In a world that changes rapidly, people are seeking stability and calm, a design that restores rather than drains. This growing desire for comfort and authenticity has fueled the latest movement toward nature-inspired colors.
Broader design shifts in exteriors are now clearly reflected in roofing choices. Homeowners are moving toward more organic palettes that feel grounded and timeless, or that complement the natural textures and materials used in exteriors. “Talking with roofing contractors, we see homeowners planning new roofs are choosing colors inspired by nature,” said Jack Gottesman, Marketing Director at IKO, North America. “They’re picking earthy tones, wood-like shades, soft greys, stone-inspired colors, and even deep blacks that bring depth and balance to a home. They also want roofing that blends naturally with stone, clay, wood siding, and brick.”
IKO shares its trending colors to help contractors stay ahead of design trends.
Wood-Toned and Earthy Browns
Homeowners are leaning toward shades reminiscent of wood or soil — colors with natural depth and a sense of stability. That is why the first trending color is Olde Style Weatherwood in the Dynasty® and Nordic™ collections, inspired by the richness of natural, aged wood. The IKO team noted the growing demand for a similar shade, IKO Cambridge® Weatherwood, and decided to recreate and enhance its natural color within the company’s performance lines.
Olde Style Weatherwood brings a classic, heritage-inspired look. The color’s warm browns and soft greys pair beautifully with log or stone facings; warm beige, taupe, or cream siding; and brown or bronze trim.
The other trending pick is IKO Dynasty® Driftshake. This shade evokes a sense of calm, ease, and natural warmth, and creates a warmly casual, relaxed, and breezy look — a style many homeowners are asking for. It pairs harmoniously with natural materials such as stone, wood, and light brick, as well as cream, grey, or brown siding.
Black That Enhances Natural Textures
For projects featuring natural materials like stone, wood, or brick, a black roof creates the perfect balance. It enhances their beauty and adds contrast. That is exactly the impression conveyed by IKO Dynasty® Granite Black — a color that blends elegance with natural restraint. It is formal, classic, and yet modern: equally suited to urban designs and natural landscapes. With its rich four-color blend, this shingle offers depth and dimension rather than a flat, monotone finish, adding visual texture. It complements stone, brick, masonry, and siding (especially white, dove grey, or midnight blue).
Black roofs remain popular in sunny regions such as California, where materials are subject to California Title 24 and LA reflectance standards. As Vince Carrier, Residential Product Development Manager at IKO North America, notes: “We continue to see a growing interest in deeper, darker roof colors that pair well with natural materials. The challenge has been to deliver these deeper, high-definition tones, which meet stringent cool roof performance standards. IKO Dynasty® Cool Colors™ Plus Harbor Black was designed specifically for California requirements and showcases the advancements we’ve made in achieving an SRI of 20+ without sacrificing visual depth.” Inspired by the natural depth of shaded water, this contrasting and elegant shingle has become the next IKO trending color.
Grey That Remains Timeless
Grey roof tones are the quiet equilibrium between warmth and coolness, nature and architecture. They don’t dominate; they provide the background against which the home’s design unfolds. For example, IKO Dynasty® Summit Grey is a dramatic yet restrained shade with a timeless quality. It pairs beautifully with white or grey stone, brick, or siding.
Another top pick, Dynasty® Frostone Grey feels lighter and fresher. The shade feels clean, and contemporary and pairs beautifully with natural stone, grey masonry, or white siding. Drawing inspiration from nature’s quiet moments, Frostone Grey mirrors the crisp, silvery look of freshly frosted stone.
From warm, wood-toned shades to deep blacks and calming greys, shingles are expected not only to capture design trends but also to stand up to time, climate, and changing homeowner expectations. For contractors, that means guiding clients toward materials engineered for high wind resistance, impact protection, advanced granule technology, UV stability, and energy efficiency, qualities featured in performance lines like Dynasty® and Nordic™.
Beauty should last, and performance should look beautiful. This balance between design and endurance defines the direction of the roofing industry and represents a growing opportunity for professionals to offer solutions that combine style and long-lasting performance.
