Nothing Neutral About Neutrals

By Kate Smith, Sensational Color. 

Discover why neutrals are such a classic color for homeowners and how to find the perfect neutral hue for your home. 

It’s no surprise that very few houses are painted pumpkin orange, lime green or electric blue. When it comes to our home exteriors, most of us like to go conservative…with just a “pop” of color for accent. 

For the most part, neutral colors are the long-term favorite for the outside of homes. Still, I’m always asked many questions about whether gray, beige or greige is the best color for creating curb appeal. Some people think going with a neutral like gray or beige is the easiest to get right. However, due to the many shades and options available in neutrals, it’s oftentimes not as easy as it might seem to pick a neutral exterior color. 

Starting from the top down 

Not surprisingly, according to a nationwide homeowner “2021 Roof Purchasing Study” conducted by Signet Research Inc. for DaVinci, the most common roof colors are black, grey, and brown. Versatile, classic colors like black, gray and brown are reassuring and will continue to retain their top positions for years to come. 

The 2021 Signet Study shows a swing back towards beige, bringing a warm, familiar feeling that many people crave right now. Beige hasn’t edged out gray for home exteriors. At least not yet. Gray and beige tie as the #1 exterior color preference but it is picking up steam. 

Beautiful beiges 

Beige has a refined, traditional appearance paired with classic hues such as black, navy, green and burgundy. When mixed with natural elements or materials inspired by nature, beige looks modern. In a tonal scheme of tans and browns, the vibe is calm and effortless. 

Gorgeous grays 

Gray has been a best-seller in recent years for both exteriors and interiors. It is a color that transcends home styles and settings. There is a gray to fit houses of every size, type and age. Gray is a natural with black and gray roofing but also pairs well with natural cedar. It is an adaptable color that works with most other hues. 

Gray, which many call the perfect neutral, shares the top spot with beige. However, if you take a closer look at many of the most popular grays for home exteriors, you’ll see that they lean warm. To harmonize with stone, brick and other exterior materials, a gray that leans warm — tan, taupe or brown — is often the best choice. 

Gracious greiges 

Many of the warm grays, often called “greige,” live between gray and beige. They aren’t quite beige, yet they aren’t precisely gray either. Think of greige as a chameleon color that can change depending on what you put next to it. The adaptable nature of greige makes it an easy color for homeowners to love. You can just as easily pair it with gray or black as you can brown or tan. 

All of the neutrals for home exteriors, whether beige, greige or gray, have a complexity that keeps them from ever feeling dull — quite the opposite. These tones are the perfect backdrop for any colors or elements that a homeowner wants to add to express their personality or style, creating a home with amazing curb appeal. Then in a few years, to refresh your house, all you have to do is change out the color of your entry door or shutters for a very different look while maintaining the curb appeal. 

Ask me  – Which is best for your house – Gray? Beige? Greige? 

With so many fantastic neutral roofing colors to choose from, you might find it hard to decide on just one blend. If you’re thinking of a DaVinci slate or shake composite roof, I can help. 

Contact DaVinci Roofscapes for a FREE consultation on selecting the best color roof for your home. You can ask me to answer your question about the perfect neutral or any other color! 

Have a question? AskARoofer. 

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