7 Exterior Remodeling Trends Shaping 2026
Beige now leads in exterior color choices, and interest is growing in beams and roofing upgrades, Houzz research reveals
Beige is warming up exteriors, according to the 2026 U.S. Houzz Outdoor Trends Study. Beige has overtaken white and gray as the most popular exterior wall color, while material choices remain diverse and homeowners increasingly add architectural details such as beams. Roofing, gutter and exterior door upgrades have become more common, and professional hiring has reached a record high. Here’s a look at the top exterior renovation trends for 2026.
2. Key Exterior Upgrades Increase
The share of renovating homeowners upgrading roofing (51%) and gutters or downspouts (48%) each increased 7 percentage points since 2024, while the share upgrading exterior doors (34%) climbed 8 percentage points.
Windows or skylights remain a common part of exterior renovations, with 41% of renovating homeowners upgrading them. Exterior accents follow at 29%, while solar panels were used in 6% of projects.
Despite a 6-percentage-point decline, wall surfaces remain the most common type of exterior upgrade, at 52%.
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The share of renovating homeowners upgrading roofing (51%) and gutters or downspouts (48%) each increased 7 percentage points since 2024, while the share upgrading exterior doors (34%) climbed 8 percentage points.
Windows or skylights remain a common part of exterior renovations, with 41% of renovating homeowners upgrading them. Exterior accents follow at 29%, while solar panels were used in 6% of projects.
Despite a 6-percentage-point decline, wall surfaces remain the most common type of exterior upgrade, at 52%.
10 Outdoor Remodeling Trends to Know for 2026
3. Roofing Upgrades Rise
Roofing work has become more common in exterior renovations. More than half of all exterior projects (51%) now include roofing upgrades, up 7 percentage points in 2026 from 2024.
Complete roof replacements continue to be the most common roofing project and are growing. The share of homeowners replacing their roofing increased 9 percentage points to 73%. The number adding new roofing rose 7 percentage points to 27%, while the share repairing or patching a roof fell 5 percentage points to 11%.
Among roofing materials, asphalt three-tab shingles top the list at 32%, a 13-percentage-point increase since 2024. Asphalt luxury shingles and metal each account for 14% of roofing projects, while clay tiles appear in 6%. Concrete tiles, synthetic or rubber roofing, and cedar shakes round out the list at 3% each.
Roofing work has become more common in exterior renovations. More than half of all exterior projects (51%) now include roofing upgrades, up 7 percentage points in 2026 from 2024.
Complete roof replacements continue to be the most common roofing project and are growing. The share of homeowners replacing their roofing increased 9 percentage points to 73%. The number adding new roofing rose 7 percentage points to 27%, while the share repairing or patching a roof fell 5 percentage points to 11%.
Among roofing materials, asphalt three-tab shingles top the list at 32%, a 13-percentage-point increase since 2024. Asphalt luxury shingles and metal each account for 14% of roofing projects, while clay tiles appear in 6%. Concrete tiles, synthetic or rubber roofing, and cedar shakes round out the list at 3% each.
4. Exterior Materials Offer Variety
Exterior wall materials remain varied, with no single option dominating. Stucco is the most common choice among renovating homeowners (28%) in 2026, while natural wood, fiber cement, and plastic or vinyl each were used in 21% of projects.
Among homeowners choosing natural wood, vertical orientation is the most popular style, at 45%, followed by lap siding (18%) and shakes or shingles (16%).
Other exterior wall materials include stone veneer or cladding, concrete and engineered wood, each used in 12% of projects. Natural stone, aluminum and composite materials each were chosen for 10% of projects.
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Exterior wall materials remain varied, with no single option dominating. Stucco is the most common choice among renovating homeowners (28%) in 2026, while natural wood, fiber cement, and plastic or vinyl each were used in 21% of projects.
Among homeowners choosing natural wood, vertical orientation is the most popular style, at 45%, followed by lap siding (18%) and shakes or shingles (16%).
