Shed color is one of those decisions people often make too quickly. You pick something at the last minute, the shed shows up, and you spend the next ten years looking at a building that clashes with your house. It is not a catastrophic problem, but it is an avoidable one.

The good news is that the decision is not complicated if you work through a few straightforward questions before you order.

Start with Your House

The shed does not have to match your house exactly, but it should not fight with it either. There are two basic approaches: match or complement.

Matching means picking a shed color that is the same as or very close to your house's dominant exterior color. This tends to look clean and intentional, especially if the shed is visible from the street or from the main areas of your yard. If your house is a medium gray, a gray shed disappears into the background in a good way.

Complementing means picking a color that goes with your house without being identical. A tan house with a brown shed works. A white house with a green shed can work if it fits the setting. This approach gives you more flexibility but requires a bit more thought. If you are not confident in the combination, lean toward neutral -- a light gray, tan, or brown shed goes with almost anything.

One thing to avoid: picking a color that creates obvious contrast without a good reason for it. A bright red shed next to a beige house tends to look accidental rather than intentional.

HOA Requirements Come First

If your property is in a homeowners association, check the HOA's requirements before you think about anything else. Many HOAs have specific rules about shed color, and some require that accessory structures match the house exterior. If that is the case for your HOA, the color decision is essentially made for you -- you match the house, and you document that the shed meets the HOA's requirements before the building is installed.

HOA rules about shed appearance vary widely. Some specify only that the shed must be a "neutral color." Others list approved colors specifically. Some require that the roof material and color match the house. Get the requirements in writing from your HOA before ordering, not after.

Our custom wood sheds can be painted to match virtually any color, which makes them a strong option for HOA properties with specific requirements. If the HOA wants the shed to match your house siding exactly, a custom wood shed can do that. Aluminum sheds come in a set range of factory colors, which may or may not include your house's exact color.

Aluminum Sheds vs. Custom Wood Sheds: What Color Options Exist

The type of shed you choose affects how much color flexibility you have.

Aluminum sheds come in a variety of factory color options. The panels are pre-finished at the factory, so you choose from the available colors when you order. The upside is that the finish is consistent and durable. The downside is that you are limited to what is offered -- you cannot request a custom color the way you can with a painted building.

Custom wood sheds give you much more flexibility. The siding can be painted to match essentially any color, including an exact match to your house if needed. Trim, doors, and shutters can each be a different color, which lets you create a more finished, intentional look. The tradeoff is that painted wood will need repainting over time, whereas factory-finished aluminum does not.

Trim Colors Make a Bigger Difference Than People Expect

Even if the main body color of your shed is relatively neutral, the trim color -- doors, corner trim, shutters if applicable -- has a significant effect on the overall appearance. A few things to keep in mind:

  • White trim tends to look clean and traditional with most body colors.
  • Dark trim (brown, black, dark gray) creates more contrast and can look sharp on lighter body colors.
  • Matching the trim to your house's trim color is usually a safe choice that makes the shed look like it belongs on the property.
  • If your house has shutters, matching or coordinating the shed door color to the shutter color is a small detail that reads as intentional.

How Color Holds Up Over Time

Shed colors fade. How much they fade depends on the material and how much direct sun the shed receives.

Factory-finished aluminum panels are designed to hold color well over time, especially compared to exterior paint. The color is baked into the finish rather than applied as a coat on top. That said, all outdoor colors fade to some degree with prolonged sun exposure, and a shed that faces south or sits in full sun all day will show fading faster than one in partial shade.

Painted wood sheds will eventually need repainting -- typically every five to ten years depending on the climate, paint quality, and sun exposure. When you paint a wood shed, you have the opportunity to change the color, which some people consider a feature rather than a drawback.

If longevity of the color is a priority and you want minimal maintenance, lean toward the factory-finished aluminum options. If you want maximum control over the look and are willing to maintain it, a painted wood shed gives you more options.

Banner Buildings offers a variety of color options for both aluminum and custom wood sheds. Call us at 706-568-0500 or stop by our lot on Warm Springs Road and we can walk you through what is available and what tends to work well in the area.