How do you choose exterior paint colors for a house?
Quick Answer: Start with the parts of the house that are not changing, such as the roof, brick, stone, windows, and other permanent materials. Then choose a body color that works with those features, add trim and accent colors that support the architecture, and test large samples outside in different light before deciding. If resale matters, use national buyer research as guidance rather than treating any one color as a guaranteed value increase.
Choosing an exterior color sounds simple until you stand in front of hundreds of paint chips and realize the color has to work with your roof, brick, stone, windows, landscaping, architectural style, sunlight—and possibly future buyers.
There is also a lot of advice online claiming that one particular color is “best” for resale. The evidence is more nuanced than that. Some national studies have found associations between exterior colors, front-door colors, and buyer response, but the results change over time and often depend on the rest of the house.
A better approach is to understand how to choose exterior paint colors for the particular home in front of you. That means starting with the parts of the house you cannot easily change, considering its architecture and surroundings, testing colors outdoors, and using resale research as evidence—not as a rule.
Does Exterior Paint Color Really Affect Home Value?
There is evidence that exterior color can affect how buyers respond to a home, but homeowners should be careful about turning that evidence into a promise about sale price.
One of Zillow’s better-known national analyses looked at more than 135,000 photos from homes sold between 2010 and 2018. In that study, yellow exteriors were associated with homes selling for about $3,400 less than expected. Black or charcoal front doors, by contrast, were associated with higher sale prices. Zillow specifically cautioned that these were associations and might not represent a causal difference in value.
An earlier 2017 Zillow analysis found that homes with “greige” exteriors—essentially a blend of gray and beige—sold for more than similar homes with medium-brown or tan stucco exteriors. Again, Zillow cautioned that color was only one of many factors affecting price and that the study did not establish that changing the color itself caused the price difference.
Those studies are useful, but they are also several years old. Exterior color preferences change, housing styles differ, and real estate markets are local.
The safest conclusion is:
Exterior color can influence buyer perception and curb appeal, but there is not a reliable formula in which painting a house a particular color automatically adds a predictable dollar amount to its value.
What Does the Newer Research Tell Us About Curb Appeal?
More recent Zillow research provides an interesting clue: context matters at least as much as the color itself.
In 2026, Zillow’s behavioral science team studied how more than 2,000 recent buyers and home shoppers reacted to different front-door colors placed on four different exterior types. Participants evaluated the homes for overall appeal, likelihood of touring, and the amount they would consider offering.
There was no universal winning door color.
A light blue-green door performed especially well on the solid-white house in the study and was associated with an estimated $5,023 offer premium. A charcoal-gray door worked particularly well with dark red brick and was associated with an estimated $3,753 premium there—but the same dark gray performed poorly on a light-brick exterior.
That is a much more useful lesson than simply saying:
“Paint your door blue.”
The better question is:
“What door color works with the exterior already on this house?”
Neutral or Bold: Which Exterior Paint Colors Appeal to More Buyers?
There is no strong current evidence showing that every homeowner preparing to sell should choose either a completely neutral exterior or a bold one.
Older Zillow data gave relatively favorable results to neutral exterior colors such as greige, while its newer front-door research shows that a stronger accent color can work very well when it complements the rest of the exterior.
That suggests a practical compromise.
If resale is a priority, the main body of the house is usually the place to be more cautious. Whites, off-whites, muted grays, greiges, subdued greens, taupes, and other restrained colors can be easier to coordinate with permanent materials.
The front door and smaller architectural features offer more room for personality.
Sherwin-Williams takes a similar design approach, recommending that homeowners first consider permanent elements such as the roof, brick, and stone, then use details such as doors and shutters for stronger accent colors when appropriate.
That is professional color guidance, not proof that neutral siding will sell a Lawrence home for more money.
There is an important difference.
Start With the Parts of the House You Are Not Painting
Before looking for exterior house paint colors, stand across the street from your home and temporarily ignore the existing paint.
Look instead at what is staying.
