Like the hues you choose for indoors, exterior house colors should be ones you love coming home to day after day. That being said, if you’re planning to put your house on the market in the near future, the wise course is to consider which exterior paint colors are going to attract the broadest range of buyers. “Neutral and traditional colors are a good bet if you are going to paint your home’s exterior to get it ready to sell,” says Elizabeth Mendenhall, a realtor in Columbia, Missouri, and a 2014 regional vice president of the National Association of Realtors. “You want a look that is warm and inviting. Unique colors may turn away some potential buyers.” If you’re painting for resale, give some thought to these 12 exterior house paint colors with undeniable curb appeal.

Photo: istockphoto.com

“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.

Whether your home is situated on the shores of America’s coastline or on a cozy suburban cul-de-sac, fresh color combinations like this light blue and deep aqua can enhance architectural elements. Seen here, Behr’s Watery (HDC-CT-26) provides a tranquil backdrop for shutters and doors in bright Blue Metal (HDC-AC-25).

Photo: behr.com

“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.”

Photo: istockphoto.com

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.”

Photo: hendelhomes.com

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.

Photo: hendelhomes.com

Like all the best exterior house colors, a dark, earthy tone, like Sherwin-Williams Sable (6083), makes a solid statement: This house is here to stay. Shutters in reds, blues, blacks, or whites will complement the bold paint pick for stand-out curb appeal.

Photo: istockphoto.com