Remember when we first debated painting the front porch siding back in fall 2011? We even chronicled it here, which explains the creepy Halloween wreath in that photo. At the time we had settled on a color and everything—Flagstone by Martha Stewart (the swatch on the right in the old photo).
We had the color picked out and the paint purchased, but before we could get around to the job the temperatures dipped too low for painting. The test swatches lived on the porch for several months (apologies to the neighbors) and then eventually got painted over when we needed a clean backdrop for book photos. Out of sight, out of mind, right?
Later we redid the columns, and readers reminded us that we’d mentioned painting the siding. At that point we admitted we hadn’t followed through. Then we added a pergola and a few window boxes, and the idea came back into focus. Initially we worried that painting only the porch siding would look strange while the rest of the house remained its original cream. After rethinking it, we decided it would be fine since the cream color still appears in the porch trim and ties everything together.
So, even though this project felt like one we’d been on the fence about since 2011, we finally decided not to leave without trying it. We hoped the new color would make the trim, columns, and that cheerful yellow door stand out more from the street. Let’s be honest: once the house isn’t ours anymore we’re probably going to drive by a lot just to wave at it. #totallynormal
We had already bought the paint back when we originally chose the color (Flagstone by Martha Stewart), so there was no additional cost to start. One important note: this is hardboard siding, which is a wood composite material, so our method and results may not be the same for aluminum or vinyl siding. We wanted to mention that up front so anyone considering a similar update knows the substrate can affect prep and paint adhesion.
Believe it or not, we completed the whole job—two coats—during a single nap break for Clara, on the same day we hung the window boxes. We moved fast: brush in one hand, roller in the other, and a surprisingly efficient rhythm. John used a small foam roller along each length of siding to cover broad areas quickly, while I cut in and got paint into the grooves and around the trim with a brush. Between the two of us we were shocked at how quickly those two coats were knocked out.
From the curb the change reads as subtle but impactful. The new tone ties in nicely with the mortar in the brick—the colors are nearly identical up close—so the exterior reads as a more cohesive whole. That deeper, slightly richer shade helps the door, trim, and columns feel less flat and a lot more intentional without making the remaining cream siding look out of place; the cream still relates to other trim elements so everything still flows.
The biggest difference we notice in person is that the front facade feels less choppy. Previously that large cream rectangle broke up the look, making the house read like separate blocks: brick beside a white box beside another brick area. With the Flagstone on the porch siding, the facade reads as one unified plane rather than three distinct chunks sitting next to each other. It’s an easy tweak that improves the visual balance from the street.
Best of all, the yellow door looks even happier now that it sits next to a slightly deeper tone instead of that broad sea of cream. The contrast brings out the door’s personality and makes the whole entry feel more inviting. Standing back and looking at the before-and-after, it’s almost enough to make us forget how the house looked during our first walk-through back in 2010.
If you’re thinking about painting siding, consider the substrate, test small areas first, and plan to work in manageable sections—especially if you’re juggling life, naps, or other obligations. Our small foam roller and brush combo made the job fast and surprisingly straightforward on hardboard. How about you—anyone else tackling siding updates? How did you approach prep, tools, and color selection?