A warm welcome: Increase your home's curb appeal with these designer-approved palettes

Curb appeal is key to setting the tone for your home before guests step inside, however that doesn't mean it's easy to achieve. But with the nice weather finally here, it's time to give your exterior some TLC, so designer Lisa Worth stopped by The Goods to share some advice. Worth helps countless people make their interiors beautiful, but she knows that making an exterior look its best can be challenging. There are so many factors at play — where you live, the climate, light exposure, and tree cover can all have a huge impact on what works and what doesn't. So she pulled together some perfect pairings worth considering for three common types of exteriors.

Red brick exterior

Traditional and classic, you can't go wrong with red brick. A crisp white window will freshen up the look and it goes great with antique brass. A brass door knocker like the one below is a great investment — it's like a stunning piece of jewelry for your home. For the front door, go with the tried and true combination of brick and glossy black. But for anyone willing to take a little bit of a chance, Worth recommends a colour like Benjamin Moore's Notting Hill Blue in a gloss finish. A lot of people might opt for a navy or other bold blue, but she believes that the lighter shade looks punchier against the brick.

Stucco exterior

So many suburban builds use stucco, and in creamier shades, it pairs incredibly well with grey. Grey has been hot for windows for a long time because the colour pops against the facade yet it's not too overwhelming or trendy. Typically a stained mahogany door pairs best with this look, but they're often pretty pricey and if you have a southern facing door it will require a lot of maintenance. So to get a similar hit of warmth without the hassle, Worth suggests adding in a bronze lantern. For the door colour, dark green with cream is always classic, but if you want to mix it up, opt for something like Benjamin Moore's Hague Blue. Steer clear of a high gloss or it will compete with the texture on the stucco. For a more pleasing effect, go with a satin finish instead.

Modern farmhouse siding

This modern farmhouse aesthetic is very on-trend and it's simple to achieve. White siding paired with black windows (as featured on this home by Kroiss Development) makes for a classic combination, and repeating the black on the door hardware in a matte finish brings the look together. For the door or accent colours, Lisa suggests Benjamin Moore's Matisse Blue in a gloss finish, or Farrow and Ball's Churlish Green in a matte finish. She explained that matte works best for a green like this because you don't want to look like you're trying too hard with a gloss finish when you're already going bold with a fairly bold shade of green.