Home Siding Colors

How to Choose a Siding Color for Your Home

Once you’ve made the decision to have new siding installed or to replace existing siding, an important question comes up: what color siding should you choose? With a variety of siding types and colors to choose from, adding new siding gives you the opportunity to completely refresh the appearance of your home.

But choosing a new siding color involves more than finding the style you most prefer. A home’s siding color also impacts home value, curb appeal, routine maintenance needs, and weather-related considerations. Modernize is here to help homeowners navigate the process of choosing new siding and siding colors with this guide.

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Questions to Ask Before Deciding on Siding Colors

Right off the bat, you might have a color in mind for your new siding replacement project. But not so fast! There are several factors to consider that can help you determine the best siding color for your home. Below we have outlined the top considerations you should explore as you make your final decision about the color of your new siding.

1. Your neighborhood’s style

A good way to get an “eye” for what works and what doesn’t work when it comes to siding color schemes is driving around several neighborhoods to get an up-close look. In your own neighborhood, be aware of the types of architectural designs. Also, take note of the colors in your neighborhood and be considerate when choosing your own. For example, if you live in an established neighborhood with vintage homes of wood, vinyl, or fiber cement siding in muted and soft colors, don’t choose hot pink or glaring tangerine that will make your house stick out like a sore thumb. You can still be creative and make a statement with the many colors available for siding and trim.

2. Your Home’s Architecture

When choosing the siding color, some colors work better with certain architectural designs than others. Here are a few ideas to get you started picking a siding color based on your home’s architecture:

• Victorian: Bold and darker colors
• Craftsman: Earthy colors, like olive green or beige
• Cape cod: Blues and grays
• French country cottage: Soft colors, such as pale blue
• Colonial: Whites and neutrals

Consult with a professional siding specialist or contractor to help make the appropriate selection.

3. Size of Your Home

If you rely on color swatches to make a decision, it could be misleading for the simple reason of a small swatch of dark cocoa may look beautiful in salesroom lighting but when actually applied to a large area, it may overwhelm a home and make it look gloomy. On the reverse side, if you choose a color that is too light, it may not make your home stand out but just blend in with the landscape.

4. Your Home’s Roof Color

Most roofing materials have a lifespan of 20 to 30 years. If your current roof is green shingles, you’ll want to take that into consideration when choosing a siding color. If it is dark brown, a lighter siding color may be the best choice. If the roof has a neutral color, you’ll have more options when choosing color combinations for the exterior and trim.

5. Your Landscaping

Yes, landscape does play a role. Consider the current type of landscaping theme and how it will enhance or detract from the siding color.

6. Your Climate

For your own visual enjoyment, take into consideration the color you choose may look bright and perky during the spring and summer but lose its visual appeal in the dead of winter.

Using Accent Colors With Siding

Keep in mind that you do not have to stick to one color for the entirety of your home’s siding. You can add accent colors or materials to certain areas of your home’s exterior. To enhance the visual appeal of the new siding, consider colors to be used to accent around the window trimming, shutters, and deck or patio railings. You can also choose a different type of siding, such as natural stone, to specific areas of your home’s exterior to add interesting curb appeal.

Also consider the color of the doors themselves, as you’ll want the front and back door color to compliment the exterior and trim colors. As a rule of thumb, select two or three shades for the highlighting in a lighter or darker hue. For example, a frame house with a green shingle roof is fitted with pale yellow siding, forest green window trim, and a deep-red door. It all blends together seamlessly with the door serving as a focal point.

Weather and Siding Colors

The weather and climate in your region is a determining factor in the type of siding material you should install. For instance, certain colors stand out best in warm, sunny climates opposed to colder, snowier regions.

Weather can also affect the durability of the siding. Some types of siding may not hold up as well in storm-prone areas, and some types may be better suited to withstand hotter temperatures. Do your research and ask the professionals about which types of siding work best for your geographical region. For instance, which type of paint is best for fiber cement siding in your area? Which stain for wood siding will hold up to the weather in your area?

Popular Colors by Type of Siding

It is not a bad idea to choose a siding color based on the material you are working with. In addition to considering the architecture of your home, the siding material can often determine the best color choices to boost home value. Based on siding color popularity in 2024, here are a few suggestions based on siding material:

• Vinyl siding: Grays and blues
• Fiber cement siding: Whites, beiges, and grays
• Stone: Tans and grays
• Brick: Deep red or cream white
• Stucco: Brown, gray, and sandstone

Additional Tips for Picking New Siding

When it comes time to purchase new siding, ask the salesperson if there is a color tool available where you can mix and match siding colors and trims. With this tool, you can avoid the mishap of choosing the wrong colors, as you will be able to see firsthand what the color combination will look like on your home. There are also free online tools available for your use.

Also, take the chosen color swatches home and test them against different times of day to see what it looks like in the early morning sun, bright afternoon sunshine, and late evening glow. It’s also a good idea to dab a little color on areas next to fixed areas, such as the foundation base, to see the contrast between colors.

As you can see, there’s more to selecting colors than what meets the eye. Incorporate the above information in your decision making process to ensure the best possible outcome in color themes.

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