Deck & Porch Colors – 17 Principles For The Perfect Color Design
As you begin designing a deck or porch for your home, there are many things you need to consider--features, layout, accessories, and more.
It's essential to have a clear picture of what you want in your outdoor space, whether you are thinking of the general style, features you want to include, or color scheme.
When it comes to colors, many people aren't sure where to start. There are many options and color styles, and no one wants a deck or porch that clashes with their home instead of complementing it!
If you are worried about choosing the right colors, don't worry; the Keystone Custom Decks team is here to help!
In this article, we will cover many things to consider when choosing your deck and porch colors. We will look at common questions, mistakes, and general principles you can follow.
We end the article by discussing how you don't need to do color design entirely on your own - our team is ready to help you create your dream outdoor space.
Let's start learning how to create the ideal color scheme for your new deck or porch project!
Getting Started With Your Deck & Porch Design
Before we start designing, there are several general questions you should ask yourself regarding your long-term home plans.
Does the color scheme you have in mind fit with your current home's style?
Most homeowners begin the process with a general color scheme in mind. That's good--after all, you need to start somewhere!
As you think about the colors, ask yourself if they fit the style of your home. This is a critical part of developing your color palette - it needs to complement your current home. You want your deck to complement, not detract from, the beauty of your home and property.
If you are unsure if the colors you have in mind fit perfectly with your existing home, that is OK. When a Keystone salesperson visits your home to give your estimate and initial design, he will have color samples and be able to guide you further in this process.
Do you have any future remodel plans for your home?
Think about your plans for your home in the future.
Do you plan to replace your siding with a different color, redo your roof, add larger windows, etc.?
If you have a home remodel in the future, this remodel may affect the color scheme you choose. You don't want your deck to clash with your house after the remodel!
For example, let's say you plan to replace the siding in the next 1-2 years, and you know you want a different color. The new siding color is essential when designing your deck or porch color.
You want your porch to match your house for decades, not just several years. And replacing your decking materials would be costly and time-consuming.
If you have remodeling plans in mind, let the Keystone sales team know right away, and they will help you create a color scheme to stand the test of time.
Deck Colors
As you plan your new outdoor space and think about the features, style, and size you want, don’t forget to also think about the colors--this is not an element that should be sidelined!
Here are several guidelines to help you get started, but don’t forget - our team is available to assist in this process.
The decking color should contrast your primary house color
A common mistake is having the decking color be the same as the house. Staining wooden decks the same color as the house used to be especially common.
However, when you choose a decking color, you would do better to choose a color that nicely complements your siding, with a bit of contrast, instead of being exactly the same. This breaks up the color scheme of your home and prevents your home and new deck from creating a giant “visual slab” of color.
The deck border can also complement both the decking and house colors
After choosing the decking color, you need to select the border color.
The goal for the border is to create a complementary contrast for two things - your new decking and your existing home.
One of the most common border colors is a shade of white. Most decks aren't primarily white, and having a white border creates a nice contrast for the rest of the project.
If you do not want a white border, our team can show you samples of other border colors to fit your deck and home. You could pick black, grey, or anything you want!
Porch Colors
A porch has more layers to its color design than a deck or patio.
Because a porch has a roof, beams, and more structural elements than a deck, there are additional things to consider when choosing a color palette.
Let’s look at some things to consider with your new porch.
What color should the porch roof be?
Thankfully, this answer is very simple!
If you choose a shingle roof, which is a common choice for porches, then you simply want the color of the porch shingles to match the shingles on your roof.
Metal roofing is available, which can be a good choice if you want to add a classy, unique, or vibrant color to your porch roof.
The porch's decking and border follow the same guidelines as a deck - a nice complementary contrast to your home.
Many times, homeowners build a porch together with a deck. If this is your situation, using the same decking and border for the whole project is best. This keeps your outdoor space from becoming too busy or eclectic. If you have too many colors, it distracts from the structure's beauty.
So, what happens if you are building a stand-alone porch without a deck?
In this situation, the same rules apply to a porch: The decking should be a pleasant contrast to the home's primary color, and the border should complement both the decking and the home.
For interest's sake, here is a link to our post on the Top 6 Deck and Porch Trends in 2021. Maybe it will provide you with some inspiration!
The porch structure, trim, and fascia should match your home's color
So far, we have been chiefly choosing colors that contrast nicely with each other and your home's existing color scheme.
This changes when it comes to the porch's structure and trim work.
Most times, the goal for the support beams, framing, trim, and fascia is to match your home's color so it doesn't stand out too much.
Remember - you already have several contrasting colors with your decking and border. You don't want to introduce too many colors to your outdoor living space and lose its beauty or natural aesthetic. And trim and fascia probably isn't something you necessarily want to emphasize.
Instead, you want the porch to have the proper contrasting elements but still look and feel like it was always a part of your home. In other words, you want a blend of matching and contrasting colors. It should add to the beauty of your home, not distract from it by introducing too many new colors. It shouldn't start looking like a kaleidoscope!