That might include:
- roof shingles
- brick
- stone
- unpainted masonry
- window frames
- garage doors
- gutters and downspouts
- permanent metal finishes
- concrete
- decks or natural wood
- landscaping
Sherwin-Williams specifically recommends starting with fixed elements such as the roof, brick, and stone because those colors should influence the paint palette rather than being treated as an afterthought.
If your brick has warm red, orange, or brown undertones, a very cool blue-gray siding color may fight with it.
If the roof has strong warm-brown tones, the same problem can happen with an icy gray or blue-white.
If your stone contains several colors, one of its quieter undertones can become a useful starting point for the body or trim color.
The goal is not necessarily to match everything.
It is to make the permanent materials and the new paint look as though they belong on the same house.
Pay Attention to Undertones, Not Just Color Names
“White,” “gray,” “beige,” and “green” are not precise descriptions.
One white may lean creamy yellow.
Another may have a gray undertone.
A third may look slightly blue.
Two gray paint chips that appear nearly identical in a store can look noticeably different once one is placed beside red brick and the other beside limestone.
Sherwin-Williams advises homeowners to pay attention to undertones when building an exterior palette.
This becomes especially important with large exterior surfaces because the body color occupies so much visual space.
A subtle undertone on a small chip can become much more noticeable across an entire side of a house.
Let the Architecture Help Narrow the Choices
The architecture does not dictate one historically “correct” color for every house, but it provides useful boundaries.
Lawrence has a much broader range of residential architecture than a drive through one subdivision might suggest.
City historic-resource documents identify Craftsman bungalows and other early-20th-century residential forms in Lawrence. An East Lawrence architectural survey, for example, documents Craftsman bungalows using wood, shingles, masonry, and other natural materials.
Lawrence’s historic documentation also identifies Ranch houses from the post-World War II period, while Old West Lawrence contains a large concentration of 19th- and early-20th-century architecture with brick, wood framing, porches, bay windows, and other prominent details.
Those differences matter when selecting exterior paint colors for houses.
Craftsman and Bungalow Homes
Craftsman architecture often includes visible structural and decorative elements—porches, columns, brackets, exposed details, wood, and masonry.
That gives you opportunities to use a restrained body color with contrasting trim or architectural accents.
Earth-inspired greens, muted browns, warm neutrals, subdued blues, and similar palettes can complement natural materials, but those are design suggestions rather than resale-price findings.
Ranch Homes
A ranch typically has a long, low horizontal profile.
Using too many unrelated colors can break that long façade into visual pieces.
A simpler palette often lets brick, stone, rooflines, and landscaping do more of the work.
If the home combines brick with painted siding, use the brick as a major reference point rather than selecting the siding color independently.
Traditional Suburban Homes
Many newer homes already contain several permanent colors through roofing, stone veneer, brick, garage doors, and windows.
Adding three or four unrelated paint colors on top of those materials can make the façade unnecessarily busy.
In this situation, simplifying the palette may be more effective than adding another statement color.
Older and Historic Lawrence Homes
Older homes can support more detailed color schemes because the architecture itself may contain more trim, porches, brackets, columns, and other features worth distinguishing.
But there is an additional question:
Is the property historically designated?
Lawrence has local historic landmarks and historic districts, including Old West Lawrence and Oread, and the City maintains an Historic Resources Commission and review procedures for designated properties.
Do not assume that every old house is regulated simply because it is old.
If your property is a designated landmark, is inside a designated district, or falls within an applicable context area, check with the City of Lawrence before making exterior changes that might require review. Some routine maintenance involving previously painted surfaces may be treated differently from more substantial exterior alterations, but the property’s designation and the exact work matter.
How Many Exterior Colors Should a House Have?
There is no research-backed number that every house must follow.
A useful starting point for many homes is two or three main color roles:
Body color — the largest painted surface.
Trim color — fascia, window trim, corner boards, and other architectural details.
Accent color — usually the front door, shutters, or another smaller feature.
Benjamin Moore’s exterior color tools commonly organize palettes around siding, trim, and door colors, which reflects this familiar three-part approach.
That does not mean every house needs three different colors.
A simple ranch may look better with one primary color plus trim.
A detailed Victorian-era home may support a more complex palette.
