What Color of Roof Shingles Is Best?

Most homeowners choose asphalt shingles for their roof because they are durable, easy to install, and affordable. Asphalt shingles even come in styles and colors so they mimic the appearance of high-end slate, wood shake, or even tile shingles. That means homeowners will have many options when it comes to the color of their roofing shingles. Here is a simple guide to help you choose the best color of shingles for your roof.

What Style is Your Home?

First consider the architectural style of your home. Certain styles work better with certain styles and colors of roof shingles:

Modern Home: Slate style; gray colors
Ranch Home: Wood-shake style; neutral tones
Mountain Home: Wood-shake style; neutral tones
Colonial Home: Slate style; darker colors like grays or black
Craftsman Home: Wood-shake style; grays, greens, or light browns
French Country Home: Style depends on siding; natural browns and gray colors
Mediterranean or Brick Home: Tile style; browns, reds, or dark grays
Victorian Home: Slate style; bolder colors with red or green hues, or blended grays

What Color is Your Home?

You will then want to take into consideration the color of your home. Certain colors of roofing shingles will compliment your home better.

White Home: Best with blue or green-hued shingles
Beige Home: Warm browns, gold, or red shingles
Golden Beige Home: All brown shingles or, for a contrasting effect, red or blue-hued shingles
Blue or Gray Home: Dark gray or black shingles
Spanish Moss (Green) Home: Gold, red, gray, or black shingles
Light Brown Home: Dark brown or, for a contrasting effect, with red, blue, or green-hued shingles
Dark Brown Home: Warm brown colors, gold, red, or warm gray shingles

What Color Is Your Neighbor’s Roof?

Before you choose the shingle color for your roof, you should check with your neighbors or neighborhood association. There might be rules about what colors you can use. Also, if all of your neighbors have similar hues for their roof shingles, it might make your house stand out too much if you choose something boldly different.

What Is the Condition of Your Home?

Finally, consider the condition of your home. Roof shingle colors which contrast with your home color will highlight features of the home. Choosing low-contrast colors will hide the features, which may be ideal if you want to hide defects of your home.