More than one in 10 Americans plan an exterior paint job in the next year, based on a nationwide survey from the Consumer Reports National Research Center. Most cited tired paint, but almost half wanted a different color to boost their home’s resale value. Popular combos from our Facebook fans include Mediterranean yellow with white trim, and light brown with cream trim and hunter-green shutters. You’ll find similar schemes on real-estate hot lists.
Suppose you prefer other colors. We spoke with real estate agents and paint experts, such as members of the Paint Quality Institute, an industry group, about colors to choose and a few to skip, whether you’re selling or staying put.
No matter what color you choose, you'll need a good paint that lasts. In Consumer Reports tests, Ace Hardware’s Royal Exteriors now rivals Home Depot’s Behr and Lowe’s Valspar, two of our top satin and semigloss paints. As with the Behr and Valspar, both Ace paints have a lifetime warranty and endured the equivalent of nine years outdoors without cracks. And at less than $30 per gallon, they cost up to $11 less. But the home-center brands proved to be better at fending off dirt and mildew. A newcomer, Behr Marquee, also looks good so far.
Here are colors to consider and others to overlook:
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—Ed Perratore
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