For the home exterior, color speaks volumes. It reflects personal style, the times we live in, and even the character of the communities around us. Naturally, like other design elements, color trends evolve over time — some shifting slowly, while others arriving and fading in the blink of an eye. Still, a few classic combinations never go out of style.
So, how are consumer color preferences shifting this year? Westlake Royal Building Products™ (Westlake Royal), a Westlake company (NYSE: WLK), checked in with international color expert Kate Smith of Sensational Color to uncover what she expects will grow in popularity and what’s fading from favor.
“The overarching trend is a shift from cool to warm, sterile to grounded, and monochromatic to layered,” Smith said. “Homeowners are increasingly drawn to colors that feel calming, natural and connected to the environment. They prefer palettes that are warm and inviting rather than cold and modern, and timeless rather than trend-driven.”
1. Warm Neutrals Replace Cool Grays
Perhaps the biggest shift happening right now is the rising popularity of warm neutrals like khaki, greige and beige. Warm taupe and stone-inspired options are another approach to creating grounded, natural aesthetics. Notably absent are what Smith describes as “builders’ beige,” a flat, monotonous hue that lacks personality. In contrast, warmer, more sophisticated beiges are gaining popularity over these less complex counterparts.
The blue-based grays that have been popular over the past few years “are now reading as cold, sterile and dated as the true gray trend declines,” Smith says, noting that designers are reporting requests for gray dropping from eight out of 10 to just one out of 10.
Smith’s findings are echoed in Westlake Royal’s own TrendLine™ report, which found color preferences shifting away from stark whites and blue grays to “New Neutrality” — warm and inviting neutrals that create a cozy, grounded aesthetic yet still feels polished.
2. Warmer Whites Take Over
Similarly, there is a move toward softer, creamier whites and off-whites, such as alabaster and warm ivory, and away from stark, bright whites. “Pure whites appear too sterile and unforgiving alongside warmer tones,” Smith said.
3. Earth Tones Bring Homes Closer to Nature
As biophilic design remains a major influence, Consumers are gravitating toward hues that connect homes to nature, especially:
- Mossy sage greens and olive greens
- Saturated deep forest greens
- Warm reddish-browns like terracottas and clays that bring a rustic, Southwestern appeal
- Deep chocolate and plummy browns
4. Moody Darks in Lieu of Saturated Jewel Tones
Those wanting to make a statement are opting for rich, moody colors. For example, charcoal and dark gray are replacing pure black as a softer alternative, while deep navy offers a sophisticated alternative to traditional neutrals. The bold turquoise, loud teals and vibrant accent colors from the past few years are declining, with muted, desaturated jewel tones taking their place.
5. New Accent Colors Add Warmth and Personality
For trim and other accents, Smith is seeing interest in architectural pinks with golden undertones, such as dusty mauve and blush, as well as rust and burnt coral.
6. Farmhouse Exteriors See Color Shifts
For years, crisp, high-contrast combinations dominated exterior trends, driven largely by the popularity of the Modern Farmhouse style. “The black trim on white house trend has peaked,” Smith reported, “shifting toward warmer, more nuanced combinations.”
Matte black is still trending for modern and farmhouse exteriors, along with fresh coastal blues, soft sky hues and deep navy tones.
7. Mixed Materials and Two-Tone Designs Continue to Rise
One trend that’s continuing in 2026 is increased use of color blocking, including combining dark siding with light trim, mixing wood tones with painted surfaces, and varied materials for texture.
Designers, contractors and consumers can see how these and other color trends look on their own projects by using Westlake Royal’s Design Canvas™ tool.
