# Home Siding Color Beliefs **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 12, 2015, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-siding-color-beliefs/717467 "2015-04-12T02:14:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2015, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-siding-color-beliefs/717467/21 "2015-04-13T06:26:46Z")
I can’t recall ever seeing a blue house. Grey, many times, but not a real blue. Maybe houses on the beach, but I’m 800 miles from a beach. 😉 I’m not sure why, but pastels aren’t often used on houses. Earth tones are typically used on the exterior. I guess because, … it’s outside. 😉 [![](https://www.creativecolorschemes.com/resources/free-color-schemes/images/earth-tone-color-scheme.png) ](https://www.creativecolorschemes.com/resources/free-color-schemes/images/earth-tone-color-scheme.png) If someone is painting. I’d say\* use whatever color they like\*. Repaint with a neutral color just before selling. Vinyl siding is more permanent. Whatever color is chosen will be there for a few decades. Also, color choices for vinyl are limited compared to paint. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2015, 11:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-siding-color-beliefs/717467/22 "2015-04-13T11:33:00Z")
> [@t-bonham@scc.net](#): > > Red is for barns. > Houses are white with green trim. My house is red. It’s brick, but red bricks. My folks put brick-red siding on the [house](https://www.google.com/maps/@39.392108,-76.559125,3a,75y,1.8h,90t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1s93TA5OYowqHgDtAqnAlQkQ!2e0)where I grew up. It was pretty much the same shade of red as the other brick houses in the neighborhood. And white shutters. (I’m not giving away any secrets here - I moved out in '73 and my folks sold it in '79.) I don’t think it’s particularly barn-like, but maybe I’m biased. ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2015, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-siding-color-beliefs/717467/23 "2015-04-13T11:58:23Z")
I painted our siding a lovely blue and have had nothing but compliments. I adore it. I chose a soft blue because I wanted something that would still look lovely as it ages and fades! And blue does just that. Where I live yellow brick is the norm so the neighbourhoods tend to oceans of earthy greens and brtowns. I don’t care for that at all! ---
**Author:** ![Marion\_Wormer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d07c76/32.png) [@Marion\_Wormer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marion_Wormer)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2015, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-siding-color-beliefs/717467/24 "2015-04-14T00:53:58Z")
Anyway, I poked around the Hardiplank website, and if I lived in Texas (but not where I do live) I could get PINK siding! There’s pink (and salmon) houses all over the place where I live. Bunches of victorians. Pink siding w/ gray roof and Gray trim. Love it! No to convince Hardiplank that getting Texas siding color is my constitutional right of self expression! ---
**Author:** ![BaldDudePeekskill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b5e925/32.png) [@BaldDudePeekskill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BaldDudePeekskill)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2015, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-siding-color-beliefs/717467/25 "2015-04-14T01:41:27Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > I’m not sure that I’d compliment shrivelly trim. 😃 Spell check! The trim _was_a bit withered before the reno ---
**Author:** ![carnut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnut/32/3531_2.png) [@carnut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnut)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2015, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-siding-color-beliefs/717467/26 "2015-04-14T03:06:30Z")
It all depends on what you like. I hate the beigey siding that I see everywhere. Beige, taupe, a dirty looking yellow, sage (confession, my house is sage). I need to replace my siding. I made a statement that if I ever buy a jackpot-winning lottery ticket, I’m going to paint my house in a lovely madras plaid. Naturally, three months later, I will replace that Masonite with Hardiboard and go for something a little more mellow but I’d like to remind people that homes do not have to be beige. Light colors are better for keeping cooling costs down and off-whites are better for plants near the house as white reflects light and can sunburn the flowers and shrubs. That’s part of why we see lots of beige. On my current home, I would go with a clear lemony yellow as I find it peaceful and cheerful. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2015, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-siding-color-beliefs/717467/27 "2015-04-14T05:20:00Z")
I read the thread title and came here to lament about my blue house. Now I don’t feel so bad! 😃 Apparently, blue houses kick some ass! Besides, now its my blue _home._ ---
**Author:** ![Bam\_Boo\_Gut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8c91f0/32.png) [@Bam\_Boo\_Gut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bam_Boo_Gut)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2015, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-siding-color-beliefs/717467/28 "2015-04-14T17:50:30Z")
My neighbours house is blue - looks nice. Mine’s white, I had some hunter green trim, but I’m doing it over all white, it’s just easier to touch up that way. ---
**Author:** ![Anne\_Neville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Anne\_Neville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anne_Neville)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2015, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-siding-color-beliefs/717467/29 "2015-04-14T19:22:22Z")
I grew up in a blue house. I like blue houses. ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2015, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-siding-color-beliefs/717467/30 "2015-04-14T19:57:47Z")
