As cooler fall weather settles in, many homeowners are tackling exterior projects before winter. A 2026 Houzz Outdoor Trends Study of 1,191 U.S. homeowners reveals a shift toward warmer paint colors, bolder architectural details and durable upgrades.
Warmer Wall Colors Take the Lead
Beige has become the top exterior wall color, rising from 10 % in 2024 to 24 % this year. White and gray have slipped to 14 % and 12 % respectively, while green (9 %), black (8 %) and brown (7 %) round out the palette.
Black Trim Dominates
Black trim is now the most popular choice, jumping 17 percentage points since 2024 to 39 % of projects, pushing white down to 19 %. Nearly seven in ten homeowners (69 %) are pairing contrasting wall and trim colors to highlight architectural features.
Material Mix for Walls
Homeowners are spreading their choices across several materials: stucco (28 %), natural wood, fiber‑cement and vinyl siding each at 21 %. Among wood users, vertical siding leads (45 %) over lap siding (18 %) and shakes/shingles (16 %).
Beams and Other Architectural Details
Exterior beams have surged, rising 24 percentage points since 2024 to appear in 43 % of projects. Columns or pillars (42 %), awnings (30 %) and shutters (19 %) also see growth.
Front Door Trends
Front‑door work remains a priority, with 78 % of exterior door projects occurring at the front entry, up eight points from 2024. Fiberglass leads as the material of choice (27 %), followed by wood (20 %) and aluminum‑clad doors with wood interiors (19 %).
Landscaping and Plant Selections
Seventy‑four percent of homeowners are upgrading plants, shrubs or trees, while 62 % add beds or borders and 45 % install new paths or steps. Flowering varieties are the top plant choice (82 %), followed by low‑maintenance (73 %), pollinator‑friendly (56 %), native species (55 %) and drought‑resistant selections (49 %).
Roofing and Protective Updates
Roofing projects now appear in 51 % of exterior renovations, with 73 % of those homeowners replacing the entire roof, up nine points since 2024. Asphalt three‑tab shingles have jumped 13 points to 32 % market share, while luxury asphalt and metal roofing each hold 14 %.
Professional Help on the Rise
Professional hiring for exterior work has reached a new peak, with 71 % of homeowners enlisting experts, up from 65 % in the 2024 study.
These trends suggest that homeowners are investing in both curb appeal and long‑term protection, favoring warm colors, bold black trim and durable roofing solutions.
Original reporting: KRDO (Colorado Springs metro) — read the source article.