Brick or stone also counts visually even though you are not painting it. A house with red brick, gray roofing, white windows, black gutters, and a painted siding color already contains several colors before you add an accent door.
Count what your eye sees—not simply the number of paint cans being purchased.
How Should the Front Door Fit Into the Exterior Palette?
The front door is one of the safest places to experiment because it occupies relatively little area and can create a clear focal point.
But the newer Zillow research makes one thing particularly clear:
Do not choose a door color independently from the house.
A color that performed well with one exterior in Zillow’s study performed much worse with another.
So instead of asking:
“What is the best front-door color?”
ask:
“What does this exterior need?”
A mostly white exterior may be able to carry a stronger accent.
A house with red brick, stone, dark roofing, and several other materials may benefit from a quieter door.
A door can either create contrast or add one more competing element.
Those are not the same thing.
How Sunlight Changes Exterior Paint Colors
Exterior colors should never be selected under store lighting alone.
Benjamin Moore notes that colors appear different in direct sunlight and shade, and that the direction a house faces can change how a color is perceived. It recommends viewing exterior color samples outside throughout the day.
In bright sunlight, a color may appear lighter or more intense.
Under a deep porch or mature tree canopy, the same color can look darker and cooler.
The south and west sides of a Lawrence home may receive very different light from a shaded north-facing wall.
This does not mean Kansas has its own special exterior-color formula.
It means Lawrence homeowners need to evaluate colors under the actual light falling on their own house.
What About UV Exposure and Fading in Kansas?
Sunlight does more than change how a color looks.
Over time, it can also affect the coating itself.
Sherwin-Williams identifies intense sunlight as one contributor to exterior fading, and Benjamin Moore identifies resistance to weather and UV exposure as an important performance consideration for exterior coatings.
Sherwin-Williams also notes that all exterior paint eventually loses some color integrity and that different pigments and paint formulations can fade at different rates.
For a Lawrence homeowner, the practical lesson is not simply:
“Choose a light color.”
It is:
Consider both the color and the coating system.
If one side of your house receives strong afternoon sun, ask how the proposed product and color are expected to perform under that exposure.
A beautiful color in the wrong exterior coating is not a good long-term color decision.
Test Exterior Paint Colors Before Committing
This may be the most important practical step in the entire process.
Do not choose an exterior color solely from:
- a phone screen
- a Pinterest photo
- a manufacturer’s website
- a neighbor’s house
- a one-inch paint chip
- a sample viewed under store lighting
Benjamin Moore recommends making larger sample areas for exterior evaluation and viewing those samples outside so you can observe them under changing sunlight and shade.
Sherwin-Williams likewise recommends testing actual paint samples after narrowing the choices.
Look at your finalists:
- in the morning
- around midday
- in late-afternoon light
- on sunny days
- in shade
- beside the roof
- beside brick or stone
- beside the windows and trim
- from across the street
Do not judge only from three feet away.
Exterior color is experienced at the scale of the entire building.
Should You Consider the Neighboring Houses?
Yes—but not because your house must match them.
Benjamin Moore recommends considering both the architecture and the surrounding environment when selecting exterior colors. Sherwin-Williams similarly includes landscaping and other surroundings in its exterior-color guidance.
If every neighboring house is beige, yours does not also have to be beige.
But it is worth seeing your proposed color as part of the street rather than as an isolated paint chip.
This matters even more if resale is part of the goal.
A distinctive house can be appealing.
A house that looks visually disconnected from everything around it may appeal to a narrower group of buyers.
That last point is design reasoning—not a Lawrence-specific sales-price finding.
When Do HOA Rules Matter?
If your property is governed by a homeowners association, check its current architectural rules before buying the paint.
Some associations maintain approved palettes or require architectural-review approval for exterior color changes.
Do not assume that because your neighbor has a particular color, the same color will automatically be approved for your property. Rules can change, and individual materials or lots may be treated differently.
This is separate from Lawrence historic-preservation review.
An HOA is private governance through community covenants.
Historic review involves applicable city or preservation regulations.
A property could potentially involve one, both, or neither.
What Do We Actually Know About Exterior Color in Lawrence, Kansas?
