5 Winning Shingle and Paint Pairings to Boost Curb Appeal

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Replacing your roof can dramatically improve your home’s curb appeal. If you’re considering a roof replacement, you might be wondering how to select shingles that will best suit your home’s style. Not to worry, we’ve got you covered. Here we’ll walk you through five winning shingle and paint pairings to help you narrow down the options.

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General Tips to Consider

When choosing new shingles, you’ll be faced with a huge number of color options. While it might be tempting to simply go with one that appeals to your sense of style, there’s more to it than that. Your choice should also complement your home’s architecture, climate, landscaping, fixed details on the facade and the colors in the streetscape.

As a guide, look to pair warm paint or siding colors with warm-toned shingles and cool paint or siding colors with cool-toned shingles. A monochromatic scheme where your roof and paint color are very similar — two tonal shades of brown, say —creates a subtle effect that puts the focus on the home’s architecture. And if new paint is also a part of your exterior upgrade, be sure to factor in the new shade when choosing your roof color.

Tip: Sunlight affects how the color of a roof looks once it’s installed, so be sure to look at samples in daylight before you commit.

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1. Warm, Earthy Neutrals

When it comes to roof colors, earthy neutrals are one of the biggest trends of 2022. Dark and light brown shingles, particularly those with some tonal variation, bring a warm, natural feel to a home’s exterior and help it blend seamlessly with the surrounding environment. They’re also extremely practical — these shades hide dirt well, so your roof looks better for longer between cleanings.

Earthy brown shingles pair beautifully with siding painted in beige, taupe or hunter green. They will also complement a warm brick or stone facade, allowing the architectural details to shine rather than competing with them. In terms of architectural styles, browns are a natural match for classic, Craftsman, farmhouse and cottage-style homes, particularly those in rural areas, adding to their cozy, understated charm.

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2. Bold Black

Looking to make a statement? A striking black or charcoal roof can do just that. Black shingles are undoubtedly having a moment in design right now, but they also have a timeless appeal that means they’re unlikely to look dated anytime soon.

Adding solar panels? Black or charcoal shingles will make them visually recede into the background, helping to give your roof a sleek and seamless look.

Black and charcoal shingles and window trims paired with white siding is a classic combination that will never go out of style. Other eye-catching paint choices for a black roof include warm and cool grays, soft blues and seafoam green. Or, for an uber-modern look, even on a traditional home, consider matching charcoal siding with a roof of the same color.

Dramatic and eye-catching, black works particularly well with contemporary and midcentury modern architecture. You can also use a black roof to add a modern edge to a traditional red or orange brick facade.

Tip: To highlight the shape of your shingles, seek out black shingles with some charcoal and gray variation.

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3. Light Tones

Crisp, cool roof tones like soft blue and pale gray harmonize beautifully with exteriors painted in white, stone or dark blue, or ones in whimsical hues such as lavender or lemon. They make an appealing choice for traditional and coastal architectural styles, including Cape Cod and Hamptons-style homes, beach cottages and cozy bungalows, particularly those with classic features such as weatherboard siding. They can also be a smart option if your roof has a lot of architectural detail or commands a lot of square footage and you don’t want it to visually dominate.

While dark roofs were traditionally chosen for homes in Northern climates to better hide stains that result from blue-green algae, advances in roofing technology mean you can now install a lighter-toned roof wherever you live, without the weather concerns. You’ll find shingles on the market that are specially designed to resist blue-green algae growth so your pale roof will retain its beautiful appearance whatever the climatic conditions.

Tip: Create a cohesive look by using your roof color in at least two other parts of your home’s exterior, such as the garage door, fence or trim.

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4. Rustic Combination

If your home features dark red brickwork or beige stonework, emphasize that warmth and richness with roof shingles in a complementary shade of dark brown. An organic and earthy roof color such as rich brown is the perfect pairing for homes with character and a sense of history, such as a Colonial-style abode, a classic farmhouse or a heritage cottage.

Give the romantic, old-world feel of your exterior a boost by opting for hand-cut-look shingles, which combine the latest roofing technology with a charming handcrafted aesthetic. If your facade is painted, choosing hand-cut-look shingles in a mix of warm and cool brown tones gives you more flexibility — you can change your exterior color in the future and have the confidence of knowing your roof will still be a great match.

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5. Monochromatic

If your facade has a lot of detail, such as textured brickwork or several different paint colors across siding, trims and soffit, balance it out with a monochromatic roof color. In general, facades are most visually pleasing when they feature no more than one intricately patterned element, whether it’s decorative stonework, wood details or multitone brickwork, and the rest of the features — including the roof — are simpler in style.

If your siding and trim are a medley of greenish grays and white, you might look at uniform midtone or cool gray for your roofing. For a home with detailed brickwork or paintwork, such as Colonial Revival or Tudor Revival architecture, consider simple and striking charcoal shingles. Facades with intricate or textured stonework, both traditional and contemporary, can benefit from a consistent roof color too; try shingles in navy or slate blue for bluish-toned stonework or shingles in dark brown to go with gold or tan stone siding.

Stylish, well-thought-out and designed to last, the right shingle and siding combination can make your home the envy of the neighborhood, looking good and performing brilliantly for decades.

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One More Thing …

Dark and exciting roof colors such as charcoal, hickory, forest green and slate were once considered a no-go for homes in hot climates. They traditionally absorbed more heat from the sun than light tones, and that heat was then transferred to the rooms below, resulting in uncomfortably warm interiors and an overreliance on artificial cooling. Fortunately, that’s no longer the case. Today’s high-performance “cool” roof shingles reflect the sun’s rays to help reduce the temperature inside your home and save on air conditioning costs. Best of all, they come in an array of rich and vibrant colors so you can have that dark statement roof your heart is set on while enjoying a comfortable indoor environment and lower energy costs year-round.

More: To learn more about GAF Roofing shingles, visit the company’s website.

This story was written by the Houzz Sponsored Content team.