Selling a house is not always an easy decision, and unfortunately choosing the best paint color to boost resale value is not easy either. Homebuyers prefer a move-in ready house, and that includes a fresh coat of paint, which is why we have made this guide on the best exterior paint colors to sell your house for upwards of $20,000 more or even higher!
If only it were as simple as repainting the existing color or having the house pressure washed to make it look cleaner. While those are great options to make the house look more presentable, neither will necessarily add value to the house if the current color is an old trend, dark and dingy, or bold it could scare off potential buyers. Pressure washing a house can make the house look more appealing and clean, but it will do nothing to increase the value of the home if the paint colors are not attractive.
There are countless different aspects to consider when repainting a house. This article will look at the different things to think about when choosing the best exterior paint color such as architecture, landscape, other houses in the neighborhood, the size of the house, and the color of the roof.
This article will also provide a few different colors and talk about why bright and bold colors are not a good option. If it feels overwhelming reading over all the information, just remember the team at Mr. Happy House is here to think about all of this. We do not force a paint color on you, we are professionals and this is not our first time painting a house. Mr. Happy House can help pick the best exterior paint color to sell your home for more money (upwards of $20,000 or more!).
While it is not required to paint the exterior of a house before selling it, updating the exterior can add value to a house. Many houses have been occupied for over 10 years and may have not had a fresh coat of paint since the house was built. Weather and natural wear and tear can cause damage to a house’s paint and the sun can cause some fading to occur.
Not to mention trends and styles are ever-changing. The house exterior paint color may have been in style when it was painted, but now it is a thing of the past. A buyer could paint the house once they move in, but nowadays people want to move into a move-in ready house.
Many people do not want to have projects to complete as soon as they get the keys to their new home. Yes, it can be expensive to pay for a house to be repainted, but if the best exterior paint color is chosen the house has the potential to sell for more money. Homelight performed a survey of agents and 30.8 % recommended their sellers paint a house before putting it up for sale.
Potential home buyers look at multiple properties throughout their house hunting experience. During that time, they are looking at new and old homes. If the houses are within budget, people will typically choose the newer house. This is why many people update their kitchens or bathrooms before selling a house. Keeping up with new styles is a great way to catch more buyers’ attention.
Hence why it is imperative to repaint a house. If the house has the same bells and whistles as a new build, but it has outdated paint then buyers will choose the new build. The next several sections of this article will look at what factors play a role in choosing a paint color and what exterior paint color works best to sell a house for more money.
There are multiple things to consider when choosing which exterior paint color is the best for selling a house. Architecture style, landscaping, surrounding houses, the size of the house, and many more factors play a big role in deciding a paint color. This section of the article will look at these factors and break down why they are important to consider.
Even after considering all of the variables in choosing a paint color, it can be difficult to visualize what the house will look like. Sherwin Williams offers a color visualizing tool. With this tool simply upload photos of the house and choose the paint color. Their software will add the color to the photo to help determine if the color will look good on the house.
It is important to determine the style of a house before painting it. A farmhouse-style house looks better with neutral and inviting paint colors than with vivid and eye-popping colors. However, bold colors such as Golden Plumeria SW 9019 look fantastic on Victorian-style homes. Beach-themed homes can get away with more pink undertones than a farmhouse.
A good way to determine which exterior paint color looks best on a house is to drive around surrounding neighborhoods and look for houses similar in structure. Take notes of what works well and what does not work at all for those houses. It will be easy to notice what works for a house and what does not. Studying other houses with the same architecture is one of the easiest ways to determine what exterior paint color will look best on a house and ultimately will increase the selling value as well.
If the house is surrounded by trees and green bushes, painting the house an earthy green, like Talipot Palm SW 6726 is going to make the house blend in with the environment. At the same time painting the house a bold and vibrant color can make the house fight the environment for attention.
Earth tones do look great on houses surrounded by greenery, but it is better to use a color with more brown or tan than green. On the other side of the spectrum, if the house is in a dryer environment painting the house a neutral tan such as Sequin SW 6394 will make the house blend in with its environment.