My white house turned red. Best thing I could do for it. [Before](http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j127/StG61/House2.jpg) [After](http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j127/StG61/Front_zps23eb5321.jpg) StG ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2015, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-siding-color-beliefs/717467/31 "2015-04-14T20:04:21Z")
> [@StGermain](#): > > My white house turned red. Best thing I could do for it. It looks great! ---
**Author:** ![Fotheringay-Phipps](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/d9b06d/32.png) [@Fotheringay-Phipps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fotheringay-Phipps)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2015, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-siding-color-beliefs/717467/32 "2015-04-14T20:04:54Z")
I don’t think it’s about the color blue per se. In general, any distinctive and unusual color will make a house harder to sell, because the likelihood of turning off many potential buyers who dislike the color is higher. My own house is a sort of light-bluish gray, with some blue trim (“shutters”) accentuating the blue aspect of it. But it’s a pretty indistinct color so I wouldn’t be concerned even if I was intending to sell. If it was a bright sky-blue color it might be an issue. ---
**Author:** ![seal\_cleaner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@seal\_cleaner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/seal_cleaner)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2015, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-siding-color-beliefs/717467/33 "2015-04-14T22:57:07Z")
Victorian houses were blue, green, red, you name it. Most were painted white (if they stood long enough) but now you see many restored to their original hues. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2015, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-siding-color-beliefs/717467/34 "2015-04-14T23:16:54Z")
We just put on blue siding and have gotten nothing but compliments. Now there are some blues that probably are a mistake: I’ve seen a robin’s egg blue that looked cheap. But remember, siding manufacturers choose colors that will sell. If no one liked blue, they don’t sell it. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2015, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-siding-color-beliefs/717467/35 "2015-04-14T23:56:33Z")
The house my family had when I was a kid had been covered in white-painted wooden siding. Dad had it covered in beige aluminum siding. A few years ago, I went by, and it was grey with white trim. _Grey_. It was remarkably depressing. ---
**Author:** ![carnut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnut/32/3531_2.png) [@carnut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnut)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2015, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-siding-color-beliefs/717467/36 "2015-04-15T02:44:34Z")
I grew up in a grey home. It never occured to me it was depressing. Maybe that’s where my depression stems from! Grey can be nice, but ours was indeed an industrial shade. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2015, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-siding-color-beliefs/717467/37 "2015-04-15T04:20:53Z")
One of the houses on my commute has the sides and back painted white, and the front a royal purple. I’m certain that most of the blue houses in town would sell sooner if all were for sale. Blue is one of my favorite colors, but I’m not sure blue would be in the running if I could choose to paint a house any color. I think I’d prefer brown or red. But then again, a nice dark blue-gray might be nice too. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2015, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-siding-color-beliefs/717467/38 "2015-04-15T14:38:54Z")
Arts and Crafts houses traditionally tended to be in earth tones, so that 's something to consider if the house is from that era and you’re striving for period authenticity. Blue can still look perfectly fine, of course. Also, Hardiplank can be painted, so you’re not wedded to your initial choice forever. ---
**Author:** ![Marion\_Wormer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d07c76/32.png) [@Marion\_Wormer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marion_Wormer)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2015, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-siding-color-beliefs/717467/39 "2015-04-19T00:32:55Z")
So the contractor came by today and due to the fact that I want to replace some stuff rather than paint it and my house has the following trim colors : brown, white, more brown someplace else, buff, and white on the other side, it’s going to cost a bundle to get the trim down to one color. We walked around the neighborhood and I pointed out the color schemes of houses I liked (the creamsicle and white victorian is my favorite) then the RAF blue and cream yellow is my second favorite. It turned out he’d done siding all over the neighborhood so we’re going to steal the color scheme of the RAF blue and cream yellow one since he has all the records on it. And although I really want creamsicle, it means a paint job and I’m not doing that. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2015, 11:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-siding-color-beliefs/717467/40 "2015-05-21T11:27:56Z")
My house is blue, a tone with gray in it, like a Wedgewood blue. The trim is white, and the door is stained in honey oak. I’d never heard of RAF blue before. Had to do an image search to see it. But that’s a pretty dark blue. [https://www.google.com/search?q=color+raf+blue&client=safari&hl=en&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=vL5dVfudOsHfoAT2zoCYDg&ved=0CAkQ\_AUoAg&biw=1024&bih=671](https://www.google.com/search?q=color+raf+blue&client=safari&hl=en&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=vL5dVfudOsHfoAT2zoCYDg&ved=0CAkQ_AUoAg&biw=1024&bih=671) In San Francisco I used to live in a pink house with white trim. Like the Mellencamp song, little pink houses. It worked, there in SF. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-siding-color-beliefs/717467.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-siding-color-beliefs/717467.md?page=3)