In our showroom, we field a lot of questions from homeowners and contractors about color selection for fencing and decking. They want to know “What will look best?” with the exterior of the house.

That’s a tough question to answer! Color choice is very subjective. What looks good to one person may not appeal to another.

That makes it challenging when proposing color pairings. However, by keeping a few key considerations in mind you can narrow down viable options for customers.

• What is the exterior color of the house?
• Does your customer prefer subtle or bold palettes?
• Does your customer like contrasting or complementary colors?
• What architectural style (colonial, contemporary, Victorian, Mediterranean, etc.) does the home have?
• Is the home located in the city, suburbs, or country?
• Are the environmental surroundings vibrant or subdued?

Examples of popular choices for several common situations include:

Modern city homes
Stark colors are often chosen to complement minimalist design.

Beach homes
Faded, subtle colors like cool gray and light tan present well in muted surroundings.

Lancaster County country homes
Saturated (deeper) colors often look best because the rich colors in the environment don’t drown them out.

Of course, customers have the final say. It’s important to collaborate closely with them to ensure they make an informed decision—one they will be pleased with for years to come.