"The color you paint your home's exterior can make or break people's perception of your house," says Erika Woelfel, director of color marketing for Behr Paints. A trio of Behr colors created this traditional look: Hazelnut Cream (750C-2) as a base, accented by Gallery White (PPU12-12) and Dark Truffle (PPU5-19). "We're seeing a lot of putty, warm taupe, and gray hues—exterior house colors that blend in with the natural surroundings," reports Amy Elbert, senior architecture editor for Traditional Home. "Inspiration might come from stone used in the home's foundation or on walls and walkways on the property." In keeping with the natural trend, Jackie Jordan, director of color marketing for Sherwin-Williams, reveals that Tony Taupe (SW 7038) is one of the company's most popular choices among neutral exterior paint colors. "Sticking with classic neutrals is a good way to play it safe when planning to put your house up for sale," Jordan says. , he has received "literally thousands of requests for this paint color!"

And what is the magic combination? Benjamin Moore Copley Gray (HC-104) trimmed with Benjamin Moore Elephant Tusk (OC-8). Deep blue grays like the shade shown in this example "have a nautical, serene feeling," says Amy Hendel, designer for Hendel Homes, in Wayzata, Minnesota, who oversaw the renovation of this waterfront cottage. "It's also a good complement to white trim." "The color yellow on a house says 'happy' right off the bat," observes interior designer Carla Aston, of Aston Design Studio, in The Woodlands, Texas. But in order to attract the greatest number of potential buyers, stick with a pale shade. When the owners of this stately home chose a brighter yellow, Carla suggested they tone it down and lighten it up, resulting in this cheerful hue. "If your home is a showstopping Victorian, fresh color combinations like this light blue and red-brown interpretation can enhance fanciful architectural elements," says Behr's Erika Woelfel. Seen here, Behr's Skipper (570F-5) and Burnished Mahogany (160F-7).

A white clapboard farmhouse is an American icon with timeless appeal. For the renovation of the one pictured here, designer Amy Hendel considered many exterior house colors but ultimately, she chose Benjamin Moore Cloud White (967). "It's not a stark white, but has creamy yellow undertones that would complement any style of home," she says. A cross between green and gray, Benjamin Moore Cypress Green (509) is neutral without being boring, and makes a wonderful contrast to dark gray and black shutters. Related: 9 Paint Color Rules Worth Breaking Cheery, lighthouse red feels both traditional and fresh. Unlike other exterior house paint colors, Benjamin Moore Million Dollar Red (2003-10) pops out against any background, whether your home is nestled in trees or on a clean landscape outlined only by the broad sky. Related: 12 Easy Fixes for a Botched Paint Job Not quite white and almost yellow, this buttery in-between feels both warm and clean. Behr Oklahoma Wheat (350E-3) will match up beautifully with both dark browns and gray-blues for accents, and will positively glow next to the green of a well-kept lawn.

Related: 11 Problems You Can Solve with Paint Like all the best exterior house colors, dark, earthy Sherwin-Williams Sable (6083) makes a solid statement: This house is here to stay. Shutters in reds, blues, blacks, or yellows will complement the bold paint pick for stand-out curb appeal. Related: Hard Sell: 7 Pretty House Colors That Scare Buyers Away Zillow Digs home in Brookhaven, GAwhich is the best paint for exterior woodwork Traditional forest green is an historical winner when it comes to house colors, and for good reason. which is the best paint for exterior woodworkSherwin-Williams Vogue Green (0065), rich and welcoming, is no exception. commercial christmas decorations on sale

This natural shade will evoke a homey feeling for all who approach it, whether they reside there, or are just visiting. Refresh Your Home with 8 Easy Outdoor Paint ProjectsContrasting colors look appealing on a small house. The right combination of paint color for the exterior of your house takes on added importance when your house is small. The goal is to make your house appear as expansive as possible while focusing on appealing architectural features to make your house stand out. Most exterior paint combinations on small homes have two main colors -- one for the bulk of the house and the other for the trim and special features. Blue and White Blue and white work magic for a small house because blue grounds the home, making it look more substantial. White trim brightens the entire house and makes the blue look crisp and finely detailed. Midnight blue and navy blue are too dark for most small homes, and pastel blue looks faded, dull and outdated. Opt for medium shades of blue, such as blue-gray, cornflower blue, ocean blue or sky blue.

Stark white paint works best for the trim, edging, arches and any additional architectural features. Paint your gutters and downspouts blue, so they blend with the house and don't stand out. Black and White Black and white is a familiar color combination because white expands a house, making it appear larger than it really is. Paint the entire house white and use black paint for the trim and shutters. Black fades quickly when exposed to sunlight, so opt for a high-performance paint that has ultraviolet protection. Black trim is especially appealing on a white house when the roof is also black, charcoal gray or light gray. If black is too dark for you, opt for a dark or medium shade of gray for the trim. To avoid unwanted shadows and help your paint effectively reflect natural light, paint your window sashes and porch ceilings white. You can always add colorful flowers, vivid landscape, a brightly painted front door or a zesty "welcome" mat to spruce up the black-and-white combo with color.

Brown and Tan Brown and tan team up for a warm and welcoming color combination that is subtle and won't easily go out of style. Choose a light, medium or neutral tan shade for the bulk of the house. These hues aren't dark enough to shrink the appearance of a house, so they work well on small houses. Then, select a shade two or three shades darker on the same color swatch for the trim and architectural features. Choosing colors from the same swatch ensures that the colors blend harmoniously. You might choose a brown or taupe accent color for the trim that also matches one of the flecks of color in your roof. Sage Green and White If you prefer a darker base color, opt for sage green. Its warm undertones and muted hue work well on a small house, especially if you use white, off-white or beige to highlight your trim and architectural accents. Sage green blends nicely with outdoor surroundings, such as trees, bushes and vines, so it makes a small house look like a continuous, fluid extension of the outdoors.