This is where it is important not to overstate the research.
I could not find a credible Lawrence-specific or Douglas County study showing that a particular exterior paint color produces a measurable increase in:
- sale price
- listing clicks
- showing requests
- days on market
- buyer offers
I also did not find a credible Kansas-specific study that establishes a particular exterior color as the strongest resale choice for Lawrence homeowners.
So it would be misleading to say something like:
“Greige adds $3,000 to a Lawrence home.”
The Zillow studies discussed above are national studies. They provide useful evidence about buyer behavior.
They do not prove what a specific buyer in Lawrence will pay for a particular house.
What is locally documented is Lawrence’s architectural diversity and historic housing stock. City and National Register materials show housing that ranges from 19th-century structures and Craftsman bungalows to postwar Ranch homes and newer development.
That makes a house-specific approach especially important.
The right exterior colors for an Old West Lawrence home with elaborate trim may be very different from the right palette for a 1960s ranch or a newer suburban house with stone veneer and dark windows.
If You Are Selling, Should You Follow the Research or Follow the House?
Both—but start with the house.
Use resale research to identify possible risks and opportunities.
Then filter those findings through:
Architecture → permanent materials → light → neighborhood → condition → buyer audience.
Older Zillow data suggests that certain broadly neutral exteriors performed better than some stronger colors. Newer Zillow door-color research shows that an accent color’s effect can change dramatically depending on the exterior behind it.
Those findings point in the same direction:
Context matters.
If you expect to sell soon, it can also be useful to ask a Lawrence real estate agent what buyers are responding to in your price range and neighborhood.
National data can identify broad patterns.
A local agent sees the actual competing listings.
A Simple Process for Choosing Your Exterior Colors
If I were narrowing exterior paint colors for a Lawrence home, I would work in this order:
- Identify everything that is staying. Start with the roof, brick, stone, windows, gutters, garage door, and other permanent materials.
- Identify the architecture. Decide whether the house benefits from a simple palette or has architectural details worth emphasizing.
- Choose the main body-color family first. Do not start with the front door.
- Check the undertones against the permanent materials. Eliminate combinations that fight the roof, brick, or stone.
- Choose trim that supports the body color. It can contrast, but it should not become a second unrelated statement.
- Choose the accent last. The front door is where you can decide whether the house needs contrast or restraint.
- Sample the finalists outside. Look at them throughout the day and from across the street.
- Check HOA or historic requirements if they apply. Do this before purchasing the full quantity of paint.
- If resale is the goal, consider local buyer expectations. Treat national color studies as evidence, not instructions.
- Only then make the final decision.
That process is more reliable than searching for a universal list of the “best exterior house colors.”
Exterior Paint Color Selection Checklist
Titleist Painting
Lawrence, Kansas
Website: titleistpainting.com
Phone: (785) 218-6223
Print this checklist or save it on your phone while you compare exterior paint colors.
The checklist is meant to help organize your decision. Checking a box does not mean a particular color is automatically right for your house.
Permanent Features
☐ I identified the color and undertones of the roof.
☐ I identified any brick, stone, or masonry that will remain.
☐ I considered the existing window-frame color.
☐ I considered gutters and downspouts.
☐ I considered the garage-door color.
☐ I considered decks, natural wood, concrete, and other visible fixed materials.
☐ I looked at landscaping that strongly affects the colors around the house.
Architecture and Surroundings
☐ I considered my home’s architectural style.
☐ I identified architectural features that may deserve a separate trim or accent color.
☐ I looked at the house from across the street rather than only close up.
☐ I considered neighboring homes without assuming my house must match them.
☐ I checked whether HOA exterior-color rules apply to my property.
☐ I checked whether historic-district or landmark requirements may apply.
Build the Exterior Color Palette
☐ I selected the main body-color family before choosing the front-door color.
☐ I checked the body-color undertones against the roof.
☐ I checked the body-color undertones against brick or stone.
☐ I selected a trim color that works with the body color and permanent materials.
☐ I decided whether the house actually needs an additional accent color.
☐ I considered the front-door color only after the main exterior palette was established.
