What Are the Top Color Trends for Resale Value?

When you’re re-siding your home, it’s important to consider how your design choices will impact your home’s resale value. While the material you choose can make a difference, the color of your home is a great way to add value and catch a buyer’s eye.

There are many popular siding colors to choose from—and many that could be attractive to a potential buyer. But because color is so subjective, the colors you love may not appeal to others. Let’s take a look at some of the most popular siding colors for houses to see which colors also lead the way as the

GRAY AND WHITE

What’s the best house color for resale? Simple tones, such as gray and white, tend to be popular no matter the geographical area and can help your home sell. These colors are used often in the highly sought-after new, modern looks.

Buck Christensen, owner and president of Eagle Siding, Inc., recommends this route. “If you wanted one good color for resale right now, I’d say dark gray. It doesn’t tend to go out of style.”

Ben Bogie, production manager at Kolbert Building, agrees. “Grays and whites are safe bets,” he says. If you’re looking for siding color ideas ahead of selling your home, these represent a common palette that future buyers will love.

EARTH TONES

Though they represent a somewhat older style, homes clad in earth tones will always fit in. For many years siding in earth tones was all that was easily available, which led to its widespread use. Like gray and white, these colors—neutral browns, tans, creams and “griege” (a combination of grey and beige)—will help your home appear inviting and mesh well with many neighborhood areas.

In this case, exterior home upgrades in the material of your siding in addition to a clean new color can add value to your home. LP® SmartSide® ExpertFinish® Trim & Siding is a great option for a durable, elevated new look. With many proprietary neutral options, including Snowscape White, Quarry Gray, Terra Brown, Desert Stone and Shoreline Cream, you can refresh your home’s curb appeal while ensuring its durability.

BLUE

According to Christensen, blue siding is more popular than ever. “There are a lot of different blues,” he says. “If you don’t have the right one it might look good today, but in five years it’s not going to look so good anymore.” He suggests choosing a blue toward the middle of the spectrum. Selecting a timeless, more neutral blue shade is key.

RED

Red can draw lots of opinions. Many homeowners either love—or really dislike—red on a home. Christensen holds that reds can look great, but advises, “If you are selecting a color for a resale specifically, I would go with something more neutral.”

However, red is worth considering if it aligns with the style of homes in your area. For example, many modern or contemporary homes with unique designs may trend toward bolder colors. Don’t rule it out—simply consider whether the typical buyer in your area is likely to respond to it well. Depending on the area’s style, it could be the

BLACK

Bogie identifies one siding trend as risky for a resale—black. “I’ve recently seen whole houses done in black,” he says. “Matte black really makes a home stand out, and it can also look really fantastic as it highlights some of the shadow lines and the architectural details.”

Black siding may not be for everyone, but if your home is located in a city where interesting, out-of-the-box contemporary homes lead the way, it might be a good option to catch the eye of a buyer.

POPS OF COLOR

If you don’t want to take the risk of going bold for the main color of the home, there are other ways to bring in pops of color and style to boost curb appeal and ultimately resale value, like a bright front door or bold shutters. Throughout his career, Bogie has seen vivid accents add unique charm to otherwise traditional houses. “Most people want a home that has some level of character to it,” he reflects.

When you’re thinking over siding color ideas with resale value in mind, popular neutral colors may be best—but that doesn’t mean you can’t use color to boost your home’s personality.

For more inspiration on colors that bring out the beauty of your home, visit the inspiration gallery and explore the LP® SmartSide® Home Visualizer.