When choosing an exterior paint color it is important to look around at the neighbors’ houses. If every house in the neighborhood is green and tan, choosing to paint your house white may make it stick out (and not in a good way). A lot of neighborhoods do have a Home Owners Association (HOA) that is specific about the colors of the homes.
The HOA is most likely the reason there is uniformity throughout the paint colors of the neighborhood. Here is an article sharing some information about Home Owners Associations and what they do. It is a good idea to stick with the general color scheme of the neighborhood, but make the house stand out with a slightly different shade, or use different accent colors. Homebuyers do not want to buy the odd house on the block, but they also do not want a house that is uniform with everyone else in the cul-de-sac.
Is the house smaller compared to others in the neighborhood? Light colors make houses look larger and more open. Light colors can make a house feel more welcoming and inviting as well. Is the house average or larger than other houses in the neighborhood? Darker colors can make the house look slightly smaller.
This is not always a bad thing.
If the house is abnormally large compared to the rest of the houses in the neighborhood, painting it darker makes it blend in with the sizes of the other houses. Not every home buyer wants to be known for having the biggest house on the street. Dark colors also help a house blend into a green environment more than a light gray such as Misty SW 6232.
Is the house smaller compared to others in the neighborhood? Light colors make houses look larger and more open. Light colors can make a house feel more welcoming and inviting as well. Is the house average or larger than other houses in the neighborhood? Darker colors can make the house look slightly smaller.
This is not always a bad thing.
If the house is abnormally large compared to the rest of the houses in the neighborhood, painting it darker makes it blend in with the sizes of the other houses. Not every home buyer wants to be known for having the biggest house on the street. Dark colors also help a house blend into a green environment more than a light gray such as Misty SW 6232.
The color of roofs varies from neighborhood to neighborhood, and sometimes house by house. Black or gray roofs go with most paint colors and therefore color clashing should not be a problem. Roofs with red or tan undertones look better with neutral colors. A green or blue exterior paint would clash with a red roof, but something like Napery SW 6386 would blend better.
The goal is to have an exterior paint color that blends with the roof and is not fighting the roof for attention. Sherwin Williams has a gallery of exterior photos of houses. The roofs in the photos range from grey/blue to black and red. This is a useful tool to see what exterior paint color goes well with different color roofs.
Similar to the color of the roof, it is important to look at the undertones in the brick and stone around the house.
The undertones in these materials can range from blue to green, pink to beige, and more. The colors in the stones and bricks can play a huge role in determining the best exterior paint color for selling a house.
The options become even more narrow if the bricks are cherry red. Houses with red bricks look good with blue, gray, and even yellow if done properly. However, the safest option that will appeal to many potential buyers is to look around the neighborhood and copy their theme. If all the brick houses in the neighborhood are painted gray, then painting the house a shade of red will make it stick out and not in a good way. Comfort Gray SW 6205 would look great if other houses are painted gray. Angi’s site has a list of 5 paint colors that go well with red brick.
Just remember when selling a house the best exterior paint color to choose is one that is neutral and can appeal to many palettes.
Our team at Mr. Happy House can also help pinpoint what undertones are hiding in the stone and what exterior paint would look best on the house, click here if you’re looking for a house painter in The Woodlands, Spring, Tomball, or Magnolia, Texas.
Bold and bright colors are a nice way to show off personality and flair.
However, when selling a home, buyers want to envision themselves living there.
They do not want to think about the seller and why they choose to paint the exterior of the house Capri SW 6788.
While cherry red or bright blue may be appealing and trendy it can limit the number of buyers that come into a house. Buyers typically look at photos before seeing a house, and bright red or blue exterior paint is hard to hide in a photo. Navy blue is becoming a very popular exterior house color throughout the country.
It looks beautiful with natural wood accents, but it can still limit the number of potential buyers coming into the house. Ultimately, bold and bright colors are not the best exterior paint color to choose when selling a house.
There are plenty of things to consider when deciding on what is the best exterior paint color to sell a home. By far the biggest consideration is neutrality and warmth. Buyers want to be able to picture themselves living there.
