The Stars Of Fixer To Fabulous Can't Stand This Once-Popular Exterior Color Trend

When it comes to curb appeal, choosing the right shade of paint for the exterior of your home is one of the most important decisions you can make. As a major element of your home's first impression to visitors, guests, and potential buyers — your chosen color can distinguish between a drab, outdated appearance and a warm welcome. And, it's not as simple as looking up which colors are trending or rounding up your top favorite colors. For example, despite being smart selections for your interiors, there are exterior house colors that should be avoided at all costs. One such color that surged in popularity in the 1990's and is coming back into style in home interiors today is beige. But, before you apply this trend to your home exterior, you might want to think twice. 

Celebrity designers Dave and Jenny Marrs from HGTV's hit series, "Fixer to Fabulous," think this color is outdated and therefore completely ill-suited for the exterior of your home. A few studies have also shown that a beige exterior can even lower the value of your home. So, this is definitely a decision you'll want to get right the first time, and we're here to help you do so. Below, we dive into whether the Marrses' advice have any merit or not. We also discuss whether you should avoid beige as an exterior color for your own home and provide other Marrs-approved suggestions for exterior colors and improved curb appeal.

Dave and Jenny Marrs don't mince words when it comes to beige and brown exteriors. For the "Fixer to Fabulous" duo, these colors are far from fabulous and meant to be fixed in favor of something more stylish. In season 4, episode 9 of "Fixer to Fabulous," the couple pulled up to their clients' house and noticed that the exterior color needed a serious overhaul. Noticing the builder-grade beige that covered the exterior, Dave Marrs noted that it may have been "built in the early 2000's when we still thought brown was the thing, it needs some help," (per Realtor). One of the homeowners, Ashley Fitzsimmons, was ready to see the color go and echoed Dave's assessment, adding "I feel like we're living in the land of beige." 

Because this color was such a quintessential element of home design in a bygone era, it's easy for it to make your home feel like a relic of the 1990's and early 2000's rather than appearing contemporary and cool. Not only does it make your house boring and bland, but it can hurt your home's resale value. According to Zillow, their study revealed that homes painted in a mixture of light gray and beige sold for $3,496 more than counterparts painted in a medium brown or tan stucco. Choosing "greige" over beige can modernize your home, but design isn't a one-size-fits-all model, and it all comes down to what best suits your aesthetic. 

On "Fixer to Fabulous," Dave and Jenny Marrs have given fans countless ways to create timeless appeal with the exterior of their homes. For the exterior paint color or the Fitzsimmons' home, the duo selected a cozy shade of green-gray that Jenny found in a craftsman historic color book (via their website). This shade modernized the house while highlighting its historic craftsman appeal. As the Marrses choice demonstrates — the right color should be selected with the style of the home in mind. In the past, the Marrses have used bright white paint and natural wood accents to create a contemporary yet timeless ranch, and charcoal paint with natural wood accents to create a modernized cozy cabin.

As Jenny Marrs did, it's important to research well to pick a paint color that can make your home look more inviting and complement the house's existing architectural design. Jenny Marrs also pays close attention to details like door color, layered lighting, and unique accents such as doorbells, decor, and vintage touches, noting that these additions can add huge amounts of character and warmth. Finally, something the designers never neglect in turning homes from "Fixer to Fabulous" is exterior landscaping, and they always make sure to cut down overgrown trees and bushes and replace them with thoughtful greenery and decor.