Does this roof make me look fat?

If you wear brown socks with black pants you can make a style correction the next day (and use the excuse that your black socks were in the laundry). But if the color of your house and roof are mismatched, you may lose more than your cool factor. You can lose some serious value in your home as well, according to designer Kate Smith, the resident color expert for DaVinci Roofscapes. While a black outfit is often a safe bet, a black roof on a single-story home can make it appear smaller.

"Depending on the style of a home, as much as 40 percent or more of the visual you get when looking at a house is the roof," says Smith. "The more roof that is shown, the more important it is to allow the roof color to help define the home's style." Of course, Smith is a big fan of the roofing color blends her company sells but coordinating your exterior colors is something to consider, especially if you're thinking of selling your home and need that curb appeal.

Here's what Smith has to say about various color combos.

• Green roofs look best with homes that have natural wood siding, or are painted gray, white or a lighter green color than the roof itself. Avoid red or colors that are very "warm" for the siding.
• Brown roofs complement houses painted in tan, yellow, cream, off-white or a different shade of brown. Brick homes that have a yellow or brownish color cast to the bricks can also look good with a brown roof. Stay away from using a brown roof if you have a home with "cool" colors, such as blues and grays.
• Black roofs provide an anchor for tall homes by helping visually lower the roof and making the home look wider in contrast to the siding color and trim. A black roof has a strong link to homes painted in gray, blue, green or white … and can also be used with a brick exterior. But black can seem too weighty for a smaller structure.
• Gray roofs are an ideal complement to more traditional style homes and can also be used on blue, green, black or white house colors. Bolder accent colors for trim, shutters or the entryway door can broaden the visual appeal of a home with a gray roof.
• Terracotta color roofs work exceptionally well with stucco and brick homes, along with stone and houses with a mixture of exterior materials. White is a classic color to use with a terracotta roof. The high contrast between the body and roof colors looks crisp and clean together.
• Red roofs match up beautifully to accent gray or warm brown house colors. Consider a red roof for a white or cream exterior to create a country look for a home.

If you don't want to consult a colorist next time you roof, paint or side your home, you can take advantage of some online apps from GAF, Owens Corning, CertainTeed and siding manufacturer James Hardie to see if your preferred colors match or clash. And before you call a contractor, check our roofing, siding and exterior paint Ratings.

The news about home values is still iffy, according to today's Wall Street Journal so anything you can do to maintain or enhance the value of your home is well worthwhile. In "5 home repairs you shouldn't ignore" we talk about the importance of keeping your home in good shape, no matter what color it is.