If you’re a builder, don’t overlook the impact of color. Exterior color has a profound effect on would-be homebuyers, influencing how fast a home will sell and for how much. What color should you paint a house? If you want homes to sell faster than you can build them, start by thinking about which exterior paint colors will attract the broadest range of buyers.
Colors Evoke Emotions
Neutral, classic colors for the exterior translate into positive feelings for buyers, says Jeremy Lichtenstein, a top real estate agent in Bethesda, Maryland. He advises clients to embrace shades of white, gray and tan for the exterior because they evoke a sense of shelter and warmth, while brown engenders a sense of security. He also recommends blue as a widely appealing color, and even red – in small doses.
The numbers don’t lie. According to a national poll taken by Sears Weatherbeater Paints, close to 40 percent of all Americans would choose white when painting their home exterior. The next most-popular choices were gray, blue, tan or brown, cream, beige and green. The least popular exterior color choices? Yellow and red.
Exterior Colors to Choose When Remodeling
To make a home look more modern, advise homeowners to consider the color palettes being used for new developments in their area. In keeping with the trends discussed above, modern homes are typically painted in neutral, light-colored shades, including tones of tan, cream, clay, beige or gray. White tones are frequently used on trim. If the homeowner wants a pop of color, suggest using a contrasting color of paint on the door and trim.
The most common front door colors include red, black and variations of blue. Unlikesiding colors, the front door color is not a big commitment and can be easily repainted by a homeowner, so it’s one decision that can be more trendy or playful.
If the home resides in an older neighborhood, a lighter color may look odd. Medium or dark shades of gray, blue, tan and brown are often more popular in established neighborhoods, so take a cue from the surrounding homes. In addition, the home’s style, size, materials and even the roof color should be taken into consideration. The best exterior siding colors enhance a home’s curb appeal without making it feel misplaced.
Color Selection Helps
Deciding on exterior color can be a challenge, but many paint companies offer online tools and coordinated paint collections to help you make smart color choices. Among them are Sherwin-Williams’ ColorSnap® Visualizer and PPG’s color visualizer tool.
LP® SmartSide® siding is a primed engineered wood product that can be painted any color. LP SmartSide products are also available in a wide array of popular colors from our LP Pre-Finish Network. To learn more about using LP products in your business, schedule a product knowledge meeting with an LP representative by calling (888) 820-0325.
FAQs
Colors Evoke Emotions
What is the psychology of color in the house? ›
Bright, warm colors (reds, oranges, yellows) stimulate energy and happiness while cool, subdued colors (blues, greens, purples) are soothing and calming. Bright, warm colors are best in rooms for entertaining like dining rooms or kitchens, while cool colors work best in relaxing spaces like bedrooms or even bathrooms.
Do white houses sell faster? ›
White and off-white exterior paint colors appeal to potential buyers because they help the home look new, which enhances curb appeal and helps a house sell quicker.
Do yellow houses sell faster? ›
Surprisingly, homes with yellow exteriors sold for $3,408 less. Neutral colors appeal to a greater demographic, the study suggested, but paint colors are just one of many factors that can influence a home's sale price.
How do companies use colors in advertising? ›
Understanding the psychological impact of different colors enables advertisers to select the most appropriate hues for their commercials. For example, warm colors like red, orange, and yellow can create a sense of urgency and excitement, while cool colors like blue can evoke feelings of trust and calmness.
What are the 4 psychological colours? ›
There are four psychological primary colours – red, blue, yellow and green. They relate respectively to the body, the mind, the emotions and the essential balance.
What is the psychology of colors in selling? ›
Color psychology is the study of how colors affect perceptions and behaviors. In marketing and branding, color psychology is focused on how colors impact consumers' impressions of a brand and whether or not they persuade consumers to consider specific brands or make a purchase.
What color adds the most value to a home? ›
1. Warm neutrals. No doubt the most popular advice from color experts is to opt for warm neutral hues to add value to your home. Decorating with neutrals provides a subtle and calming backdrop in the home and pairs well with many different design styles, so it's arguably the most versatile of all palettes.
What color house has the highest resale value? ›
Shades of gray: Gray is the best color to paint your house exterior for resale value right now. From light slate to deep charcoal, gray's versatility lets it pair beautifully with stone, white trim and a multitude of accent colors.
What color home sells the most? ›
White is one of the best colors for selling a home because it's simple, timeless, and not influenced by personal taste, which allows potential buyers to see it as their own blank canvas. And when buyers can see your home as a blank canvas, it dramatically increases the pool of buyers you appeal to.
6 Paint Colours That Make Your Home Look Expensive
- Dark grey.
- White.
- Cream/Off-white.
- Green.
- Pale pink.
- Red.
Pinks have consistently been among the least popular colors for paint. Even with many different shades, pink is a very specific color that will only appeal to a small amount of buyers. While the inside of a home may be stunning, a pink door can prevent potential buyers from wanting to make an offer.
What color is most appealing to buyers? ›
It is the most popular color for marketing. The color red tends to increase the heart rate and create a sense of urgency. It makes customers more likely to take big action when they enter your business and increase the overall conversion rate.
How to use color psychology? ›
Color Psychology as Therapy
- Red is used to stimulate the body and mind and to increase circulation.
- Yellow is thought to stimulate the nerves and purify the body.
- Orange is used to heal the lungs and to increase energy levels.
- Blue is believed to soothe illnesses and treat pain.
Color psychology is the study of hues as a determinant of human behavior. Color influences perceptions that are not obvious, such as the taste of food. Colors have qualities that can cause certain emotions in people. How color influences individuals may differ depending on age, gender, and culture.
What is the most attractive color for advertising? ›
Red is a highly popular color in marketing because it's bold, captures attention and can evoke powerful psychological responses. Red represents power, energy, excitement, passion and urgency. The urgency response is often a reason why fast-food chains and clearance sales frequently feature red.
What is the color theory for house interior? ›
The 60 30 10 decorating rule is a guide to help create balanced and visually appealing interior spaces. The rule suggests that when choosing colors for a room, 60% of the space should be one dominant color, 30% should be a secondary color, and 10% should be an accent color.
Why is color important in a house? ›
Color has a significant impact on the overall feel and atmosphere of a room. The right color choices can make a space feel welcoming, cozy, and calming, while the wrong colors can create a sense of chaos, unease, and discomfort. This is why color harmony is such an important aspect of home design.
What is color psychology for interiors? ›
From a psychological point of view, an all-black room can be overwhelming and gloomy. However, when combined with red, white, blue or almost any other colour, it provides an outstanding contrast. As described above, colour plays a powerful role in creating emotions and moods in interior design.
