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 Colour in homes? ›
Happy, bright colors can increase your mental activity and leave you feeling rejuvenated and energized. This is especially helpful for those dealing with depression or low energy. Conversely, exposure to dark, somber colors can help bring your energy levels down if you're feeling overstimulated or frantic .
What color screams urgently? ›
Red evokes strong emotions, increases appetite, symbolizes passion and love, and increases urgency and intensity. It relates to survival, alertness, and safety.
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.
What is the psychology of exterior house colors? ›
Warm colors such as red, yellow, and orange can evoke feelings from happiness to hostility. Cool colors like blue, green, and purple are often linked with calmness or sadness. Neutral tones offer a balance, providing a backdrop that can adapt to various emotional tones.
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 golden psychology of colour? ›
The color gold is the color of success, achievement and triumph. Associated with abundance and prosperity, luxury and quality, prestige and sophistication, value and elegance, the psychology of this color implies affluence, material wealth and extravagance.
Which color attracts money? ›
Attracting Money: Decorate in Red, Purple or Green
"Color has a powerful impact on mood, and red is considered auspicious and powerful. Think of walking the red carpet or wearing a red power tie," explains Laura. Purple and green are also key colors for attracting prosperity but there's a hitch.
What colors evoke wealth? ›
Gold and Purple
As you would expect, these colors will work well for jewelry and fashion products as they represent wealth and luxury. Silver will also work well in this niche. It's also a good choice for financial organizations and educational businesses that want to give off a sense of status.
What color attracts customers to buy? ›
Red is the color of power. It gets people's attention and holds it. It is the most popular color for marketing. The color red tends to increase the heart rate and create a sense of urgency.
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 surprising paint color can help homes sell for thousands more? ›
A deep graphite color in the kitchen can help a home sell for an estimated $2,512 more than similar ones.
What colors are psychologically welcoming? ›
Warm colors, like reds, oranges, and yellows, are often associated with energy, passion, and warmth, reminiscent of the sun and fire. They can create a sense of comfort and excitement.
What color is most appealing to the outside when selling a house on the market? ›
Blue-gray
While there are various shades, the best blue-grays to help sell a house are pastel colors with gray undertones. In contrast to darker options, these have a lighter, softer appearance, which can keep the appeal of your home broad and make it feel welcoming.
Which color represents real estate? ›
Blue is a popular color for real estate logos, and for good reason. The color is associated with trust, security, and reliability—all qualities customers look for in a real estate professional.
What is the color theory for house interior? ›
The 60-30-10 rule
Every good interior decorator knows that the home decor space is divided into 60-30-10. This rule means 60 forms the dominant color of the walls, 30 is the secondary color, typically for the upholstery, and 10 is an accent color used for accessories. This ratio helps maintain balance.
What is color psychology for interiors? ›
In short, the lighter the color, the higher the value. On this spectrum, black is on the low end and white is on the high end, with colors arrayed in between the two. Value is important in interior design color psychology because you want to select colors with different values for a harmonious contrast.
What are the psychological effects of color in architecture? ›
Light warm colors suggest FINESSE, FEMININITY, KIDNESS, HOSPITALITY and JOY. Dark warm colors suggest:VITALITY, POWER, WEALTH and STABILITY. Light cold colors express FRESH, DELICACY, REST, SOLITUDE, HOPE and PEACE. Dark cold colors express MELANCHOLY, DEPRESSION, HEAVINESS and MYSTERY.
