Choosing the right shingle color for your home is more than just picking a shade. It is a long-term choice that affects your home’s appearance, energy use, and resale value. The right color can enhance your exterior, while the wrong one may clash with your overall design. Michael Ryan Exteriors – Roofing Professionals, located in Edwardsville, IL, helps homeowners in Edwardsville, IL, choose the best shingles and roof colors for enduring beauty and performance. That means your shingles on the roof must handle the weather and still look great.
This complete roof color selection guide explains how to choose shingle colors that complement your home’s style and structure. It also highlights the most popular shingle roof colors Edwardsville, IL, residents are choosing in 2025. If you want to improve curb appeal and protect your home, selecting the right roof color makes all the difference. Let Michael Ryan Exteriors show you the smart way to find the best combination of look and performance.
Why Roof Color Matters
Your roof makes up a large part of your home’s exterior, so the shingle color plays a big role in curb appeal. A well-chosen roof color can improve balance, complement brick or siding, and create a more complete design. It can also influence how large or modern your home appears. Curb appeal adds to property value. Homes with visually appealing and well-maintained roofs often attract more buyer interest and tend to sell more quickly. Michael Ryan Exteriors helps homeowners choose roof shingle colors that match their style, coordinate with nearby homes, and support future resale opportunities.
The Impact of Roof Color on Curb Appeal and Design
Choosing the right roof color is about more than aesthetics because it plays a vital role in shaping your home’s overall look and its appeal to others. Your roof covers a large portion of your home’s exterior, making its color one of the most noticeable features of the street. A well-chosen roof color can elevate the entire appearance of your property and set the tone for your home’s style.
1. Visual Effects on Home Size and Shape
The color of your shingles can dramatically influence how big or small your home appears. Lighter shingle colors such as light gray, beige, or weathered wood reflect more sunlight and make a house feel more spacious and open. This effect is especially helpful for one-story homes or those with lower rooflines where the goal is to create a sense of expanded height or width. On the other hand, darker shingle colors like charcoal, black, or deep green can make large or tall homes feel more balanced and grounded. These colors create contrast, drawing attention to architectural features while softening the bulk of a wide or tall structure. Choosing the right shingle shade based on your home’s size, roof pitch, and layout can transform its exterior presence.
2. Curb Appeal and Resale Value
Since your roof makes up a large portion of your home’s exterior, the color of your shingles has a direct effect on curb appeal. When roof color complements your home’s siding, trim, and landscape, the entire property feels polished and visually cohesive. This harmonious look attracts more attention from potential buyers and makes a strong impression.
Homes with well-chosen roof colors often sell faster and at better prices. Buyers associate a visually appealing roof with good maintenance and long-term value. Michael Ryan Exteriors helps homeowners align roof color choices not just with personal taste but also with market preferences and local design trends, delivering a smart investment in both beauty and value.
How to Pick Shingle Color Based on Your Home’s Exterior
Your home’s exterior colors, such as siding, brick, trim, and landscaping, all influence the best roof shingle color choice. At Michael Ryan Exteriors, we help homeowners make smart selections that boost curb appeal and create a harmonious look. Here’s a quick guide to pairing roof colors with popular house colors and materials:
- Beige or Tan Siding: Warm brown or soft gray shingles complement these neutral tones beautifully, adding subtle depth without overpowering the look.
- White Siding: Offers versatility since both light and dark shingles work well. Choose light colors for an airy feel or darker shades for bold contrast.
3 . Bold-Colored Homes (Red, Green, etc.): Opt for neutral roof colors like charcoal, gray, or brown to balance vibrant walls and prevent visual overload.
- Brick Exteriors: Match shingles within the same color family as the brick, such as reds, browns, or grays, to maintain a cohesive, classic appearance.
- Gray Siding: Ideal roof colors include charcoal, black, or cool grays, which enhance the modern, sleek vibe of gray homes.
The right shingle color can enhance the overall look of your home and create a balanced, attractive exterior that stands the test of time.
Choosing Roof Shingle Colors That Complement Your Home’s Exterior
Different home styles call for different roofing colors. The goal is to highlight your home’s shape, features, and exterior materials. The best roof shingle colors are the ones that match your home’s unique look while adding warmth, contrast, or balance.
