When looking to boost your property value and curb appeal, the color of your new siding plays a crucial role. The right siding color can significantly impact potential buyers, enhance your home's overall market value, and impact its energy efficiency. A common question we get from homeowners is what color they should choose to get the best ROI.
The simple answer is...it depends.
What siding materials and styles are you going with? The best color for metal siding will differ from vinyl siding or stone veneer. To cover all bases, we decided to compile the best options and those to avoid when using new siding to increase your home's value.
Why Does Color Impact Curb Appeal?
The color of your new siding sets the mood and style of your entire property. It can evoke specific emotions and influence a buyers' perceptions of your home. While personal preferences are necessary, considering widely appealing, timeless colors is crucial for maximizing your home's value.
Importance of Color Psychology
Understanding color psychology can help when choosing the best siding color for your home. Different colors evoke various emotions and impressions, which can have a profound impact on motivating buyers. By leveraging the power of color, you can create a positive and appealing atmosphere.
Warm vs. Cool Colors
Warm colors such as beige, taupe, and soft grays create a welcoming and inviting ambiance, making possible buyers feel comfortable. These colors are versatile and can complement various architectural styles. On the other hand, cool colors like blues and greens evoke a sense of tranquility and relaxation, appealing to buyers looking for a peaceful sanctuary.
Avoiding Bold and Trendy Colors
While choosing bold or trendy colors for your new siding can be tempting, it's important to exercise caution. Bright, unconventional colors may appeal to a specific niche of buyers but can deter others. Additionally, trendy colors can quickly go out of style, diminishing your home's overall appeal and resale value.
Vinyl Siding: A Popular Choice
Vinyl siding is a favorite among homeowners due to its cost-effectiveness, durability, and low maintenance needs. It can breathe new life into your home's exterior and significantly enhance curb appeal.
The Top Color for Vinyl
When it comes to new vinyl siding, white is often the most appealing color choice. Its clean, timeless look fits a variety of architectural styles, from colonial houses to modern minimalist designs. White siding accentuates your home's features and enhances its overall curb appeal.
Other Color Options For Vinyl
While white is a safe choice, other colors can also increase the resale value of a home with vinyl siding. Soft neutrals like beige, light gray, and cream provide a warm and inviting aesthetic. Light pastel shades can add a touch of color while maintaining broad appeal.
The Best Style for Vinyl
Traditional lap or horizontal style is often the most popular choice for new vinyl siding. This style mimics the appearance of wood siding without the associated maintenance, adding charm and character to your home.
Fiber Cement Siding: Durability and Aesthetics
New fiber cement siding is known for its durability and versatility. This material alone can increase your home value over vinyl, and choosing the right color will maximize that boost.
The Top Color for Fiber Cement
For fiber cement siding, neutral tones like beige, gray, and taupe are generally the most attractive. These colors balance warmth and modernity and resist fading, maintaining their appeal for longer.
Other Color Options For Fiber Cement
In addition to neutral colors, earthy tones like olive green and warm browns can enhance the value with fiber cement siding. These colors create a connection with nature and add a touch of uniqueness to the property.
The Best Style for Fiber Cement
The board-and-batten style, alternating wide and narrow vertical panels, is particularly effective with fiber cement siding. It adds an interesting visual element, emphasizes the height of your home, and creates a sense of unique charm that potential buyers will find irresistible.
Wood Siding: Natural Charm and Value
Wood siding significantly increases your home's value due to its natural charm and cozy ambiance. It's a classic siding material that has stood the test of time.
The Top Color for Wood
When it comes to color for wood, light stains like honey or amber typically offer the best return. These colors reveal the wood's grain and natural tones, adding depth and texture to your home's exterior.
Other Color Options For Wood
While light stains are popular, darker shades like rich browns can also enhance the beauty of wood siding. These colors create a sense of elegance and sophistication, particularly when paired with homes that have a traditional or rustic architectural style.
The Best Style for Wood
With its rustic, horizontal planks, the clapboard style is often the best choice for wood siding. It's a traditional, timeless style enhances the wood's natural beauty, contributing to your home's curb appeal.
Metal Siding: Modern and Resilient
Metal siding, especially steel, is a durable and modern choice often used for homes with a contemporary design aesthetic. It's known for resisting extreme weather conditions, making it particularly appealing in regions with harsh winters.
The Top Color for Metal
Darker shades of gray and charcoal are often the best color choices for metal siding. These colors help mask potential dents or scratches and contribute to a sleek, modern look associated with metal siding.
Other Color Options For Metal
While darker shades are popular, lighter hues like silver and metallic finishes can create an eye-catching and unique appearance for homes with metal siding. These colors reflect light and give a sense of modernity and sophistication.
The Best Style for Metal
Vertical panels or the corrugated style can accentuate the clean lines and modern aesthetics of metal siding. This helps your home stand out to buyers, especially those searching for a modern or industrial-style home.
Stone Veneer Siding: Elegance and Charm
Stone veneer offers the elegance of natural stone at a fraction of the cost and weight. It's a popular siding material for homeowners seeking a theme of charm, durability, and practicality.
The Top Color for Stone Veneer
For stone veneer siding, look for colors that mimic natural stone. This means warm beiges, soft grays, and subtle browns. The closer it looks to fully stacked stone, the more significant the impact on property value.
Other Color Options For Stone Veneer
Rich, earthy tones like deep reds and browns can also add a touch of luxury and sophistication to homes with stone veneer siding. These colors create a striking visual contrast and make a strong impression on possible buyers.
The Best Style for Stone Veneer
The stacked stone style is an attractive choice for stone veneer siding. This style gives the impression of craftsmanship and adds a textured, three-dimensional look to your home.
New Siding: An Investment in Your Home
When planning your home remodel, the siding material, color, and style you choose can significantly affect your home's aesthetic appeal and, by extension, its value. Whether you're replacing existing siding or selecting new siding, this decision can profoundly impact your house's overall value.
Complementary Color Palettes
When choosing the color of your new siding, it's crucial to consider the overall color palette of your home. Coordinating the new siding color with exterior elements, such as the roof, trim, and doors, can create a cohesive and visually pleasing look. Harmonizing colors can enhance the overall appeal of your home and contribute to its value.
The Importance of Quality Installation
While selecting the right color and style of new siding is vital, it's equally important to ensure proper installation. Even the best siding choice can lose its appeal if poorly installed. Hiring a professional siding contractor with experience with the chosen material is essential to achieve the desired aesthetic and maximize the value of your investment.
Regular Maintenance and Cleaning
To maintain the value of your home, it's crucial to keep your new siding in good condition through regular maintenance and cleaning. This includes inspecting for any damage, such as cracks or warping, and addressing it promptly. Cleaning the siding periodically can help remove dirt, grime, and mildew, keeping it looking fresh and appealing.
Seeking Professional Advice
While this article provides general guidelines for choosing new siding colors and styles with good value, it's important to consider consulting with a real estate agent or a professional designer. A professional siding contractor can provide valuable insights and expertise specific to your local housing market and architectural style.
Siding isn't just about aesthetics — it's about protecting your investment in your home. The right siding choice can enhance your home's curb appeal, resist extreme weather conditions, offer energy efficiency, and make your house more appealing to potential buyers. Careful consideration of all siding options and professional advice can ensure that your new siding beautifies your home and enhances its market value.
By choosing timeless colors, durable materials, and complementary styles, you can invest wisely in your home's future and enjoy a higher value when the time comes to sell. Remember, siding is not just an expense but a smart investment that pays off in terms of increased home value, lower utility bills, and minimal maintenance.