--- title: "Siding Colors 2025 & 2026: Popular Siding Trends | Radiant" description: "Dark grays, warm khakis and the whites that never left. The siding colors going up this year, what people really pick, and what dark siding does in July." url: https://radiantroofingsiding.com/blog/top-siding-color-trends-for-2025-boost-curb-appeal-this-year/ --- Updated October 11, 2026 · 7 min read # Siding colors for 2025 and 2026: what's going up on South Dakota houses Dark grays, warm khakis and the whites that never left. The siding colors going up this year, what people really pick, and what dark siding does in July. [South? Call Matt 605.496.9595 Sioux Falls · Tea · Omaha\ & surrounding areas ](tel:+16054969595)[North? Call Gunner 605.203.1805 Watertown · Aberdeen · Redfield\ & surrounding areas](tel:+16052031805) ![A white board-and-batten farmhouse with black windows and cedar porch posts at sunset, one of the most popular siding colors of 2025 on the South Dakota prairie.](https://radiantroofingsiding.com/assets/blog/siding-colors-2025.webp) What are the most popular siding colors for 2025 and 2026? Homeowners still pick light neutrals most. In a 2024 Harris Poll for Alside, off-white or cream led at 18%, then white at 16%, light brown at 13% and light gray at 11%. The trend colors are darker and warmer. James Hardie went from Evening Blue in 2025 to Iron Gray for 2026, LP SmartSide picked Sand Dunes, a warm tan, and Sherwin-Williams picked Universal Khaki. The short version - Most people still choose light neutrals: cream, white, light brown and light gray made up 58% of picks in a 2024 survey. - The 2026 trend picks split two ways, deep charcoal (Hardie's Iron Gray) and warm sand and khaki (LP's Sand Dunes). - Dark siding looks great, but on vinyl it needs a heat-resistant line, and reflections off neighbors' windows can warp it. - Black front doors are the cheapest trend that pays. Homes with them sold for about $6,271 more than expected in a Zillow study. - Pick your color off the roof and any brick or stone you're keeping, and look at a real sample outside. In this article 1. [What homeowners actually pick](https://radiantroofingsiding.com/blog/top-siding-color-trends-for-2025-boost-curb-appeal-this-year/#what-homeowners-actually-pick) 2. [The trend colors: 2025 to 2026](https://radiantroofingsiding.com/blog/top-siding-color-trends-for-2025-boost-curb-appeal-this-year/#the-trend-colors-2025-to-2026) 3. [Six color families that work on South Dakota houses](https://radiantroofingsiding.com/blog/top-siding-color-trends-for-2025-boost-curb-appeal-this-year/#six-color-families-that-work-on-south-dakota-houses) 4. [Before you go dark: heat, fading and window glare](https://radiantroofingsiding.com/blog/top-siding-color-trends-for-2025-boost-curb-appeal-this-year/#before-you-go-dark-heat-fading-and-window-glare) 5. [How to pick yours without regretting it](https://radiantroofingsiding.com/blog/top-siding-color-trends-for-2025-boost-curb-appeal-this-year/#how-to-pick-yours-without-regretting-it) 6. [The material changes the color choice](https://radiantroofingsiding.com/blog/top-siding-color-trends-for-2025-boost-curb-appeal-this-year/#the-material-changes-the-color-choice) Here’s the question people actually ask, in their own words: *“I love the dark house but everyone I talk to says it’s a terrible idea. Anyone have a dark house and not regret it?”* That one came from a homeowner on Reddit, and it pretty much sums up picking siding colors in 2025 and 2026. The trends are getting darker and warmer. What people actually put on their houses is still mostly light and neutral. Both make sense, and the right answer for your house depends on your roof, your neighborhood and how long you’re staying. ## What homeowners actually pick Trend lists are written by paint companies. This is what homeowners say they’d choose. In a 2024 Harris Poll of more than 1,300 homeowners, run for the siding maker Alside, the top five looked like this: Top siding color choices for 2025 Share of U.S. homeowners choosing each color | Color | Share | | ----------------- | ----- | | Off-white / cream | 18% | | White | 16% | | Light brown | 13% | | Light gray | 11% | | Medium blue | 8% | Source: [Alside / Harris Poll](https://roofingcontractor.com/articles/99988-alside-predicts-2025-top-siding-color-neutrals-best-the-bolds), October 2024. Stated preference, not sales. The same survey found **42% wanted a “timeless neutral” look**, and a third said they’d steer clear of red. About **one in five** said their