape can lift your existing paint, you’ll need to sand back these areas to ensure proper adhesion.
Fill any cracks or holes with quality exterior filler, then sand the surface with medium-grit sandpaper for a smooth, even base. Pay extra attention to corners, trim, and areas that get wet often. Got a home built before 1970? Be careful of potential lead-based paint and consider professional testing if you’re not sure.
Proper Cleaning Techniques
A clean surface is absolutely crucial for paint to stick properly! Many DIY painters skip this step and regret it later. Don’t just use your garden hose – it simply doesn’t have enough power to remove embedded dirt. Invest in a quality high-pressure power washer instead.
Dealing with mould or mildew? You’ll need chemical treatments, as water alone won’t kill those stubborn spores. Good cleaning solutions bind dirt particles so they’re washed away rather than just moved around. Remember to allow proper drying time after cleaning – typically 24-48 hours depending on weather conditions.
Weather Considerations and Timing
Weather makes or breaks your painting results! Ideal conditions include temperatures between 10-32°C, moderate humidity (40-70%), and minimal wind. Avoid painting in extreme heat (paint dries too quickly) or high humidity (prevents proper drying).
Spring offers the best painting conditions in Australia with warm temperatures and less rain. Before you start, check weather forecasts for several days ahead to ensure enough drying time. Remember that paint applied in direct sunlight or temperatures above 32°C can lead to patchy results and poor adhesion.
Gathering the Right Tools and Materials
Before starting, make sure you have these essential items:
- Surface preparation tools: Paint scrapers, sandpaper (various grits), sanding blocks
- Cleaning equipment: Pressure washer, brushes, TSP cleaner
- Repair materials: Exterior fillers, caulk gun, putty knife
- Application tools: Paint brushes, rollers, extension poles, paint trays
- Protection items: Drop cloths, painter’s tape, safety goggles, respirator
Quality tools might cost more upfront but deliver far better results and last much longer, making them more economical for future projects.
Professional Techniques for Painting House Exterior
Want that showroom-perfect finish for your home? The difference between amateur and professional results often comes down to technique rather than just paint quality. Here are the trade secrets professionals use every day to achieve those head-turning results!
Priming Secrets for Lasting Results
Proper priming is the foundation of a perfect paint job. A quality primer seals surface defects and creates the ideal base for your topcoats. When painting light over dark, primer stops the underlying colour from showing through. For cedar and redwood, oil-based primers work best to block those pesky tannins from bleeding through, while water-based acrylic primers are perfect for most other surfaces.
Here’s a pro tip that will save you time and money: apply primer evenly and let it dry completely before moving on to painting. This simple step accounts for nearly 80% of your paint job’s durability!
Application Methods for Different Surfaces
Different surfaces need different approaches for the best results. When using brushes, only dip about one-third of the bristles into paint, tap off excess, and apply with smooth, even strokes. For rollers, create a ‘W’ pattern before filling in the gaps without lifting the roller – this ensures even coverage and a smooth finish.
Got textured surfaces like stucco or brick? Choose rollers with thicker nap to reach all those nooks and crannies, while sprayers give more comprehensive coverage on very rough surfaces. If you’re spray painting, keep a consistent distance and overlap each stroke by half the width for uniform application. Always work in manageable sections from top to bottom to prevent drips ruining your freshly painted areas.
Tackling Difficult Areas Like Trim and Details
Trim painting is where amateurs and professionals part ways! You’ve got two main approaches: “facing off” (painting just the front of trim boards) or “wrapping around” (taking the trim colour around all exposed edges). While facing off saves time, wrapping gives that unmistakable professional finish that makes your home stand out.
For truly professional results, apply at least two coats on trim, allowing proper drying time between applications. Struggling with hard-to-reach spots? Extension poles with rollers or brushes are your best friends, and consider scaffold towers for multi-storey homes. Paint hooks are absolute lifesavers for those intricate corners or decorative trims, letting you paint without causing drips below.
Weather-Resistant Finishing Techniques
The real test of any exterior paint job is how it stands up to the elements! Applying multiple coats (typically two) dramatically enhances durability. For homes in coastal or sunny areas, consider adding protective sealants over your paint. These create powerful barriers against UV rays, moisture, and pollutants.
For areas prone to cracking, elastomeric paint offers an excellent solution as it expands and contracts with temperature changes. For maximum weather protection, ensure complete drying between coats and avoid painting during extreme temperatures or high humidity.
Need help getting started? Our team of professional painters can deliver that perfect finish you’re after!
Get A Quote
The Real Cost of Painting House Exterior in 2025
Wondering what it really costs to paint your home’s exterior in 2025? Let’s break down the key factors you need to consider before starting your project – no nasty financial surprises!
Breaking Down Material Expenses
Materials make up a big chunk of any exterior painting project. Quality paint ranges from AUD 45.87 to AUD 183.48 per litre, with mid-range options typically costing AUD 61.16 to AUD 107.03 per gallon. Yes, premium paints cost more upfront but they offer much greater durability and fewer repaints over time – making them better value in the long run!