- Colonial homes: They often feature classic shingle colors like dark gray, black, or deep brown. These colors work well with brick or white siding and help keep the clean lines of the home intact.
- Ranch-style homes: Benefit from earthy tones such as tan, soft brown, or blended grays. These roof colors add texture without overwhelming the low profile of the house.
- Modern and contemporary homes: They usually have flat or clean lines and look best with a strong contrast. Black or dark gray shingles make a bold statement and add a smooth, clean finish.
- Craftsman homes: Typically feature wood siding, stone, or brick accents. Top shingle color choices include warm tones like bark brown, weathered wood, and soft green-gray mixes that blend with natural materials and create a welcoming look.
Colors by Geographical Location
Shingle color preferences often vary by region due to climate, architectural trends, and cultural influences. Understanding what’s popular in your area can help you choose a roof color that not only complements your home but also aligns with local styles and resale expectations. Regional data reveals striking differences in top color choices between the Northeast and Southeast, offering valuable insight for homeowners aiming to make an informed, market-savvy decision.
According to data shared by Metal Roofing Magazine, based on a 2025 color survey conducted by Shield Wall Media: “The data for the Northeast shows that the most popular color is gray, then black, then brown while tan, white and unpainted Galvalume/galvanized are the least popular on the list. In the Southeast, brown is the number one color with Galvalume/galvanized second, and black not far behind. Gray is fourth after a large gap, then green. The other colors are all about equal at the bottom of the list.”
Color Trends: Most Popular Roof Shingle Choices for 2025
In 2025, homeowners are embracing shingle colors that blend timeless appeal with modern design trends. The focus is on natural, earthy tones that boost curb appeal and complement a wide variety of home styles.
Top Shingle Color Choices:
- Williamsburg Gray: A versatile slate-gray shingle that bridges modern and traditional aesthetics. Its subtle earthy undertones make it a popular choice for homes with white, red brick, or taupe siding.
- Weathered Wood: This rustic blend of browns and grays offers a natural, aged timber look, perfect for farmhouse or cottage-style homes.
- Charcoal: A deep, sophisticated gray that provides a sleek, modern appearance. Charcoal shingles are favored for their versatility and ability to enhance various architectural styles.
4 . Hunter Green: A rich, deep green that brings a natural, earthy vibe to a home’s exterior. It’s an excellent choice for homeowners seeking a unique roof that blends seamlessly with lush surroundings.
These selections reflect the most popular shingle roof colors trending in 2025. Homeowners are choosing these shades to elevate their home’s appearance and stay aligned with modern design preferences. At Michael Ryan Exteriors, we help clients select shingles that complement their home’s style, surroundings, and long-term value.
Climate Considerations When Choosing Roof Shingle Color
The climate in Edwardsville, IL, should always be considered when choosing shingle color. Darker shingles tend to absorb more heat during warmer months, while lighter roof colors reflect sunlight and help keep indoor temperatures lower. For Illinois homes, where summers can be hot and winters cold, it’s important to strike the right balance. Neutral shades like light brown, light gray, or soft green gray blend naturally with various home designs and help reflect heat in summer while maintaining warmth during colder seasons.
Homes exposed to full sun throughout the day may benefit more from lighter shingle colors to minimize heat absorption. On the other hand, shaded homes or those with high tree coverage may lean toward medium to dark tones. The right shingles on the roof can improve year-round comfort, energy efficiency, and climate adaptability. Matching roof color with regional climate trends can contribute to year-round comfort and performance.
Energy Efficiency and Reflective Roofing Materials
Energy efficiency also plays a role in shingle color selection. Light-colored shingles can slightly reduce cooling costs during long summer days, easing the workload on air conditioning systems. Choosing a reflective or cool-colored roof is one way to support better comfort inside the home while keeping energy bills more stable. These reflective materials are especially useful for homes with large roof surfaces or minimal attic insulation. By minimizing heat absorption, they help maintain more consistent indoor temperatures. Over time, this not only reduces energy usage but can also help extend the life of HVAC equipment. A well-chosen shingle color is one small but effective way to improve a home’s long-term energy performance.