Other exterior wall materials include stone veneer or cladding, concrete and engineered wood, each used in 12% of projects. Natural stone, aluminum and composite materials each were chosen for 10% of projects.
The Top 10 New Exteriors Right Now
5. Front Doors Take the Lead
Exterior door renovations are increasingly taking place at the front of the home — 78% in 2026, up 8 percentage points. Back-door projects have declined 10 percentage points, to 61%.
Fiberglass has gained ground among exterior door materials, increasing 18 percentage points since 2024 to 27% and now the most common choice. Meanwhile, wood has declined 12 percentage points to 20%.
Complete door replacements remain the most common project type, despite a 5-percentage-point decline to 67%. Adding exterior doors follows at 35%.
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Exterior door renovations are increasingly taking place at the front of the home — 78% in 2026, up 8 percentage points. Back-door projects have declined 10 percentage points, to 61%.
Fiberglass has gained ground among exterior door materials, increasing 18 percentage points since 2024 to 27% and now the most common choice. Meanwhile, wood has declined 12 percentage points to 20%.
Complete door replacements remain the most common project type, despite a 5-percentage-point decline to 67%. Adding exterior doors follows at 35%.
15 Ways to Light Your Home’s Front Entrance for a Warm Welcome
6. Beams Make a Big Move
Exposed beams have made the biggest jump among exterior accents, chosen by 43% of renovating homeowners in 2026, up 24 percentage points since 2024. Trim remains the most common exterior accent, at 69%, despite a 10-percentage-point decline. Columns or pillars (42%), awnings (30%) and shutters (19%) also increased. Flower boxes, meanwhile, declined by 10 percentage points to 8%.
Exposed beams have made the biggest jump among exterior accents, chosen by 43% of renovating homeowners in 2026, up 24 percentage points since 2024. Trim remains the most common exterior accent, at 69%, despite a 10-percentage-point decline. Columns or pillars (42%), awnings (30%) and shutters (19%) also increased. Flower boxes, meanwhile, declined by 10 percentage points to 8%.
7. Professional Hiring Reaches New High
Professional hiring for outdoor renovations reached an all-time high in 2026, with 71% of homeowners hiring a pro, up from 65% in 2024.
General contractors remained a common choice, with 17% of renovating homeowners hiring them. Design-build firms saw modest growth, increasing 3 percentage points to 5%.
Many homeowners also hired masonry specialists (14%), painters (10%) or roofing or chimney specialists (7%) for their exterior projects.
The 2026 U.S. Houzz Outdoor Trends Study looks at homeowners who are in the midst of, are planning or have recently completed an outdoor renovation. The online survey was fielded to 1,191 U.S. Houzz users between April 25 and May 6, 2026.
See more results and download the full study
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Professional hiring for outdoor renovations reached an all-time high in 2026, with 71% of homeowners hiring a pro, up from 65% in 2024.
General contractors remained a common choice, with 17% of renovating homeowners hiring them. Design-build firms saw modest growth, increasing 3 percentage points to 5%.
Many homeowners also hired masonry specialists (14%), painters (10%) or roofing or chimney specialists (7%) for their exterior projects.
The 2026 U.S. Houzz Outdoor Trends Study looks at homeowners who are in the midst of, are planning or have recently completed an outdoor renovation. The online survey was fielded to 1,191 U.S. Houzz users between April 25 and May 6, 2026.
See more results and download the full study
More on Houzz
Read more stories
Browse photos for ideas
Find home professionals
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Beige has surged in popularity as an exterior wall color. It’s now the top choice, with the share of renovating homeowners selecting it more than doubling, from 10% in 2024 to 24% in 2026.
Meanwhile, white and gray have both lost ground. White fell 9 percentage points to 14% in 2026, and gray dropped 7 percentage points to 12%.
Other exterior color preferences have changed little. Green (9%), black (8%), brown (7%) and blue (5%) have remained steady or edged up slightly, while yellow increased 2 percentage points to 5%.
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