Chiang Mai is one of the most historical centers in Thailand that is currently thriving with a growing design culture. My recent trip to this charming city has given me a lot of new house color ideas for home exteriors, particularly through visiting their most popular resorts. A young art scene, coupled with a desire to honor their cultural heritage, leads to a very interesting mix of the two. 

House Color Ideas from Chiang Mai for Home Exteriors

The resort architecture in Chiang Mai tends to mix neutrals – especially white – with traditional designs in their exteriors, and for good reason! These resorts can serve as painting ideas that preserve history while pushing forward with innovative design. 

Mixing the Old and New 

A common feature in contemporary Chiang Mai resort architecture is the reinvention of traditional design through paint. Historical Lanna architecture is made new by adding in white paint to contrast the wooden exteriors of Northern Thai homes. 

House Color Ideas from Chiang Mai for Home Exteriors
Na Nirand

It is a unique but effective painting idea to contrast the tones of wooden brown and white. It keeps elements of tradition intact, but it also makes the building’s exterior look fresher. The white does not overwhelm the history of the building, but it prevents it from looking as if it were still stuck in the past. 

House Color Ideas from Chiang Mai for Home Exteriors
Na Nirand

Integrating neutral colors for home exteriors is one of the stylish house color ideas applicable for those wanting to update their old homes. When done well with the help of professionals, it can retain the history of the house while making it look more contemporary. 

Using Neutrals on Vintage Motifs

Ping Nakara is one of the most striking hotels in Chiang Mai when viewed from the outside. It has the design of a Thai colonial building, but is painted in a shockingly monochromatic white. Strangely enough, this painting idea works very well to give the hotel a sense of modernity in addition to keeping its old-world charm. 

House Color Ideas from Chiang Mai for Home Exteriors
Ping Nakara

Neutrals make exteriors look cleaner and much more minimalist. It’s a simple way to keep old homes from looking dilapidated, especially when they have been freshly painted.

Ping Nakara

Using neutral colors for minimalist exterior designs sounds like a simple painting idea, but good execution is also the key. Specific colors may look better with certain designs, and different shades may bring up various effects as well. 

Keeping Juxtaposing Elements Clean 

One of my favorite properties in Chiang Mai is the Anantara Resort. It has an incredible façade consisting of wood, glass, concrete, and white tiles all patterned symmetrically. The array of textures and materials look clean and crisp due to the lack of brash colors. 

House Color Ideas from Chiang Mai for Home Exteriors
Anantara Chiang Mai

The white concrete and tiles help to neutralize the vibrant color of the wood. Using loud colors on contrasting materials can look too harsh when done in conjunction with one another, as it takes a very good eye for color combination to make such an idea look polished. The intentional use of white with juxtaposing textures is a clever house color idea to revamp homes for homeowners who want a look that is both unique and sophisticated.

House Color Ideas from Chiang Mai for Home Exteriors
Anantara Chiang Mai

Painting with Boysen

Boysen offers a wide range of hues, including neutrals that are close to the color white. You can use these neutral shades skilfully with these three painting ideas to modernize your home exteriors. Read these tips to give you more inspiration on how to tackle your exterior painting job.

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Author

Kai is a traveler and foodie, who enjoys sharing his experiences through writing and photography. His creativity is also sparked by film, fashion, and music, which all serve as inspiration for his work.

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