Siding is the true essence of your home’s exterior. Choosing a new siding color is an intimidating process, and there’s always a fear you might choose the wrong color. Unlike painting a room in your home, it’s much more challenging to change your siding color once you’ve made the decision. Homeowners should pick a color that is not only pleasing to the eye but also a shade that compliments the rest of your exterior palette. Whether you plan to install new siding or simply repaint what is currently there, making a well-thought-out decision on the color you use can pay off in the end.

Check out the neighborhood

Driving around and taking in the color schemes of homes you love is an excellent first step when deciding on a siding color. What color combinations are commonly used? What colors do you like most? Pay particular attention to homes in your area, especially those styled similar to yours. Although you want to incorporate your personal style into your siding color scheme, you also want your selection to look good in your home’s location. If your neighborhood is more eclectic, for example, you might consider more colorful options when it comes to siding colors. This is particularly important if you plan on selling your home within a few years of updating your siding. If your home stands out too much from the other homes in your neighborhood, it could negatively impact your resale value.

Let your home’s architecture play a role

Your home’s style can provide visual cues that help guide your choice of siding colors. Most architectural styles of homes were initially built with a palette of colors suiting the style. You can use these as an initial foundation – but you don’t need to abide by them completely:

• Victorian-style architecture is painted in somber colors, paying tribute to Queen Victoria, who continued to wear black after her husband’s death.
• Colonial-inspired homes are often painted a single lighter color such as white, although unusual accents can offer a subtle, modern twist to that traditional arrangement.
• Browns and warm reds are great for trims on craftsman, adobe, or rustic ranches.
• Cape Cod-style homes work well with gray-blue shades.
• Contemporary constructed homes and homes with mixed textures work great with variations on a neutral palate.
• Traditional homes look sleek in grays and grey-toned reds.

What color is your roof?

Siding has a variable lifespan, but a roof will probably last 20 to 30 years. As a result, roof color should be a top factor that you consider when choosing siding colors. For example, if your roofing material is dark, it might motivate you to select a lighter siding color scheme. A more muted, neutral roof hue, on the other hand, can allow more choices when it comes to exterior schemes.

View samples and consider complementary colors

There are endless possibilities when it comes to your home’s siding. While some siding options may come in a range of pre-finished colors and shades, others can be primed and painted in any color you choose. Take time to look at photos of houses and siding on the internet. This can help you decide which color palettes you are drawn to. Testing is key to figuring out how a siding color will look in various light conditions throughout the day. If you can, apply swatches of your possible siding colors on different sides of your home and take a good look at them in the morning, afternoon, and evening. It’s a good idea to paint these swatches close to items on your home whose color won’t change, such as brick foundations.

If you’re still having difficulty choosing a siding color, land on one complementary color that offers a bright focal point and one hue that’s a shade or two lighter or darker than your primary siding color. You could use the two or three shades to update window trim, doors, and railings. They tend to make each other seem brighter, and the combination generally adds energy to your look.

James Hardie has one of the best tools to compare color combinations for your home. Click here to go to this tool. First, you enter your zip code for a color palette of styles, then choose your type – warm, fresh, cool, dark, light, or neutral. Then from there, you pick what kind of home you envision for your color palette and can also select a popular shutter color and accent colors. This is a great way to get a vision of your home’s design, clad in the colors you have chosen.

Choose a contractor

While choosing the right color of siding can be difficult, it pays off in the end when your home is looking its best. Choosing the right color for your siding helps ensure your home continues to look as good as possible for the longest amount of time. Since it plays such a vital role in your home’s curb appeal, you want to ensure the job is done right. We know you have choices when it comes to choosing an Omaha siding pro, and we are confident that the benefits you get from working with us far surpass those of our competitors. Contact HomeWise Roofing & Exteriors to schedule an estimate today! We take pride in our friendly, courteous staff and work crews. We pay attention to detail and ensure that every job is done well.