Siding Trends by James Hardie

Dark grays, blues and greens can feel both intellectual and modern. When used with white trim, they create drama.

DESIGN ADVICE: Works wells in old neighborhoods, where a dark house won't stick out like a sore thumb, or in urban environments, where there is a mix of old and new.

Neutral rules the suburbs. These shades are safe, but also sophisticated. When accessorized with black or a darker color, a neutral can look downright chic.

DESIGN ADVICE: Great for contemporary construction. Play with textures and use different tones for trim in horizontal bands to add interest.

Reds, deep oranges, and golden yellows bring to mind autumn leaves in the North. More muted tones recall the terra-cotta roofs and sultry heat of the Southwest.

DESIGN ADVICE: Gray-toned reds are best suited for traditional houses in rural towns and older cities. Browns, warm reds and yellows in subtle tones are great for trims on a Craftsman, adobe, or rustic ranch.

The colors of the sky and water are always calming. Navy feels classy. Robin's egg feels breezy (why else are porch ceilings throughout the South painted light blue?).

DESIGN ADVICE: Gray-blue shades on shingled Cape Codes are classic. But the truth is, gray-blue rarely looks out of a place, whether acting as an accent or main color.