According to the U.S.Department of Energy, “White roofing products stay cool in the sun, reflecting about 60 – 90% of sunlight. However, since about half of sunlight arrives as invisible “near infrared” radiation, we can boost the solar reflectance of dark materials by using special pigments (colorants) that preferentially reflect this invisible light. Such “cool colored” products typically reflect about 30 – 60% of sunlight, staying cooler than conventionally colored products (though not as cool as white)”.
Matching Shingle Color with Specific Siding Types
To get the best results, you need to match your shingle color to your home’s siding. A roof that complements the siding can improve the entire look of your property. Certain roof and siding color combinations are known to work better than others.
- If you have a red brick exterior, the best shingle color for red brick house styles is usually dark gray, charcoal, or black. These roof colors create contrast and highlight the texture of the brick without overpowering it. Earthy tones like brown or weathered wood also pair well with classic red brick.
- For homes with gray siding, the best shingle colors for houses with gray siding include black, dark gray, blue-gray, and even some green-gray blends. These options add depth while keeping the look modern and clean. Gray siding is popular in Edwardsville, IL, and these top shingle color choices work well across many neighborhoods.
- Homes with beige, cream, or tan siding match well with warm browns, soft greens, and light grays. These combinations create a welcoming and natural appearance. If your siding is white, almost any shingle color will work, giving you more freedom to explore bold or classic tones.
At Michael Ryan Exteriors, specialists guide homeowners through sample comparisons to help them choose roof shingle color combinations that work with their existing siding. Start by considering your siding to narrow down shingle color options that Edwardsville, IL, residents find both timeless and attractive.
How to Test and Visualize Roof Shingle Colors Before Finalizing Your Choice
Choosing the right shingle color is a big decision. That is why it helps to test and visualize your options before making a final choice. Seeing colors on site and comparing them against your siding, trim, and landscaping can prevent costly mistakes.
- Use Physical Sample Boards: Hold shingle samples up against your siding at different times of the day. Natural light changes how the color appears—a shade that looks great in the morning may look too dark or washed out in the afternoon.
- Try Digital Visualizer Tools: Many shingle brands and roofing contractors offer online visualizers where you can upload a photo of your home. You can virtually test different roof colors to see what fits best. This is a quick way to explore top shingle color choices without guessing.
Homeowners can visit completed projects to see the best shingles in action. At Michael Ryan Exteriors, clients receive in-person guidance and digital previews to confidently choose the perfect roof shingle color that matches their home and local trends.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Are some shingle colors better for resale value?
Yes. Neutral and classic roof colors like gray, black, and brown are considered safer choices for resale because they appeal to a wider range of buyers and complement many home styles. Michael Ryan Exteriors, located in Edwardsville, IL, helps homeowners select shingle colors that enhance curb appeal and support strong resale potential.
2. How do I choose a shingle color if I plan to repaint my house later?
If you plan to change your siding color, choose a neutral shingle shade like gray, brown, or black. These options match a wide range of exterior paint colors and reduce the need for future roof updates.
3. Do certain roof colors hide dirt or algae better?
Darker shingles, like charcoal or dark brown, often hide stains or algae better than lighter colors. However, many modern shingles come with algae-resistant features regardless of color.
4. How important is curb appeal when selecting a shingle color?
Curb appeal plays a major role in house value and resale potential. A well-matched shingle color that complements your home’s exterior adds visual interest and shows the home is well-maintained.
Ready to Find Your Ideal Roof Shingle Color? Trust the Experts at Michael Ryan Exteriors
Choosing the right shingle color is a key decision for your home’s appearance and performance. The right choice enhances curb appeal, complements your siding, and supports energy efficiency. Michael Ryan Exteriors helps homeowners select the best shingles and roof colors for every home style. From comparing samples to checking color trends and planning roof replacements, our experienced team provides step-by-step guidance and trusted advice. Ready to upgrade your roof or explore the top shingle colors for 2025? Contact Michael Ryan Exteriors today at (618) 600-3490 or email [email protected] for expert assistance. For expert roof color selection, shingle installation, and professional roofing services in Edwardsville, IL, trust Michael Ryan Exteriors to boost your home’s curb appeal, value, and energy efficiency.
