Siding can play an important role in your home’s overall look and feel. However, when it comes to selecting suitable color options, making your choice can quickly feel overwhelming. There are several factors to consider, and it isn’t an easy fix if you ultimately don’t like it. Therefore, before diving into color selection, you should consider a few critical points that can help narrow your selection, alleviating any stress you may have about the process.
In This Article
Consider Your Surrounding Neighborhood
A great place to start is exploring what others have done, especially if they have a home that is a similar style to yours. Of course, you will naturally want to implement your style, but seeing what has worked with the neighborhood and what options will complement your areas as a whole doesn’t hurt.
Size of Your Home
Looking at swatches is a great idea when deciding on a color scheme for your siding. While a useful tool, it is also a good idea to understand that they can be misleading in a sense. They provide a narrow focus on how the color would look, but you also want to consider how it will translate on a larger scale. For example, a darker color may look great on a smaller scale, but once applied to the bulk of your home, it could make it look gloomy and uninviting. On the opposite end, choosing a color that is too light can prevent your home from standing out, especially if it is on the smaller side. In general, it is helpful to remember that dark colors draw attention to places you want to highlight. In contrast, lighter colors can neutralize features you don’t necessarily want to stand out.
Existing Roof Color
The lifespan of your siding can vary for several factors; in contrast, your roof typically has a lifespan of 20 to 30 years. Unless you plan to replace your roof shortly, it may be wiser to choose color palettes that will work with the roof color you have now. If you have a darker roof color, a lighter siding color scheme may better complement the home’s overall look. If you have a muted or neutral roof color, you can play around with your color options a bit more.
Architectural Type
Your home’s architectural type can play a role in determining your best color options. While your unique style should always be considered, some general guidelines can provide a place to start. Different architectural types include:
- French-style home: This is considered one of the most flexible houses when it comes to color options. It is hard to go wrong with any color when just looking at the architectural style. However, it is important to weigh other factors as well that might not be as flexible.
- Craftsman-style home: This type of home is often associated with an earthy, natural look. You’ll often see rich browns, olive greens, and deep reds for this home.
- Low-country home: Color pallets with this home type tend to be lighter. Blue hues are a popular choice for the bulk of the siding with neutral accents to add variety.
- Tuscan-style home: A great place to start with this architectural type is the stone. You’ll typically find warmer tones for this home that complement the color of the stone. First, decide on the stone color, then build your color options from there.
- Victorian-style home: These homes arguably provide the best options for being bold and colorful. Don’t be afraid to play with your color options; just keep in mind you don’t want to overdue things.
- Mediterranean-style home: This style is most recognizable with its signature terracotta orange roof. This can limit your choices because roof color can play a major deciding factor in your color options. Many homeowners lean toward soft, peach tones.
Landscape
Your landscape can also play a role in your siding color options. Consider your existing landscape. If you have a bright, vibrant garden, you may want to go with a subtle siding color to keep your landscape a focal point. You want to choose a siding color that will complement your existing landscape, not clash with it.
Working With Your Color Options
When you start to gather your color options, you’ll want to consider the rule of three. This rule applies to the idea that less is more and prevents you from getting carried away or getting lost in options. In general, you should limit yourself to three total color options. This helps prevent the colors from clashing or giving your home a patchwork feel.
- Primary color: It is best to start looking at your potential main color on location. Take a sample home and look at the way the light hits it. It is highly beneficial to do this at a few different times during the day. This will give you a feel of how this color will look in a variety of lighting situations.
- Secondary color: A secondary color is a great way to provide a contrast to the home’s primary color. It can highlight areas and features that you want to stand out. Keep in mind you want to keep a well-balanced color palette, meaning that you’ll want to consider both warm and cool tones.
- Trim color: Trim color is a simple way to boost your home’s curb appeal. Trim provides your house with a finished look. For example, you can choose a classic white color that works well with every other color or a bold trim that can provide a pop of color to more neutral siding color options.
Finding What Works Best for You
When choosing the right siding color, you have several options to consider. First, you’ll want to balance your style with what will work best for your home and the surrounding neighborhood. It can feel overwhelming at first, but narrowing your options is the best place to start. From there, take the time to test out your potential colors. This will help you confidently choose the color palette that will work best.