How to Choose the Right Stain Color for Your 1980s Home

Utah is home to thousands of beautiful properties built in the 1980s. While these homes are structurally sound and often feature great layouts, their exterior color palettes—typically heavy on "dusty rose," beige, or dated orange-red brick—can make them feel stuck in the past. Updating your home's color is the single most effective way to boost its value and curb appeal without a full-scale renovation.

Start with the Fixed Elements

Your home has "fixed" colors: your roof shingles, your window frames, and perhaps some existing stone accents. Your new brick stain color needs to harmonize with these elements. If your roof is a cool charcoal, look toward cooler greys or clean, crisp whites. If your roof has brown or tan undertones, warmer greiges and taupes will feel more natural and intentional.

The Power of the "Greige"

For many 80s homes in areas like Orem or Bountiful, a direct jump to stark white or dark charcoal can feel too aggressive for the neighborhood. This is where "Greige" (a blend of grey and beige) excels. It provides a modern, updated look while maintaining enough warmth to feel inviting and classic. It’s the perfect bridge between traditional 80s warmth and modern 2020s minimalism.

The Utah Light Factor

Consider the light in your specific area. Utah's high-altitude sun is incredibly bright and can "wash out" colors. A color that looks dark on a small sample might look much lighter when applied to an entire two-story facade. South-facing walls will receive intense, warm light all day, while North-facing walls will appear cooler and darker. We always recommend testing samples on both sides of the house to see how the hue shifts throughout the day.

Neighborhood Context

Look at your neighborhood. You want your home to stand out for its beauty, not because it looks like a sore thumb. A "modern farmhouse" white might look great in a new development in Lehi, but a sophisticated charcoal or warm limestone might be more appropriate for a mature neighborhood in Holladay.

Don't Forget the Mortar

When staining an 80s home, changing the mortar color is often just as important as the brick. Changing a dark, dirty-looking mortar to a clean off-white can brighten the entire elevation and make the new brick color "pop" with architectural intent. It's the difference between a house that looks "recolored" and a house that looks "rebuilt."