Vinyl Siding Colors: Tips for Picking the Perfect Palette

Vinyl siding is low-maintenance and durable, so you’ll want vinyl siding colors designed to last. Vinyl siding products generally offer a palette of earthy, neutral colors, like beiges, whites, browns, grays, greens, and blues in both warm and cool tones. Vinyl siding is primarily offered in lighter shades, though darker, more saturated colors are also available as deep, rich neutrals trend for home exteriors.

Can You Paint Vinyl Siding?

Changing vinyl siding colors can create a fresh face for an old house, but new vinyl siding isn’t the only way to update the exterior. Today, it’s easier to get a new look with paint. “In the past, if a homeowner wanted to change the color of their vinyl siding by painting, their color options were limited to the same range as their existing exterior color or a lighter one,” says Alexandra Sinclair, director of product information for Sherwin-Williams.

Sinclair says the problem with darker paint colors used to be that they would absorb more heat, causing the vinyl to warp. But technological updates have created products like Sherwin-Williams VinylSafe paint, where darker colors are no longer an issue, providing a new spectrum of paint colors to refresh vinyl siding.

How to Choose a Vinyl Siding Color That Works with Your Home’s Style

Your house should be at home in its surroundings. Exterior colors should complement your style as well as your environment. Finding the right vinyl siding color includes taking into consideration the look you’re going for, as well as the home’s architectural style, building materials, and physical location.

1. Select a Color Scheme

“The first thing to consider when selecting a vinyl siding color is whether you wish to draw from a monochromatic or dramatic color scheme,” says Chase Creighton, director of product management at Associated Materials. “The monochromatic option uses colors from the same family and tonal value, resulting in a subtle difference among elements. Essentially, it uses different shades of the same color.” Creighton cites variations of beige as a traditional example of a monochromatic scheme, while a more modern approach might use blacks and grays. If the home has a mix of siding styles—for example, different styles for each story—subtle color variations can help textures stand out.

Alternatively, you can create contrast by incorporating different colors. For a traditional scheme, Creighton suggests deep blue siding and white or cream soffits and windows or a contemporary look that pairs dark brown or black siding with lighter gray and silver trim and accents.

Sue Wadden, director of color marketing for Sherwin-Williams, suggests deciding at the outset if you’re going modern or traditional with your vinyl siding colors. A traditional scheme will stay true to the style and time period of the home, which can include historically accurate color palettes. “On the other hand, you may want to do the opposite and go fresh and modern,” says Wadden. This can be a fun way to liven up an old home, stand out in the neighborhood, or better match your personal style. “Making that initial decision will help narrow down your list of [siding color] choices,” says Wadden.

2. Draw from Your Home’s Architectural Style

The style of your home is one of the most significant factors in selecting siding colors. Restrained colors complement the simple architecture and palettes that are hallmarks of classic styles like Colonial and Farmhouse. The most successful vinyl siding color selections pay attention to the key elements of the home’s style.

Geographic Location

Some architectural styles and geographic areas have well-known historical color schemes that can inform your decisions. In other cases, strong color cues are inherent in the home’s architectural style. For example, Victorian homes are usually more playful and bold in their colors. This is especially true for ornate details, but siding, too, can be colorful.

Similarly, with their smaller size and charm, cottage-style homes often embrace lighter hues. According to Deb Lechner, VP of marketing for Ply Gem Siding, Cape Cod homes often use soft, natural colors that almost look weathered. In coastal areas, siding becomes brighter, with vibrant pastels and blues.

Design Elements

Architectural styles may also feature design elements that lend themselves to color selections. Midcentury modern exteriors often incorporate wood accents that pop alongside creams and darker siding colors, says Lechner. Craftsman homes similarly showcase exposed beams, columns, and stone accents, which all play nicely with earthy shades. Lechner recommends muted, historic hues for Craftsman cladding, with a splash of color on areas like the gable or front door.

Contemporary homes often have strong lines, asymmetrical geometry, sustainable material selections, and green building principles. These homes generally use natural colors, both dark and light, so the siding doesn’t compete with the visually stunning architecture and incorporates the natural environment.

Recognizing your home’s style can also help you create a more modern look. For example, farmhouse styles commonly include white siding with black trim, a cool color palette, and a more traditional aesthetic. Creighton recommends brick-red vinyl siding with sand-colored soffits, accents, and clay-colored windows to create a more dramatic color palette. The bolder, warmer colors work together, thanks in part to the simplicity of the architecture.

Roofing Colors

Roofs can also play a major part in the home’s color considerations, especially in house styles where the roof is prominent, like A-frame, Colonial, ranch, and Dutch Colonial. Be sure to consider the roof color when choosing your trim, accent, and vinyl siding colors.

3. Consider Your Surroundings

“Play off your neighbors’ homes and use complementary colors to achieve a cohesive look,” says Wadden. “For example, in a neighborhood of Craftsmans, houses tend to be painted deep red, green, or blue.” Nearby siding and exterior colors will give you a sense of what’s popular in the area while also providing inspiration, which can be especially productive in communities with multiple homes of the same style. Regional impacts on siding colors should also be considered. “Bright colors work well where regionally popular, such as on coastal cottages and Cape Cods,” says Creighton.

4. Do Your Research

Architects and designers can help you identify style- and period-appropriate colorways for older homes, especially those frequently working in older neighborhoods. For homeowners who enjoy digging into the details themselves, a local historical society, neighborhood commission, or other local or historical neighborhood and building organizations may have resources to share. Architects, designers, and builders are also sources for updating newer homes. For both, the key is to look for someone who is a good fit for the style you like and the type of home you have.

This article was written by Kristina McGuirk from Better Homes and Gardens and was legally licensed through the DiveMarketplace by Industry Dive. Please direct all licensing questions to [email protected].