HOA or local rules factored in, which tracks with plenty of the newer subdivisions around Sioux Falls, Harrisburg and Brandon. If you’re in one, check your covenants before you fall in love with a color. ## The trend colors: 2025 to 2026 The color-of-the-year picks tell you where things are headed. This year they moved warmer and deeper: | Brand | 2025 pick | 2026 pick | | ---------------------------- | ---------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------- | | **James Hardie** (siding) | Evening Blue, a deep twilight blue | **Iron Gray**, a “deep and dramatic neutral” | | **LP SmartSide** (siding) | (no pick that year) | **Sand Dunes**, a warm sandy tan | | **Sherwin-Williams** (paint) | A nine-color capsule | **Universal Khaki**, an earthy mid-tone tan | Hardie’s 2026 pick is one of its siding colors, and LP’s is one of its 16 prefinished ExpertFinish colors, so both come straight from the factory ([Hardie](https://www.jameshardie.com/all-about-james-hardie/press-releases/products/james-hardie-crowns-iron-gray-as-2026-color-of-the-year/), [LP](https://investor.lpcorp.com/news-releases/news-release-details/lp-building-solutions-unveils-2026-color-year-sand-dunes/)). Ply Gem’s siding team put it this way going into 2025: *“Homeowners are taking a dramatic step forward to deep and dark siding colors”*, meaning black, navy, brown and charcoal, while *“blue and green continue to be a top choice”* ([Pro Remodeler](https://proremodeler.com/home/article/55243993/siding-color-trends-for-2025)). ## Six color families that work on South Dakota houses - Warm whiteThe farmhouse look. LP Snowscape White - Sand and khaki2026's warm trend. LP Sand Dunes - Charcoal gray2026's dark trend. Hardie Iron Gray - Deep blueHardie Evening Blue, LP Summit Blue - Sage and greenFits prairie and tree lines. LP Garden Sage - BlackBest as an accent or on board and batten. LP Abyss Black *Chips are approximate. Screens lie, so always look at a real sample, outside, in daylight.* **Warm white with black windows** is the modern farmhouse look that keeps turning up at the [Sioux Empire Parade of Homes](https://siouxfalls.business/?p=155377), alongside more earth and wood tones. It still works because it’s clean, it ages slowly and it suits the wide-open setting a lot of houses out here have. **Sand and khaki** is where 2026 is heading. It’s a good fit for the brown and tan roofs on plenty of ’90s and 2000s homes, and it hides dust from gravel roads and spring wind better than white does. **Charcoal and iron gray** looks sharp with white trim and a cedar-tone porch ceiling. It’s the most “new” looking choice on a block of beige. **Deep blue and sage green** are the safe way to go bold. They stand out without the commitment of black, and greens sit nicely against shelterbelts and farm fields. **Black** is best on board-and-batten gables, a garage bump-out or trim. A whole black house is striking, but it’s the hardest color to keep looking even. ## Before you go dark: heat, fading and window glare ![A couple at their kitchen island holding charcoal, warm white, sage green and sand siding samples up to the window to compare popular siding colors for their Sioux Falls home.](https://radiantroofingsiding.com/assets/blog/popular-siding-colors-sioux-falls.webp) Hold samples up to the light you've actually got, on the wall they're going on. A South Dakota July can put a lot of sun on a west wall, and dark colors soak it up. Three things to know: **1. Dark vinyl needs a heat-rated line.** The Vinyl Siding Institute says normal vinyl can start to soften around **160–165°F**, and *“darker colors absorb more heat, and will soften before lighter colors”* ([NAHB paper](https://structuretech.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Melted-vinyl-siding-discussion-from-NAHB.pdf)). Makers now sell dark lines built for it. Mastic’s SolarDefense, for example, says plainly that *“dark-colored panels are particularly susceptible to warping and distortion”* and warrants against it ([Mastic](https://www.plygem.com/mastic/siding-materials/solar-defense/)). **2. Your neighbor’s windows can melt your siding.** Low-E windows can reflect **30–50%** of sunlight, and the slight inward bow of double-pane glass can focus it on the house next door. A Minneapolis home inspector summed up the recipe: *“Cold weather + low-e windows + close neighbors with vinyl siding = melted vinyl siding, sometimes”* ([Structure Tech](https://homesmsp.com/2016/03/melted-vinyl-siding-caused-by-reflected-sunlight.html)). It’s a real concern in tight new subdivisions. Engineered wood, fiber cement and heat-rated vinyl handle it much better. **3. Fading isn’t even.