Railing Colors
The color of the railing is one of the last things to consider when choosing your color scheme, and in some ways, it is the least complicated color to choose when following our guidelines.
Don't let the railing distract from your new deck or porch
This is the main thing to avoid when choosing a railing color. Don't let it distract from the rest of the structure. Choosing the wrong color distracts from your new outdoor space and turns the focus on the railing instead--and it's supposed to be about your deck or porch, not the railing!
For example, a porch with a red or orange railing would seem to be all about the railing, not the porch! That is not what you want.
To keep the focus on the actual living space, the most common railing color is black with white accents. This color combination keeps the railing looking elegant without distracting from the overall project.
Popular Deck Colors & Styles
A common question we receive at Keystone Custom Decks is how different color schemes fit various deck, porch, or home styles.
To answer this question, let's look at four of the most popular porch and deck styles and their associated colors.
Modern Style
Modern-style decks are smooth and streamlined and typically include solid, neutral colors.
Modern colors are typically blacks, grays, and whites.
Notice the sleek, sharp, and clean design of this modern deck and pergola project (click here to view more photos of this project).
Traditional Style
Traditional styles focus on older vibes, like a farmhouse or colonial home setting.
Browns, whites, and natural tones are great colors for decks on traditional-style homes.
This traditional-style porch uses earth tones and a farmhouse interior with wood and stone (click here to view more photos of this project).
Contemporary Style
The contemporary style blends modern and traditional styles.
For example, if you have a traditional-style home like a farmhouse, you can still build a modern-style deck or porch. Your traditional home and a modern outdoor structure create a contemporary style. It's like a style mashup.
The opposite is also true. If you have a modern home, you can incorporate a traditional-style outdoor space for a contemporary style.
This contemporary project uses a traditional-style fireplace and roof with a modern kitchen and flagstone patio (click here to view more photos of this project).
Rustic Style
The rustic style generally focuses on nature, or homey, woodsy elements. It generally includes a natural color scheme.
Colors for a rustic style include warm, natural tones, shades of brown, and a weathered aesthetic. Think lots of natural wood and a rough-hewn look.
This beautiful rustic covered porch uses natural earth tones, wooden features, and is designed to blend into the surrounding environment (click here to view more photos of this project).
Other Things To Consider
Here are some additional things to consider when choosing colors for your deck.
How much of a role does landscaping play in choosing the correct colors?
Unless your home is in a wooded or unique natural environment, your home's landscaping probably has little effect on your color scheme.
What do we mean by a wooded or unique natural environment?
Suppose your home is in a setting with a lot of natural beauty, such as in the woods, overlooking a lake, or nestled into picturesque mountains. In that case, you don't want your colors to distract from your home's natural beauty.
In these situations, you want to consider natural colors and designs that draw attention to nature around you. Ideally, your home and deck should complement the natural beauty and majesty of the surroundings, not detract from it.
For most homeowners, however, this situation does not apply, and the focus should be on complementing your existing home.
What about the color of my porch ceiling?
We recommend keeping the ceiling a white or lighter color. White reflects light well and helps keep the porch feeling airy and spacious instead of cramped and low. A dark ceiling would make your space seem smaller than it actually is.
Keeping a light and airy ceiling is especially critical if the porch covers several of your home windows. The design must allow as much light as possible to enter the home.
However, if you aren't going for the light, airy look, a natural wood ceiling can make for a cozy, homey look.
How Keystone Custom Decks Is Here To Help
At Keystone Custom Decks, we understand how important it is to you to customize your dream outdoor living space. It doesn’t matter if it is a deck or porch or what additional features you include; we know you want the custom outdoor living space of your dreams!
This is why we offer the following services to our valued clients in PA, MD, DE, NJ, and NY:
Professional Design Team
We want your outdoor space to be your dream come true, but we also know doing all the work yourself is challenging and overwhelming.
That is why we listen to your dreams for a deck or porch, the features you want included, and the overall style you want.
Our professional design team works with you to help make your dream come to life and to help you enjoy the process as much as possible!
Outdoor Living Showroom
Located in Lancaster County, PA, our Outdoor Living Showroom is a unique experience when creating your outdoor space.
With a wide range of examples and available styles, including multiple color schemes, you can truly experience the available features and receive inspiration for your outdoor project!
Stop by our showroom any time, or schedule a showroom visit.
3D Renderings Available
One of the things we offer during the sales process is a 3D rendering of your project.
This rendering allows you to see your project come alive, and you can make any changes to the design, features, and colors before construction even starts.
Conclusion
As you think about designing your ideal outdoor space, it is easy to focus on the main features you want to include, such as an outdoor kitchen, fireplace, or many others.
While these are often the centerpieces of a porch or deck and are extra fun to plan, don’t forget that choosing the right color palette is also important!
When you are ready, our team at Keystone Custom Decks is prepared to help you through the whole process. As a custom deck builder in PA, MD, NJ, DE, and NY, our team is ready and prepared to make your outdoor dreams come true!
We offer various services, including:
Contact us today to schedule your estimate and get started.
