Using the Psychology of Color to Increase Home Sales

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. Unlike siding 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.