Choosing a roof color can feel overwhelming—and honestly, it should. Your roof is one of the most visible and permanent parts of your home, and the wrong choice can throw off your entire exterior.

But here’s the good news: while there’s no one-size-fits-all answer, there are clear guidelines that can help you make a smart, confident decision. So let's get into in!

1. Start With What You Can’t Change

Before you even look at shingle samples, look at your home.

The most important elements to work around are the ones that are staying:

• Brick or stone

• Fixed exterior features

• Hardscaping (walkways, retaining walls)

These materials have undertones that your roof needs to complement—not fight against. We'll get into undertones in a minute.

2. Use Your Trim as Your Anchor

Your trim and fascia act as a visual transition between your roof and the rest of your home. They also tie all the colors and textures together to help create a cohesive look. Because of this, you want to use the color of your trim as a major deciding factor. 

A safe, cohesive approach:

• If your trim is white → most roof colors will work, but undertones still matter will 

• If your trim is warm → lean toward warm roof colors

• If your trim is cool → stick with cooler roof tones

This keeps your exterior feeling intentional and pulled together.

3. Work With, Not Against Your Home’s Style

Your home’s architecture can guide you more than you think. 

Some general pairings:

• Traditional homes → pairs well with classic colors like black, charcoal, or brown

• Modern homes → pairs well with high-contrast options

• Farmhouse styles → pairs well with black, charcoal, or grays that have a warm undertone

• Mediterranean homes → pairs well with browns or natural toned colors

You don’t have to follow rules strictly—but staying within the style’s “language” helps everything feel cohesive.

4. Don’t Rely on the Sample Alone

Samples are helpful—but they’re not the full story.

A small shingle piece:

• Doesn’t show how the color looks at scale. A black roof may look go on a sample but a whole house may be WAY too much.

• Doesn’t reflect outdoor lighting

• Doesn’t reveal how tones blend from a distance

 To get the most out of samples, always view samples:

• Outside and against your home siding.

• At different times of day

If possible, you should try to get a rendering of what different colors of shingles will look like on your house, like in our color consult, here. This will give a better idea of what your house will look like without guessing.

So… What Roof Color Should You Get?

Choosing a roof color doesn’t have to feel like a guessing game—but it does require looking at the full picture. The best roof color is one that:

• Works with your home’s fixed elements. Try to pull colors out of the elements of your home to coordinate with.

• Matches the undertone of your exterior. 

• Creates balanced contrast

• Fits your home’s style

It’s not just about what you like—it’s about what works together.

Want to Be 100% Sure Before You Decide?

Even with all the right guidelines, it can still be hard to visualize how everything will come together on your specific home. That’s where our roof color consultation comes in. Instead of second-guessing, you’ll see realistic renderings of your actual house with carefully selected roof options, along with expert recommendations tailored to your materials, lighting, and style. It takes the pressure off and gives you clarity—so you can move forward knowing you’ve made the right choice.