☐ I counted brick, stone, roofing, windows, and other permanent materials as part of the overall visible color palette.
Test Before Deciding
☐ I narrowed my choices to a manageable number of finalists.
☐ I viewed large samples outdoors instead of relying only on small paint chips.
☐ I looked at the samples in morning light.
☐ I looked at the samples around midday.
☐ I looked at the samples in late-afternoon light.
☐ I checked how the colors look in direct sunlight.
☐ I checked how the colors look in shade.
☐ I viewed the samples beside the roof.
☐ I viewed the samples beside brick or stone.
☐ I viewed the samples beside the existing windows and trim.
☐ I stepped across the street to judge the colors at the scale of the whole house.
☐ I gave myself enough time to see the colors under more than one lighting condition before deciding.
Resale Considerations
☐ If I may sell soon, I considered whether the main body color could appeal to a reasonably broad group of buyers.
☐ I treated national color studies as evidence rather than a guarantee about my home’s value.
☐ I did not assume that a nationally reported color premium will apply specifically to Lawrence, Kansas.
☐ I considered whether a stronger accent would work better on a smaller feature such as the front door rather than across the entire house.
☐ If resale is important, I considered asking a local real estate professional what buyers are responding to in my neighborhood and price range.
Coating and Exposure
☐ I considered which sides of the house receive the strongest sunlight.
☐ I considered whether some walls remain shaded for much of the day.
☐ I understand that color selection and coating selection are related but are not the same decision.
☐ I checked that the proposed exterior coating is appropriate for the material being painted.
☐ I considered manufacturer guidance if the home has vinyl siding or another material with specific coating or color requirements.
Final Decision
☐ The body color works with the permanent features of the house.
☐ The trim supports the body color rather than competing with it.
☐ The accent color has a clear purpose.
☐ The palette makes sense with the architecture.
☐ The colors still look good after viewing them throughout the day.
☐ I confirmed any HOA or historic requirements that apply.
☐ I am comfortable with how the entire house looks from the street—not just how individual paint chips look up close.
My Final Exterior Colors
Body color: ______________________________________
Manufacturer/color number: ________________________
Trim color: ______________________________________
Manufacturer/color number: ________________________
Front door/accent color: ___________________________
Manufacturer/color number: ________________________
Other exterior color: ______________________________
Surface/location: __________________________________
Notes From My Color Test
What colors looked best in morning light?
What colors looked best in afternoon light?
Did any color clash with the roof, brick, or stone?
Which combination looked best from across the street?
Anything else I noticed?
Keep this checklist with your project notes. If you later speak with a painter, designer, or real estate professional, having your permanent materials, sample observations, and preferred colors written down can make the conversation much more useful.
The Best Exterior Color Is the One That Solves the Whole House
Choosing exterior paint is not really about finding one attractive color.
It is about putting together a palette that makes sense with the roof, masonry, architecture, light, and surroundings—and, when resale matters, avoiding choices that unnecessarily narrow buyer appeal.
Research can help.
So can trends.
But neither should override what is physically on the house.
Start with the permanent materials. Respect the architecture. Test the colors outside. Look at them in Lawrence sunlight. And if you are selling, use national buyer research cautiously rather than treating a particular shade as a guaranteed investment.
If you’re also weighing interior colors, our guide on the best paint colors to increase home value covers the room-by-room buyer-response research for the inside of your home.
If you would like help looking at how exterior colors work with the permanent features of your own home, you can learn more about exterior house painting in Lawrence, KS or request an estimate. No pressure—the first step can simply be figuring out what works with the house you already have.
Sources
- Zillow — national Paint Color Analysis research on home sale prices and exterior/front-door colors
- Zillow — 2026 front-door color buyer-response research
- Sherwin-Williams — exterior color-selection guidance, undertones, fixed exterior elements, and fading
- Benjamin Moore — exterior color, sheen, sampling, lighting, and exterior-palette guidance
- City of Lawrence, Kansas — Historic Resources information
- Lawrence historic-resource and architectural survey materials
- National Register of Historic Places documentation for Lawrence-area architecture
