Metal roofs are a more expensive premium product, but they last longer, have a unique texture, and make satisfying plinking sounds as rain falls on them. They’re perfect for farmhouses and contemporary homes alike, but it can be hard to decide which color and shade to install.

We’d like to share 13 pieces of advice and inspiration to help you choose a metal roof color that you’ll love.

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Metal Roof Color Ideas

Before you decide on a specific color, think about your home’s exterior color and architectural style, the surrounding landscape, your long-term plans for the property, and any HOA guidelines or neighborhood themes. The right color for your metal roof may surprise you.

Idea 1: Match the Roof with Shutters

If you’re thinking about picking a statement color, consider what might coordinate well with it. One easy way to tie a metal roof to the rest of your facade is to incorporate that color into the shutters.

Shutters are a feature you can add on and then remove later, so they might even be a good way to test the color on your home before you commit to using it on a roof.

Idea 2: Rustic Copper

Copper roofs are a little more expensive, but they can make a striking statement. At first, they have a bright warm glow that stands out beautifully against your greenery. Over time, they develop a patina that transitions through various brown shades before settling into a distinctive green. 

Idea 3: Natural Browns and Greens

An earthy brown metal roof complements the natural woods that often surround farmhouses and country homes. It works well with both light and dark siding.

If you want more of a statement natural tone, look to forest green. This color works particularly well with white or beige siding, and especially if your home is surrounded by lush greenery.

Idea 4: Pops of Color

A colorful metal roof can help add a contrasting statement to an otherwise neutral home. This works particularly well on farmhouses thanks to the authenticity that these roofs bring to the architectural style.

Matching gutters and windowpanes can help you draw the roof color into the rest of the home in subtle ways. 

Idea 5: Sleek, Low Metal Roofline

A factor many people fail to consider when it comes to roof color selection is the size of the roofline itself.

Many homes have at least two stories and a low metal building roof pitch, letting the exterior walls speak the loudest. If you live in a ranch-style farmhouse with a large and visible roof, consider how big of an impact the color will have on your facade’s overall look and choose accordingly.

Idea 6: High-Contrast Black on White

Opposites attract, so the saying goes. If high-contrast color selections speak to you, nothing will do so more than a stark black roof on a bright white house.

You can use elements like black trim, black window panes, and a black front door to tie the whole design together, or you can use primarily white all over with a simple black roof. Both designs scream sleek, chic, and fashionable.

Black roofs can be known to hold onto heat. If you want a darker color with a bit more energy efficiency, you can choose a charcoal gray that has the same effect.

Idea 7: Building Your Facade Around the Roof

If coordination is more your speed than contrast, there are many ways to draw the color of a dark roof into a light-colored facade. 

Instead of choosing stark white siding, consider rock siding with bits of gray, and incorporate dark wood stained trim to break up the siding’s lighter tones.

Idea 8: Black Roof with Red Siding

Farmhouses are a classic home style, but classic doesn’t have to mean boring. If you have wood siding you anticipate painting every five to 10 years, you can select a standard black metal roof and use your siding to experiment with bright pops of red. This hearkens back to once-common farm life and holds a certain nostalgia.

Idea 9: Festive Red

Most people choose neutral colors that they’ll never tire of, but don’t count out a bright red roof if you enjoy a pop of color. It’s a festive touch in most seasons, coordinating well with autumnal leaves, summer greens, and Christmas lights.

Idea 10: Tonal Beiges and Light Browns

A cohesive tonal look is rather chic these days. Working with several shades of a single color can both improve your curb appeal and display an understated style.

If you’re struggling with which metal roof color you should pick, use a variation of the other colors on your facade. Light beige siding, for example, works well with a dark beige metal roof.

Idea 11: Coordinating with Warm-Toned Metal Roofing

If you decide on a warm metal roof like copper or rust brown, make sure the rest of the tones on your facade will coordinate, if not match. Copper roofing will clash with cool blues and grays. However, it can work well with red accents like shutters.

Idea 12: Make a Split-Toned Facade

If your roofline takes up a large portion of your facade, you can use it to effectively “split your house in two.” For example, if you have brick under the roofline, choose a siding that matches or coordinates with the color on gables within the roofline. This can make your home seem taller and your roof feel more dramatic.

Idea 13: Work With the Landscape

If your home sits on a beautiful lot you want to stand out, coordinate your roof’s color with the landscape. A pale green can sit beautifully against an expansive blue sky, provided your lot has little tree cover. If you’re surrounded by large evergreen trees by contrast, choose a deep and rich forest green.

Energy Efficiency and Metal Roof Colors

The effectiveness of metal roofs extends beyond mere aesthetics. Color can also influence how energy efficient your home is.

Lighter colors like white and galvanized silver naturally reflect more sunlight. That can help you run your air conditioner less in the summer. Conversely, darker shades like matte black and charcoal gray absorb heat in the winter months.

Think about your local climate when you choose a color. It may seem insignificant, but it could lead to long-term energy bill savings for you.

Maintenance Considerations

Different metal roof colors can have different upkeep requirements. 

Lighter colors are excellent for energy efficiency, but they can show dirt, pollen, and other environmental stains more readily. You may need to clean them more often to keep them appearing fresh.

Darker colors are better at hiding dirt over time, but they may show fading due to weather exposure more clearly.

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Editorial Contributors
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Amy DeYoung

Contributor

Amy DeYoung has a passion for educating and motivating homeowners to improve their lives through home improvement projects and preventative measures. She is a content writer and editor specializing in pest control, moving, window, and lawn/gardening content for Today’s Homeowner. Amy utilizes her own experience within the pest control and real estate industry to educate readers. She studied business, communications, and writing at Arizona State University.

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