If the exterior of your home is looking tired and dated, it's time for a refresh. From the latest stains and paints to a new roof and more, there are many ways to boost your home's curb appeal. Behr Paint Company has unveiled its first-ever outdoor accent colour collection, a palette of 18 exterior paint colours designed to enhance and personalize outdoor spaces.
Exterior Stains
BeautiTone's 2026 Exterior Colour of the Year is Bark, a warm transparent stain that enhances the natural grain of wood. According to Kristen Gear, specialist in colour and graphic design at BeautiTone Paint and Home Products, Bark makes the grain of the wood feel deeper, the texture more pronounced, and the colour unmistakably natural. Behr Paint Company has announced Taupe as its 2026 Exterior Stain Colour of the Year, a shade that blends soft brown with gentle grey undertones. Kayla Kratz, senior director of colour and design strategy at Behr, says Taupe brings a sense of harmony and balance to exterior spaces. Pairing Taupe with complementary BEHR stain colours is an easy way to introduce contrast and highlight architectural details like railings, trim, and decking borders without a full renovation. For subtle contrast, pair Taupe with warm tones like Cordovan Brown or cool tones like Pewter.
Exterior Paints
Behr is also introducing its first-ever Outdoor Accent Colour Collection, featuring 18 exterior paint colours for updates to shutters, trim, and entryways. A front door painted in bold hues like Unmellow Yellow or Flirt Alert creates a striking focal point, while earthy shades such as Muted Sage and Baronial Brown add dimension and character. Select colours are also available in spray paint.
Roofing
If you are concerned about budget, BP Canada recommends dividing exterior updates into annual projects. Nathalie Lambert, marketing director of BP Canada, notes that in today's challenging housing market, homeowners are investing in renovations rather than buying new properties, with exterior upgrades at the top of the list. A multi-year plan can break down an exterior facelift into phases. In the first year, replace your roof's shingles. Lambert says the trend is to combine durability with design and infuse roofing with colour and texture to significantly enhance curb appeal and home value. She recommends using multi-toned shingles for maximum beauty and flexibility to colour coordinate with other elements of the home's façade over the course of the makeover. For example, a brown roof with hints of copper and beige or a black roof with grey and tan nuances can blend well with existing exterior and provide more options for future siding, doors, and trim colours.
Siding
In the second year, BP Canada recommends replacing your home's siding. Because siding is meant to last decades, colour selection is key. Coordinating the colour of siding with the roof and trim can dramatically transform a home's exterior. Replacing siding offers a high return on investment, similar to installing a new roof, and provides protection against the elements, energy efficiency, and a long, low-maintenance lifespan. When selecting siding, consider timeless colours such as white, beige, light or mid-tone grey, blue, green, dark grey, and black that blend best with other exterior elements and landscaping, says Diana Sousa, marketing director of Kaycan. For a contrasting effect, pair white vertical siding and dark accents with shingles in shades of black, brown, and grey. For a more uniform look, choose shades from the same colour family, such as light grey siding with dark trim and grey shingles.
Doors
Updating the front door and garage can kick any home exterior up a notch and add pops of colour. If you are not ready to replace doors, painting them is the most economical way to give your home a lift. Bright colours such as green, blue, and orange or warm tones like terra cotta, copper, and brick red can be used on the front door to add wow factor, ensuring they coordinate with the roof and siding.
Windows
Finally, consider changing your windows. In addition to increased curb appeal, new windows boost property value, provide better energy efficiency, and address issues like drafts, damage, or poor security. Replacing old windows with new, energy-efficient models can also reduce energy bills while improving comfort.
