A major overhaul of the exterior color of your home is always a challenging decision. One option is a darker, moodier, more contemporary look. You wouldn’t be alone, as many homeowners dare to go dark as they look to modernize their homes. Dark siding and roofing are a great way to achieve a sleek and striking aesthetic.
However, you need to consider a few things before calling in professional painters or roof installers. While you may have visualized the colors, there are other key aspects that you need to think about, such as your home’s architectural design and energy efficiency.
Below, we have spoken to top industry professionals with firsthand experience in exterior home design. They give 7 key considerations before opting for a dark home exterior. We also share some top-color ideas for when you’re ready to renovate.
I’ve seen firsthand the considerations that go into choosing a dark color for your home’s exterior, I’d go with 2 things we commonly say to our clients. Those are thermal impact and energy efficiency then UV resistance and lifespan.
7 Main Factors to Consider Before Choosing a Modern Dark Exterior House Color
1. Preparation and Extra Maintenance
Painting your siding a dark color takes a lot more than grabbing a brush and pot of paint. Firstly, you need to consider the type of siding material and how to prepare the surface beforehand. Different materials can react differently to darker colors. Imperfections can show more with a darker color, so be sure to properly prepare the material, or better still, hire a professional to do so.
Maintenance is also important to consider. Matt Balducci, Co-Owner and CEO of HomeHero Roofing points out that dark colors can “[...] show scuffs, stains, and even things like bird poop more obviously. So, they'll likely require touching up or even repainting more frequently.”
Tyler Hull, Co-Owner of Modern Exterior, adds “Dark paint in general will fade more than lighter colors under UV exposure which can change the look of your home over the long run. I always recommend the best paint for longevity which is a quality, UV-resistant product, but the likelihood is that you will need to fix and scrub or repaint more regularly if you want to keep that bold color looking vibrant.”
Darker roof material maintenance is similar to that of siding. As Peter Helton, Owner of HW Roofing explains “Proper installation and maintenance are key. Darker roofs show imperfections more easily, so we take extra care during replacement to ensure a flawless finish. Homeowners should also re-seal and clean dark roofs regularly since they fade faster.”
2. Energy Efficiency
If you’re living on a tight budget and your AC bill is already an issue, you might want to rethink choosing a dark color for your home’s exterior. Tommy Mello, CEO of A1 Garage Door Service comments that “Dark colors absorb more heat, which can significantly impact your home’s internal temperature. This can lead to higher cooling costs during the summer months. It’s important to consider this if you live in a warmer climate, as it may affect your energy bills.”
3. Local Climate
Closely tied to energy efficiency is where you live. If you heavily rely on AC during the summer months, your local climate might not be best suited to having a dark siding color. In fact, even the positioning of your home might warrant reconsidering going dark. Rafi Friedman, President of Coastal Luxury Outdoors says “I would recommend against dark home colors for homes with broad southern and western exposures in just about any climate.” However, colder regions might benefit from exactly the opposite effect. With sunny weather, you can see a thermal mass effect, with heat being absorbed and transferred to the interior.
4. Home Design and Siding Material
The color of your home is often dictated by its architectural design. Certain styles only match with certain colors. Jeremy Morgan, Brand President at Groovy Hues Painting says “Darker colors like brick red or black can look stunning, especially on traditional or modern homes, but they might not suit every architectural style. You want the color to complement your home’s design, not clash with it.” For example, black siding might not look so complimentary on a Mediterranean-style home.
And it’s not only the style of the home you need to think about, but also the siding material. Chris Langley, Director of Fascias and Soffits, explains “It is necessary that the siding material is not affected by the temperatures and does not warp or fade.”
Related article: Can You Paint Vinyl Siding?
5. Accent Colors and Features
Siding and roofing are the main colors of your home’s exterior. But don’t underestimate the impact of accent colors on the overall appearance. Make sure you have considered how certain colors and features will look set against a dark modern color. Trim, doors, and window frames all need to match well with the siding. So your current dark green front door is not going to look great with a new dark blue siding, for example. Also, consider areas like the porch. Yaeir Moinzadeh, Owner of Blue Rise Baltimore Roofing points out that “Dark hues can highlight features but may overwhelm smaller spaces.”
Another feature to consider is your landscaping. Jeremy Yamaguchi, CEO of Lawn Love recommends “Consider the foliage around your home before painting it a dark color. Sometimes when a house has bushes or plants that are darker shades of green around the building, painting the house a dark color can make those plants visually disappear. They can blend into the new dark paint color, and that’s never something you want.”
Are you willing to be the Addams Family house on the street?
6. HOA and Neighborhood
If you live in an HOA community, you are going to want to check any regulations that are in place before changing your home’s exterior color. Even if you don’t live in an HOA community, check the homes around you and see what the overall look of the neighborhood is. As Berres says “A dark color for your home certainly makes a statement, but you have to think about whether or not you’re the kind of person who wants to make that kind of statement. Can you handle potentially negative comments?”
7. Resale Value
According to Fixr’s Paint and Color Trends report, 49% of top industry experts recommend painting exterior siding shades of white to increase home value. Another 48% say natural wood stains. Homeowners should think about whether or not they are likely to sell up in the next few years before embarking on a darker color change. Curb appeal is a big deal breaker too. Langley says “The color selected should be in line with the style of the house and the surrounding landscape so that it does not detract from the curb appeal.”
Modern Dark Exterior Color Ideas
Once you’ve thought about the key considerations and you’re ready to modernize your home, you have to settle on a dark color choice for your siding. Take a look below at some of the top trending modern dark exterior house colors.
Black
Bold, sophisticated, elegant, and striking are just a few of the ways to describe an all-black home exterior. It takes a brave homeowner to opt for such a dark shade. Depending on the home’s design, black can create the most modern of looks. Adding wood accents or white frames can help break it up a bit.
Charcoal Gray
A charcoal gray is a versatile color that matches well with almost any other accent. Morgan notes that “Outside, colors can appear a bit lighter because of natural sunlight. So, a deep charcoal might look almost like a medium gray at midday.”
Dark Blue
Dark blue hues are timeless and can really make white or wooden doors and frames pop, making architectural features the star of the show. Mimicking an ocean at night, a dark blue shade gives a nod to nature.
Dark Olive Green
Similar to blue, dark greens such as olive are a very nature-inspired color choice. Blending in with surrounding trees, this color carries with it a calming feel. It’s very on-trend in 2024, with many homeowners looking to incorporate nature into their home design.
Dark Taupe
Another on-trend color this year is taupe. This neutral tone also captures a sense of nature. It screams modern and matches well with other darker tones such as black and gray.
The Cost of Painting Your Siding
Once you’ve decided on a new modern dark paint color for your exterior, hire a professional siding painter. You can expect to pay anywhere between $6,000 to $11,000 for the job, including the labor and materials. This cost will depend on your siding material, the size of your home, and other factors.
Adam Graham is a construction industry analyst at Fixr.com. He has experience writing about home construction, interior design, and real estate. He communicates with experts and journalists to make sure we provide the most up-to-date and fact-checked information. He has been featured in publications such as Better Homes and Gardens, and written for various outlets including the National Association of Realtors, and Insurance News Net Magazine.