They want to feel warm and welcome as they drive up, not only because it will be their home, but buyers also want their potential guests to feel welcome as they drive up to visit them. This section of the article will go into some of the top Sherwin Williams exterior paint colors of 2022.
Sherwin Williams does offer a gallery for some inspiration. Mr. Happy House is also a valuable resource when it comes to choosing an exterior paint color to help sell a house.
Greige is a new trendy color. It is a combination of gray and beige. Mindful Gray SW 7016 is a beautiful example of this trendy color theme. Greige offers warmth and sleekness to a property. It is more versatile to work with compared to the yellow undertones in beige, and it is more inviting and warm than gray because it does not have blue undertones.
Greige is a neutral color that can go with any palate. Its neutrality makes it an amazing color option for a house surrounded by greenery. Some experts are arguing that Greige will be in style for many years to come. Choosing an exterior paint color that is not a fading trend can increase the selling price of your home, as new homebuyers will not want to repaint when a new trend comes out the next year.
Gray is a tried and true exterior paint color. A gray exterior paint such as Pearl Gray SW 0052 is sophisticated while being warm and inviting. Gray is a nice neutral color that goes well with most people’s palettes. It is an easy color for people to envision as their home.
Shades of gray go very well with stonework if there is some on the property. There is a very broad color range when it comes to gray. There are soft and light grays such as the one previously mentioned, but there are also dark grays such as Grays Harbor SW 6236. Light grays will make the house look larger and more open whereas dark grays can make it look small and quaint.
The classic stark white paint can be a hit or miss when it is on the exterior of a house, but warm off-whites such as Alabaster SW 7008 can be a nice compromise. Off-whites are warm and inviting colors while still looking sleek.
They look amazing with brick, siding, and stucco. They also look great with wood and iron accents on the house. Off-white colors are extremely versatile and appease many palates. Their versatility and warmth allow potential buyers to picture themselves sipping on coffee in their rocking chairs on the front porch.
Off-white exterior paint colors give home buyers the sophistication of having a white house without out being blinded when the sun hits the house, which can happen with stark white houses.
Going green takes on a whole new meaning when it comes to painting the exterior of your house. Green is becoming increasingly more popular in 2022, because of its huge variety in shades. Evergreen Fog SW 1930 is green with gray undertones.
Evergreen fog has been named Sherwin Williams color of the year for its sophisticated beauty Basil SW 6194 is a deep, moody green that would go amazing with white or black accents.
Painting the exterior of your house green could increase your resale value because it works with a variety of palates. Green exterior paint colors go well with bricks or stone, and it looks great on stucco.
Which shade of green looks best on a house is going to vary by location and landscaping. For instance, Picnic SW 6731 could look great on a house in the tropics, but if it is painted on a house in the suburbs, the house could blend in too much with the grass and trees.
Taupe is a gray-brown mixed color. It can be a very difficult color to get perfect as there are many different options. Some shades of taupe may have too much yellow undertone or could look slightly pink depending on how the light hits it.
Due to the variety in shades of taupe, it can look great on any style home from contemporary to farmhouses. Taupe looks exceptionally well on beach houses and houses with brown and tan stonework.
Emerging Taupe SW 6045 showcases a perfect example of a shade of taupe with pink undertones. This color can look warm and inviting depending on the environment around the house, but it may not be the best exterior color to sell a house. Mr. Happy House can help determine which shade of taupe could potentially increase the resale value.
Navy and royal blue are a bit too bold for some palettes, but powder blue is soft and appealing to many people. A light blue can make a small house feel more welcoming and homey while adding charm to the house.
The best powder blue exterior paint color has grey undertones as the grey makes it more neutral. Open Air SW 6491 is a beautiful example of a light blue with grey undertones. This shade of blue would look amazing on the front door too. Blue is most people’s favorite color, which makes powder blue an excellent exterior paint color as it is not too bold or style specific.
