Ganser Company

If you’re updating your exterior siding, one of the most important things to consider is the color. After all, your siding plays a key role in your home’s curb appeal and overall value. The right color should not only reflect your lifestyle, but also complements the rest of your landscaping. If the current color of your siding fails to make your home stand out or bring out its best features, it’s probably time for a siding replacement.  

While picking a new siding color can be an exciting prospect to do, it can also be challenging, especially if it’s your first time. To help you with your siding project, here’s an insightful guide to help you choose the ideal color for your new siding. 

Take Cues From Nearby Houses

When deciding on a new color for your siding, it’s a good idea to drive around your neighborhood and draw inspiration from nearby houses. Be sure to pay special attention to homes that are similarly styled to yours. Like every homeowner, you want to make your home stands out and features your personal style. If your home is too unique, however, your house may stick out like a sore thumb, which can negatively impact its resale value if you plan to list it for sale in the future. 

For this reason, the ideal siding color should reflect your personal style while also looking good in your home’s location. Another way you can make your home stand out within your neighborhood is by incorporating shutters of a contrasting color. Since shutters are generally less expensive, home buyers can opt to replace them if they don’t like the colors. 

Match Your Home’s Architectural Style

The architectural style of your home can also help you determine the best siding color for your exteriors remodeling project. Most styles were originally built with a specific color palette they were suited for. Victorian homes, for example, are usually painted in somber colors as a tribute to Queen Victoria, who continued to wear black after the death of her husband. A Colonial-inspired home, meanwhile, typically uses a single light color as its base, such as white. In modern times, however, the exteriors are usually given unusual accents for a more contemporary vibe. 

Although you don’t have to completely follow their original palette, you can use them as inspiration. This way, you can narrow down the number of choices that will look good on it. Warm reds and browns fit rustic homes while gray-blue tones look best in Cape Cod-style homes. If you have a traditional-styled home, consider grays and gray-toned reds as they are able to shine the most with these shades

Consider Your Home’s Size and Roof

When choosing a color for your siding, your contractor may provide you with color swatches to use as a basis. While going over it, a dark, rich shade may catch your attention. When painted on a mid-to large-scale house, however, it can feel gloomy and overpowering. Likewise, shades that are too light can prevent a smaller home from standing out. Thus, it’s best to use lighter colors to neutralize features you wish to de-emphasize. Meanwhile, darker tones draw attention to places you want to highlight. 

In addition to the size of your home, you should also consider your roof. With regular roof repair and maintenance, your roof can last up to 20 or 30 years depending on the roofing material. This means the color of your roof should be an important factor when choosing a color for your siding. A dark roof, for instance, can be paired with light-colored siding to emphasize contrast. On the other hand, a neutral, light-colored roof allows you to choose from a wider color palette for your exterior siding. 

Check the Colors at Different Times of Day

Once you have chosen a potential color palette for your siding, don’t forget to check how the color will look at different times of the day. If possible, try applying the color swatches of your proposed colors on different sides of your home and take a good look at them in the morning, afternoon, and evening. It’s also a great idea to paint these swatches close to items in your home that don’t change color such as brick foundations. 

Taking the local climate into account is also an important consideration when choosing siding colors.  Some colors don’t look the same on sunny summer days and cloudy winter afternoons. The intense sunlight during the summer months often makes colors feel brighter. Select the best color for your new siding with the local climate in mind and how the weather conditions will affect its hue. 

Incorporate Complementary Colors

There’s no need to study color theory to learn that one color does not make a color scheme. When choosing a siding color palette, you can use one complementary color that offers a focal point and one hue that’s a shade or two lighter or darker than the primary siding color. These are shades found at opposite ends of the color wheel, and they tend to make each other seem brighter. 

You can use these lighter or darker complementary shades for your window trim, doors and railings. These colors make up a combination that adds drama and energy to the entire property. One good example is by incorporating plum shutters with your green sage siding. Or perhaps you prefer using muted yellows to emphasize a red-colored siding.

Reliable Siding Service You Can Count On

For your siding installation needs, look no further than the skilled and experienced exteriors remodeling pros at Ganser Company. While there are many options when it comes to siding, our team will have the answer that is perfect for your home and family. We offer the following siding products:

• Vinyl siding. It has the look and texture of wood but the durability and strength of vinyl. With multiple home siding styles available, along with many options for siding colors, you can find the right one for your needs and decorative aesthetic.

• Wood siding. We are proud to carry LP® SmartSide®, a siding product that gives your home the warm look of solid wood coupled with the durability of engineered wood.

• Brick and stone. From feature walls to accent pilasters and trim, these materials can add elegance to your home exteriors.

Count on Ganser Company for all your home exterior improvement needs as well, including window and door installations and roof replacements. Give us a call at (608) 222-1243, or fill out our online contact form to request an estimate. You may also stop by our showroom to check out the products that we use in our projects. We serve homeowners in and around Madison, WI.