• Warm color schemes are popular on stuccoed buildings.House image by Gon?¡ìalo Carreira from Fotolia.com
  
  Exterior painting makes a difference in the look and feel of a home. The right paint colors can change a house from dull to appealing, but the wrong ones make it stick out like a sore thumb. Pay attention to the colors of other homes in the neighborhood, the "fixed" colors of the home such as brickwork or shingles and any homeowners' or neighborhood association rules. Knowing the most popular color schemes can help you make the right decision for your exterior paint.
  
  

Neutrals

• Neutral tones are conservative, weather well and work on nearly any home style. According to Apartment Therapy, white is the most popular exterior color by far, preferred by over 37 percent of all homeowners. White homes can look uninteresting, however, and white isn't always the best choice for large houses on a small lot ; it can make the house look even bigger. Neutral browns and grays may work better in this situation. Monochromatic color schemes in neutrals are very appealing; simply choose a lighter tone for most of the house, and paint trim and accent areas in variations of this color.
  
  

Warm Colors

• Warm colors, in the red, orange and yellow range, are common in the American Southwest and provide an inviting, lively look. On some homes, particularly very small ones, these colors may seem overwhelming. It's best to choose a faded or lighter warm shade in these cases. According to the Paint Quality Institute, earth colors based on iron oxide pigments offer better fade resistance than brighter reds from organic pigment sources. These paints may seem duller at first, but they'll last longer and reduce the chances of a barn red home turning flamingo pink.
  
  

Cool Colors

• Colors in the blue, purple and green range are considered cool colors. These colors are commonly perceived as peaceful and restful and work well on Cape Cod style architecture. Very dark cool colors, especially when used on a home that spends most of its time in the shade, may produce a chilly or uninviting look. These colors work well as accents or as the main color on a home with more lively trim and detailing. According to Sherwin-Williams, greens are a poor choice on heavily wooded lots or for homes with heavily-landscaped yards since the house may appear to blend into the landscaping.