When done properly and with the right shade, yellow can give off a warm, cheerful, and even energetic feeling. Many people dream of owning a yellow house, but it does not work well with many people’s palettes.
Painting a house yellow can drastically decrease the number of potential buyers coming through the door for a tour. House Digest has a brief article explaining why the exterior of a house should never be painted yellow. Yellow exterior paint is known for fading faster than other exterior colors. Some shades of yellow will only be made as interior paint because it will fade quickly in direct sunlight.
If the house is already painted yellow, but it is difficult to find a color to match, then give the Mr. Happy House crew a call. We can help you find a shade of yellow that matches, will not be too aggressive, and could potentially still increase the resale value of the house (only if you are located in the Northern Houston area).
Different shades of pink can go tremendously well with stone and brickwork, but wanting a pink house is not a common dream throughout the country. Yes, pink adds charm, and a light pink such as Blushing SW 6617 can make a house feel very welcoming and big. However, if a buyer is not interested in a pink house, they may choose to not tour the property.
When a house is painted pink, buyers will focus on how pink the house is, not the gorgeous columns or glass door. Exterior paint colors should enhance a house’s features, not drown them. Pink is an acquired color and because of this, it is not the best exterior paint color to add value to a home’s resale value.
Black is becoming a very popular exterior paint and it can look beautiful and sophisticated if done properly. Black is a neutral color and can bring some interest to a house that is lacking in charm and architecture.
However, it can look abrasive and may be too bold for potential buyers. It is important to remember that not all blacks are created equal.
Black paint with red undertones can give off a warmer feeling than black with blue undertones. The undertones in the paint can also make the house appear purple or blue depending on how the light hits it. Architectural digest goes into more detail about painting a house black and the things to be considered.
To sell a house, painting the exterior black may be trendy, but it will not add any value to the house and could send buyers running away.
Dark brown used to be a very popular interior and exterior paint color, but its time has come and gone. Dark brown is viewed by many as boring and drab. It also makes houses feel smaller and it gives off a dirty feeling even if the house has been freshly pressured washed.
Dark brown houses feel uninviting and can make the house feel old. Woodsy Brown SW 2924 is a great example of a dark brown that is not appealing on the exterior of a house. However, not all shades of brown are off the table. Nomadic Desert SW 6107 is a light brown/tan that would look great with white trim.
Since dark brown paint can make a house feel dirty, small, and unwelcoming it is not the best color to paint the exterior of a house when trying to sell.
Black has been the number one paint color for front doors and it continues to be the favorite for 2022. Black is the most popular because it stands out against the color of the house, and it is still considered a neutral color. Painting the front door a neutral color allows potential buyers to better imagine themselves living there.
Black works with any architectural style and will look good with almost any color. According to Homeadvisor painting, a front door black in 2021 increased a home’s resale value by $6,000. It is important to know that black is not always the best option.
Black absorbs more heat than any other color, therefore if the front door is exposed to sunlight the majority of the day, black is not a good painting option. No one wants to burn their hands when they touch the door during a tour or open house.
Blue and green are also popular door colors in 2022 and can be a good backup plan if the front door is exposed to a lot of sunlight throughout the day. It is important to stick with a neutral and soft blue or green.
If the color stands out too much it could send buyers running the other way. Red is becoming an increasingly popular front door color, but remember bright and bold colors can scare away potential buyers. If a buyer wants the front door to be a bold entrance piece they will paint it after moving in. It is much more feasible for a buyer to repaint a front door versus repainting the entire house. After all, the point is to increase the resale value of the house by repainting it a neutral color.
The garage door is the last thing most people think of when it comes to painting the exterior of a house. White is the tried-and-true color for garage doors. However, there are other colors that a garage door can be painted.
Black is not only popular on front doors, but it is also becoming popular on garage doors. Just keep in mind how much sun exposure your garage door gets because again no one wants to burn their hand on a door.
Many people choose to paint the garage door the same color as the siding on the house. Another option is to paint the garage door the same color as the shutters and the front door. Depending on the material the garage door is made of it can be painted with a color similar to Rookwood Medium Brown SW 2807 and made to look like wood. This style of garage door looks great on houses surrounded by woods and on farmhouses.