** As one homeowner put it, *“The UV is going to fade it, and it won’t fade evenly.”* The south and west walls go first. Prefinished boards help a lot. LP’s ExpertFinish and Hardie’s ColorPlus both carry finish warranties of up to 15 years. If you’re torn, a mid-tone like iron gray or sage shows age less than true black. ## How to pick yours without regretting it 1. **Start with what’s staying.** Roof color, brick, stone and any trim you’re keeping set the palette. Pull a color from the stone, not from a magazine. 2. **Match the roof’s temperature.** Brown or tan roofs want warm siding (cream, khaki, warm gray, sage). Black and gray roofs work with almost anything. 3. **Pick one bold thing.** A dark front door, black windows or a charcoal gable gives you the trend without betting the whole house on it. And it pays: Zillow found homes with **black or charcoal front doors sold for about $6,271 more** than expected. Zillow cautions that’s a correlation, not proof ([Zillow](https://zillow.mediaroom.com/2018-06-20-Homes-with-Tuxedo-Kitchen-Cabinets-and-Black-Front-Doors-Can-Sell-Up-to-6-000-More-than-Expected)). 4. **Look at real boards, outside, at different times of day.** Online visualizers get you in the ballpark. As one frustrated homeowner put it, *“these online visualizers aren’t doing it.”* A 2-foot sample on the actual wall does. 5. **Drive your street.** Stand out a little, not a lot. Two houses in a row with the same gray look like a builder ran out of ideas. ## The material changes the color choice Color and material go together. Want a deep, rich color that holds up in hail country? That points toward prefinished LP SmartSide or Hardie, and [here’s how they compare for South Dakota weather](https://radiantroofingsiding.com/blog/why-lp-smartside-is-a-top-choice-for-midwest-homes/). Trying to work out whether the whole project pays off? See [the real ROI of new siding](https://radiantroofingsiding.com/blog/the-real-roi-of-new-siding-is-it-worth-the-investment/). We bring full-size samples to every [siding estimate](https://radiantroofingsiding.com/siding/), and we’re happy to hold them up against your roof and stone until something clicks. ## Questions we get about this ### What color siding is most popular right now? By what people actually pick, light neutrals. Off-white or cream (18%), white (16%), light brown (13%) and light gray (11%) topped a 2024 Harris Poll of more than 1,300 homeowners. Charcoal, navy and black are growing fastest, especially with white or black trim. ### Is dark siding a bad idea? Not if you pick the right product. Dark colors take in more heat and can fade faster on the south and west walls. With vinyl, buy a line built for dark colors, like Mastic's SolarDefense. Prefinished LP SmartSide and Hardie ColorPlus come with up to 15-year finish warranties. ### What siding color goes with a black or dark gray roof? Nearly anything, which is why dark roofs are so popular. White and warm white look crisp, gray gives you a softer tone-on-tone look, and blues and greens stand out without fighting the roof. Brown or tan roofs are pickier. Stay in the warm family (cream, khaki, warm gray or sage) and skip cool blue-grays. ### Will light siding turn yellow? Good vinyl shouldn't. Look for colors certified under the Vinyl Siding Institute's color retention program, which weathers samples outdoors before certifying them. On light siding the more common problem is mildew on the north wall, and that washes off. ### Does siding color affect resale value? Some. Zillow found homes with yellow exteriors sold for about $3,408 less than expected, and homes with black or charcoal front doors about $6,271 more. Zillow says those numbers show a correlation, not proof the color caused it. Safe neutrals with one bold accent are the low-risk play if you're selling soon. ### Want someone to actually look at it? Free estimate, usually same day across South Dakota and the states around it. No pressure and no call center — and if it has five more years in it, we'll tell you that instead. Or read more about [siding in South Dakota](https://radiantroofingsiding.com/siding/). ## Sources 1. [Alside / Harris Poll: Top siding colors for 2025 (Roofing Contractor, Oct 2024)](https://roofingcontractor.com/articles/99988-alside-predicts-2025-top-siding-color-neutrals-best-the-bolds) 2. [James Hardie: 2025 Exterior Color of the Year, Evening