Don’t forget these essential extras:
- Brushes: AUD 7.64 to AUD 30.58
- Rollers: AUD 15.29 to AUD 61.16
- Additional supplies like tape, drop cloths, and preparation materials
DIY vs Professional Costs Comparison
Thinking of doing it yourself? DIY painting typically costs between AUD 764.50 and AUD 3,669.58 for supplies alone, while professional painting ranges from AUD 4,586.97 to AUD 7,644.95. Professional painters charge approximately AUD 53.51 to AUD 84.09 per hour or AUD 22.93 to AUD 91.74 per square metre.
DIY might seem cheaper at first glance, but professionals bring expertise, proper equipment, and time efficiency to the table. A poorly executed DIY job might need repainting much sooner, potentially costing you more in the long run. Plus, you’ll save yourself countless weekends of hard work!
Regional Price Variations
Where you live significantly impacts your painting costs throughout Australia. Metropolitan areas like Sydney and Melbourne command higher rates than regional locations. For instance, a standard exterior painting job might cost AUD 8,409.45 to AUD 30,579.80, with pricing varying by state and even neighbourhood.
Budgeting for Unexpected Challenges
Surprise costs pop up in almost every exterior painting project! Smart homeowners set aside 10-15% of their total budget as a contingency fund. The most common unexpected expenses include:
- Additional preparation work: AUD 764.50 to AUD 3,057.98
- Repairs to damaged surfaces: AUD 458.70 to AUD 3,822.48
- Lead paint removal: AUD 76.45 to AUD 152.90 per square metre
- Scaffolding for multi-storey homes
Remember that quality materials and professional application typically deliver better value despite higher upfront costs. Want to save some money? Schedule your project during off-peak seasons (late autumn or early spring) to secure better rates from painting contractors looking to maintain steady work.
Request a Free Estimate
Our team can provide a detailed, no-obligation quote for your exterior painting project!
Conclusion
Your home’s exterior paint job is so much more than just a pretty face! Throughout this guide, we’ve seen how smart paints, eco-friendly options, and careful colour selection work together to create results that truly last.
Quality preparation and professional techniques make all the difference between an average paint job and one that stands strong against years of harsh weather. While costs vary depending on where you live, investing in superior materials and proper application methods pays off through extended durability and enhanced street appeal.
The secret to successful exterior painting? It’s the perfect blend of thoughtful planning and precise execution. Whether you’re tackling the project yourself or hiring professionals, take time to test colours, prepare surfaces thoroughly, and check weather conditions before starting. The initial costs might seem high, but a well-executed exterior paint job protects your home while maintaining its value for years to come.
Ready to transform your home’s exterior? Start by examining your specific needs, setting a realistic budget, and choosing materials that match both your style preferences and practical requirements.
Have peace of mind knowing that a quality exterior paint job is one of the smartest investments you can make in your property!
Time to upgrade your home’s exterior?
Is your home’s exterior looking tired or dated? Our team of expert painters can help you choose the perfect colours and deliver a flawless finish that will make your neighbours jealous!
FAQs
Q1. What are the trending exterior paint colours for 2025? Earthy tones are leading the way, with smoky greens, muted sages, and sea greens being particularly popular. Rich burgundies and wine hues are also becoming more prominent, alongside increased use of various green tones including olive and vibrant yellow-green.
Q2. How can I ensure my exterior paint job lasts longer? To ensure longevity, start with thorough surface preparation, including cleaning and repairing any damaged areas. Use high-quality primers and paints suitable for your specific surface type. Apply multiple coats, allowing sufficient drying time between applications. Consider adding protective sealants, especially in coastal or sunny areas, to create barriers against UV rays, moisture, and pollutants.
Q3. What’s the best way to choose the right exterior paint colour for my home? Consider your home’s architectural style, surroundings, and existing fixed elements like brick or stonework. Test colours by painting large swatches on different walls and observing them at various times of day. Utilise digital visualisation tools offered by paint manufacturers to preview colours on your home before purchasing. Combine digital previews with physical samples for the most accurate results.
Q4. How much does it typically cost to paint a house exterior in Australia? Costs can vary significantly based on location and house size. Professional painting typically ranges from AUD 4,586.97 to AUD 7,644.95, with painters charging approximately AUD 53.51 to AUD 84.09 per hour or AUD 22.93 to AUD 91.74 per square metre. DIY painting usually costs between AUD 764.50 and AUD 3,669.58 for supplies alone. Remember to budget an additional 10-15% for unexpected expenses.
Q5. When is the best time to paint my house exterior? The ideal time for exterior painting is during periods of moderate temperature and humidity, typically in spring or early autumn. Aim for temperatures between 10-32°C and humidity levels of 40-70%. Avoid painting in extreme heat, which causes paint to dry too quickly, or in high humidity, which prevents proper drying. Always check weather forecasts to ensure sufficient drying time after painting.
