It’s hard to find a bad word to say about the color white, both in terms of interior and exterior design, but there are good reasons for everything.
This neutral color will struggle to ever go out of style, not least because it complements any property style and serves as the most versatile backdrop. So it’s no surprise that the color is favored by Los Angeles’ elite, including singer Jennifer Lopez and actor Ben Affleck.
Jennifer recently posted a photo from her front porch, where the gray front door and panel flooring complement the dramatic white façade. Real estate experts say this color combination has economic benefits as well as aesthetic benefits.
“A white porch has many incredible benefits, especially when complemented by a dark gray paneled floor,” comments Josh Dotoli, director of the Dotoli Group. “The contrast between light and dark colors helps create an inviting and visually appealing space that will make guests immediately feel welcome.” But there’s more to this timeless neutral color.
“The color combination of white and gray creates an upscale look that enhances the vehicle’s appeal. When paired with a porch, these colors will make your home feel more sophisticated and modern than traditional brown or earthy porches,” says Josh.
What’s more, while Jennifer Lopez certainly doesn’t struggle with a particularly compact space, these colors add dimension that will brighten up those small front gardens.
“This specific color combination makes the space appear larger than it actually is, creating the illusion of additional space due to the high reflectivity of natural sunlight—making any small porch suddenly appear larger,” he explains. “Also, if you add outdoor furniture such as rocking chairs or a visitor bench, they will look even more spacious under that unique white light effect.”
Josh Dotoli is a real estate writer and principal of the Dotoli Group, a home buying and selling company. Josh and his South Florida team have processed over 200 million residential real estate transactions in South Florida in 2022 and work alongside COMPASS, the #1 residential real estate brokerage in the country.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
When it comes to increasing the value of our properties, Josh explains that it can be difficult to give “hard” numbers on the economic benefit of this color, but its appeal among potential buyers is undeniable.
“From an economic standpoint, using white paint on your porch can positively impact the resale value of your property. While there’s no hard science on how much painting this particular color helps add value, research has shown that neutral shades like white are generally viewed as more desirable by potential buyers than bolder or brighter shades, he says.
“Additionally, painting in lighter colors will help highlight the architectural details of homes from different periods, which can influence whether someone decides to buy.”
Is it time to enjoy the benefits of this color? Our popular paint, Backdrop, offers beautiful white exterior paint (available below) and samples are only $3.