Blue](https://www.jameshardie.com/all-about-james-hardie/press-releases/products/james-hardie-unveils-its-2025-exterior-color-of-the-year/) 3. [James Hardie: 2026 Color of the Year, Iron Gray](https://www.jameshardie.com/all-about-james-hardie/press-releases/products/james-hardie-crowns-iron-gray-as-2026-color-of-the-year/) 4. [LP Building Solutions: 2026 Color of the Year, Sand Dunes (Nov 17, 2025)](https://investor.lpcorp.com/news-releases/news-release-details/lp-building-solutions-unveils-2026-color-year-sand-dunes/) 5. [LP Building Solutions: ExpertFinish colors](https://www.lpcorp.com/products/siding-trim/colors-inspiration/expertfinish-colors) 6. [HGTV: Sherwin-Williams 2026 Color of the Year, Universal Khaki](https://www.hgtv.com/decorating/color/sherwin-williams-color-of-the-year) 7. [Pro Remodeler: Siding color trends for 2025 (Ply Gem)](https://proremodeler.com/home/article/55243993/siding-color-trends-for-2025) 8. [Zillow: Homes with black front doors can sell for up to $6,000 more (2018 paint color analysis)](https://zillow.mediaroom.com/2018-06-20-Homes-with-Tuxedo-Kitchen-Cabinets-and-Black-Front-Doors-Can-Sell-Up-to-6-000-More-than-Expected) 9. [NAHB (D. Crump): Melted vinyl siding from reflected sunlight (PDF)](https://structuretech.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Melted-vinyl-siding-discussion-from-NAHB.pdf) 10. [Structure Tech (Minneapolis): Melted vinyl siding caused by reflected sunlight](https://homesmsp.com/2016/03/melted-vinyl-siding-caused-by-reflected-sunlight.html) 11. [Mastic by Ply Gem: SolarDefense dark-color vinyl siding](https://www.plygem.com/mastic/siding-materials/solar-defense/) 12. [SiouxFalls.Business: Fall 2024 Parade of Homes](https://siouxfalls.business/?p=155377) ### What we do - [Residential Roofing](https://radiantroofingsiding.com/roofing/) Most roofs done in 1–2 days - [Storm & Hail Repair](https://radiantroofingsiding.com/storm-hail-repair/) Same-day inspections in most towns - [Gutters](https://radiantroofingsiding.com/gutters/) Installed with every roof, or on their own - [Where we work](https://radiantroofingsiding.com/service-area/) Ten offices across SD, ND, NE, IA and MN ### Keep reading - [Is new siding worth it? The real return on a siding job in South Dakota](https://radiantroofingsiding.com/blog/the-real-roi-of-new-siding-is-it-worth-the-investment/) National articles say siding pays for itself. Around here the numbers come in lower. Here's what you actually get back, and when it's still the right call. - [What's the best siding for South Dakota? Why we keep landing on LP SmartSide](https://radiantroofingsiding.com/blog/why-lp-smartside-is-a-top-choice-for-midwest-homes/) Hail, wind and a 152-degree swing between the record high and low. Here's how SmartSide, vinyl, Hardie and steel actually hold up out here, cons included. - [How long a roof lasts in South Dakota](https://radiantroofingsiding.com/blog/how-long-a-roof-lasts-in-south-dakota/) The national number is 20 to 25 years. On the northern plains it's usually less, and the reasons have more to do with your attic than with the shingles. Word travels fast out here ## Your neighbors already called us. ★★★★★ > I highly recommend these guys! They did two complete exterior remodels for me (siding, roof, soffit, gutters) on a couple of older houses and made them look brand new. They were available to start within a reasonable timeframe and got these big jobs done within a week. Gunner is great to work with and keeps you in the loop along the way. They’re now my first call for our exterior house projects. Ashley Weisser Aberdeen, SD ★★★★★ > Troy did an excellent job during our roof and siding inspection. He was punctual, knowledgeable, and very easy to work with. We truly appreciated his help as new home owners. What stood out most was how communicative he was throughout the process and how well everything was organized and explained. We’re very happy with the experience we had with Radiant Roofing & Solutions. Hadleigh Olson Omaha, NE ★★★★★ > Everyone at Radiant is professional and answered and addressed my concerns for siding and soffit work. Thank you all! Mandy, Gunner, Matt, Allen, Grant, Brent, Gary, Troy and Matt. Truly! TERA SCHAFER Sioux Falls, SD 4.9 average across Google · reviews from real projects across the region ## Storm’s coming. Your quote shouldn’t take longer than it does. Free estimate, same-day in most towns. No pressure, no call center — just Gunner, Matt and crews that show up. or call Matt on [605.496.9595](tel:+16054969595)