Curb appeal does play a role in whether a buyer puts an offer in on a home. Accents can add charm to a house, but they can also scare people away. Bold and bright colors can appeal to some people’s palates, but the safer option is to choose a neutral color. Bold colors can limit the number of people that come to look at a property, and the idea is to have more people touring the house, not less.
Black is becoming a very popular accent color. It can make a house pop and stand out while still giving off a warm and welcoming feel. Black accents look terrific on modern, contemporary, and farmhouse-style houses. It looks great with brick, stone, and woodwork around the house. Black trim on a house painted with Useful Gray SW 7050, which has blue undertones, can elevate a home to the next level. Black is not the best exterior paint color to sell a house, but it is a terrific accent color.
Accents are a great way to bring the spotlight to a house’s best attributes. It is important to be mindful of the attributes that should be accentuated. For instance, it would not make sense to paint the gutters cherry red. Gutters are a wonderful thing to have on a house, but that is not the first place a buyer’s attention should be drawn to.
Light-colored shutters can make a house look more inviting and open. Front and garage doors are amazing pieces that should be accentuated on a house. Many homebuyers prefer a house with a garage and by painting the garage door an accent color their eyes will be immediately drawn to that feature.
Sherwin Williams has a photo gallery of accents. This is a nice tool to help visualize some of the different options and color combinations out there. The biggest thing to remember when choosing an accent color is to pick something neutral. Some of these photos have bold combinations that may not appeal to many palates. The Mr. Happy House team is another tool that should be utilized when trying to figure out what color to accent a house. They have painted many houses and they know what color combinations work well together. They also know how to bring out a house’s character and charm through accents.
There are many factors to consider when trying to find the best exterior color to paint a house for selling, and having an extra set of eyes can help. Especially, when those extra eyes are professionals in the area. Mr. Happy House has done countless jobs in The Woodlands, Spring, Tomball, Magnolia, Texas areas.
We are familiar with the architectural styles of the surrounding neighborhoods and know which paint colors look better together. We can help you determine what undertones the roof has and what colors go best with your roof as well so that you can make your house so attractive for buyers that they will be begging you to accept their offer!
We can also help determine which color is going to pull out the house’s best features. It is ultimately your decision on what color to paint your house, but here at Mr. Happy House, we can help point you in the right direction.
There is an extensive list of things to consider when picking what exterior paint color is best to paint a house before selling it. According to the research choosing a neutral exterior paint color is the best way to increase the sell value of a house. Buyers are looking for something that does not stand out but still showcases the house’s best features.
Buyers want to make a house their own and it is easier to envision when they have a neutral background to work with. Selling a house can be a very emotional and stressful time, but Mr. Happy House can alleviate some of that stress. We are a talented group of house painters who can help pick out the best exterior paint color to sell a house for more money.
If you need a professional house painter in The Woodlands or Spring, Texas, give Mr. Happy House a call and we can make your house HAPPY!
Is the Soffit Part of the Roof?
Is the Soffit Part of the Roof? Is the Soffit Part of the Roof? When discussing the structural components of a building, many people often
Best Type of Siding to Install in Houston, TX
Best Type of Siding to Install in Houston, TX Best Type of Siding to Install in Houston, TX Are You Searching for the best type
Why Siding Repairs is More Expensive than Replacement
Why Siding Repairs is More Expensive than Replacement Why Siding Repairs is More Expensive than Replacement If your siding has to be repaired and the
Affiliate Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links to products or programs. We carefully select and test each product we promote, if you choose to purchase a product through these affiliate links, we may earn a small commission. This helps to us publish more free content just for you.
Mr. Happy House is a professional roofing, siding, and painting contractor specializing in residential roof installations, roof repair, siding repair & replacement, house painting, and seamless gutters. We service the North Houston areas including The Woodlands, Tomball, Spring, Conroe, Cypress, & Magnolia, TX. Call today to make your home happy!
Follow Us on Social Media!
