A Fresh Coat for 2025: Traverse City’s Favorite Exterior Paint Colors

Editor’s Note: My friend, Britney Kreiner, whose family are longtime OMP’ers who Tim and I bought our property from here on Bluff Road, has a pet-sitting and dog-sitting business, so if you’re in need of those, call her at (540) 419-8962. She also does social media and marketing for “Painting by Don,” (231) 492-3630. Don also installs holiday lighting for area homes. You know I’m pretty picky about who gets to advertise in the Gazette, and both of these are treasured advertisers, so you know they’re top-notch! If you’re contemplating what colors to paint your house, read on for Traverse City’s favorite exterior paint colors. (And be sure and call Don to do the painting!) -jb

It was a normal Tuesday afternoon at the Sherwin-Williams store on Garfield Avenue. The paint countertop was busy with homeowners holding swatches, chatting with staff, and waiting for orders. Among them sat Don Valentino of “Painting by Don,” quietly waiting for his client’s order to come up.

Just then, a woman with short grey curls in a wide-brimmed hat approached. She eyed the painting company logo on his shirt and introduced herself as Mary Beth, telling Don all about the new Cape Cod-style house she had closed on recently on the Old Mission Peninsula.

She asked, “Since you’re a professional, what color would you pick for the exterior?”

It was a simple question, yet the kind many homeowners both love and dread: how to choose the right exterior paint color.

Don paused, welcomed the conversation, and beckoned over Emily, the assistant manager who has served the Garfield Avenue branch of Sherwin-Williams for seven years. Emily’s family recently had Don paint their barn. Together they showed Mary Beth the five most popular exterior color swatches for 2025 in the Traverse City area, with tips on the right type of paint to use for vibrant and enduring exteriors.

Five Colors Leading the Way in 2025

Here are the top five exterior paint colors for 2025 — as seen by local homeowners, approved by Emily at Sherwin-Williams, and applied by Don in real-world jobs around Traverse City and the surrounding areas. Each has its own personality and works particularly well in our lakeside environment.

1. SW 7008 Alabaster. A soft, warm, off-white Alabaster has long been a favorite for its clean but gentle appearance. In the Traverse City region, it functions beautifully on homes that have brick, wood siding, or lighter stone, giving a crisp look without feeling stark. Don notes that in our northern light — where winter grays and summer brightness alternate — a warm white keeps the house feeling inviting year-round.

2. SW 9184 Foxhall Green. Green continues its resurgence in exterior finishes — especially “nature-inspired” shades that echo the pines and maples of northern Michigan. Design literature supports this: exterior color trends for 2025 emphasize “calming greens” and “earthy tones” tied to nature. Foxhall Green strikes that balance of personality and subtlety.

3. SW 7583 Wild Currant. Every region has its occasional bold moment, and Wild Currant is it for 2025 in Traverse City. A rich, deep berry tone, it brings warmth and character — ideal for homes with classic detailing or those that want a distinctive front-door or accent wall.

4. SW 7069 Iron Ore. Dark charcoals and near-blacks are having a real moment in exterior design for 2025. According to design commentary, deep underpinning hues like charcoal, near-black and dark blue are trending because they bring sophistication and drama. Iron Ore hits that sweet spot — bold without being purely black, strong yet grounded. In Traverse City, Don uses it on a variety of structures from modern downtown homes to businesses and farmhouse-revival homes with metal roofing.

5. SW 6244 Naval. Blue is making a comeback for exteriors in 2025, particularly when paired with crisp whites or contrasting trim. Naval is a deep navy blue — timeless, elegant, and applicable, whether you live in town or a chalet by the shore. Don observes that it works wonderfully on older lake-view homes where the blue can echo the water.

And for trim and accent work, the standout was SW 6258 Tricorn Black, which Emily told Mary Beth was the most-requested accent color for 2025. A true black used for doors, window frames, shutters and detailing, it ties rich body colors together and gives definition to architectural features.

Why These Colors Fit Traverse City

Several factors make these choices particularly well-suited to our region:

• The climate here brings bright summer sun, lake reflections, forest shadows, and long winter evenings, so colors that either reflect light (like Alabaster) or anchor design (like Iron Ore or Naval) perform well.
• The surrounding environment — woods, water, stone — makes nature-inspired tones (greens, blues) immediately relevant and harmonious.
• Many homes here feature mixed materials (wood siding, stone bases, metal roofs) and architectural styles (Victorian, cottage, modern lake chalet). Colors like these give flexibility to adapt to different styles while still looking current.
• Curb-appeal matters. Home sellers and homeowners alike are more conscious of how a fresh exterior color can boost value and presence.

Don emphasizes that while trends are helpful, the first step to picking a paint color is always to test swatches on the actual home, at multiple times of day. What looks great in the paint chip under store lighting can read differently on the north side of a house, or by the lake at sunset.

His suggestion: view the swatch under morning light, midday sun and dusk, then imagine how the home will look through the seasons.

Consider the Options

If you’re thinking of repainting your home, consider these timeless take-aways:

• Choose a main body color from the trending palette but tailor it to your home’s style, climate and surroundings.
• Match it with a strong trim/accent color — like Tricorn Black or Pure White — to accentuate features and create crisp contrast.
• Ensure that you pick a paint base that will last. Emily’s recommendation is Sherwin-William’s Duration for excellent durability and hide.
• And finally: call a painter like Don Valentino who knows local trends, local architecture, and most importantly does a good job, so the end result is not only beautiful, but right for Traverse City.

If you’d like to talk exterior color options or see examples of Don’s recent work around town, he’s happy to provide that. After all, the right paint color can turn a house into your home. He can be reached on his personal cell at (231) 492-3630.