11 Exterior House Colors That Go With A Tan Roof

Considering most people only paint the exterior of their home every five to ten years, depending on the material and conditions, it is essential to choose the right exterior color, seeing as how you have to live with it every day. Not only that, but your home's curb appeal and exterior aesthetic are the first impression that guests and passerbys will form, meaning you want it to look great before they have even stepped foot inside. To choose the ideal color for your home, the key is to make sure that it is harmonious with the other exterior elements of your home, most notably the roof, since it typically has a large presence and impact on the overall look.

One of the warmer options on the market, tan roofs are a popular color choice for bringing a variety of design styles to a home exterior. From traditional shingle roofs to modern metal, old world tile, rustic cedar shake, or European thatched alternatives, the aesthetic for a tan roof is all over the map, but they share one aspect in common — tan roof tones all share the same organic warmth that blends your home flawlessly into its natural surroundings and plays beautifully with every earth tone, neutral or colorful, in the book. So, whether you have an existing roof that you're working around or have fallen in love with a tan-toned material for a new roof, it is an extremely versatile shade to complement a wide range of exterior paint colors. Let's begin our list with neutral hues from light to dark, then work our way into more colorful alternatives, so you can easily select the perfect exterior paint color to pair with your beautiful tan roof.

It's hard to go wrong with a classic, timeless creamy white exterior paint color, especially when warmed up with a gorgeous tan-toned roof. Versatile in all design aesthetics from clean contemporary to New England coastal cottage, creamy white makes a home look light, airy, and fresh while a complementary roof brings nature-inspired depth. The entire effect is both grounding and elegant for this quintessential combination that has stood the test of time.

For a similar vibe to creamy white but with slightly more warmth and depth, neutral beige paint shades look dreamy side-by-side with their earth tone neighbor, tan. By creating a look that features two colors so similar but with one lighter and the other darker, it creates a tone-on-tone look, but with added subtle contrast. The warm undertones of both a beige paint color and a tan roof will complement each other beautifully. This is a pairing perfect for transitional or traditional exteriors.

For a monochromatic look, pair a tan roof with a light to medium desaturated tan paint color. The tonal vibe is soothing and sophisticated. For added effect, paint the exterior trim in the same hue for a full color-wash. Be sure to keep the saturation in the paint color low for a tranquil, soft exterior look perfect for blending gorgeously with its natural surroundings for transitional and traditional style homes.

Take your love for neutrals a step darker and opt for pairing a tan roof with a stunning desaturated mushroom taupe. Thanks to the added depth and moodiness over beige, this popular tone can translate into a wider variety of design styles, including modern exteriors. Perfectly calming yet visually interesting, there is a reason mushroom taupe is having a moment. And then pair it with another complementary brown tone, and your tan roof will bring this dynamic neutral palette to life.

For a darker, more dramatic approach to earth tones, desaturated dark brown tones make a tan roof sing. Flipping the expected combination of dark roof, light exterior on its head, this attractive pairing is as visually stimulating as it is classy. Because it is still an organic neutral, the dark brown shade feels grounded and calming. However, the rich depth of the color adds a refined and moody elegance without being too jarring, making it ideal for most design styles from modern to traditional.

For the most dramatic statement of the bunch, pair your tan roof with a show-stopping black exterior. Black or near-black exteriors are extremely popular right now because of how visually striking they are. However, the classy combination with an organic tan roof helps to smooth some of the impactful edges, warming up the bold shade and making it pop in just the right way. You could use a true black or go for a deep charcoal, blue-black, or green-black for the same jaw-dropping effect.

Veering off from neutrals into a bit of color — though many would argue this hue is a perfect non-neutral neutral — any desaturated shade of green from light sage to deep forest looks completely perfect with a tan roof. This is because both colors are repeatedly linked throughout the outdoor world, making them a surefire combination every time. By selecting a lovely grayed-out green of any color value to pair with a warm tan roof, the nature-inspired effect is equal parts serene and drop-dead gorgeous.

Sunny hues from a soft pale yellow to a rich desaturated mustard have the same warm, cozy undertones as a tan roof, making this combination endlessly inviting and cheerful. You can get away with a little extra saturation with yellow paint shades for a pop of fun, since they are balanced out properly with a neutral warm roof. However, you can also look for desaturated yellow tones from light to medium-dark for a sophisticated, subtle elegance that packs all of the same joy.

Perfect for historical, cottage, or beach town properties, soft pink exteriors exude copious amounts of charm, to say the least. The color of a rosy sunset, this desaturated earth tone is a gorgeous choice for a quaint home. Grounded with a tan roof for a less feminine look, this hue is perfect in a subtle desaturated variety, like the sophisticated beige-pink of setting plaster or soft peachy-pink with historical roots. Avoid paint samples that are too true pink or saturated unless you're aiming for Barbie dreamhouse vibes.

For a more coastal spin on soft colors, light blue is a great go-to choice for pairing with a warm tan roof, like where the sea (or sky) and sand meet. Light and airy, yet playful and happy, light blue is a joyful but refined crowd pleaser that evokes images of the water. Absolutely divine when complemented with fresh white trim, a light blue exterior with tan roof has elevated beachside vibes that will make you feel like you're on vacation every day.

Arguably one of the most versatile options for adding color to your exterior, no matter the design aesthetic, is a grayed-out navy or slate blue. Ranging from mid-tone to deep shades, it's hard to go wrong with a medium to dark blue exterior, especially when complemented and contrasted by a warm light tan roof. These desaturated blue options are earth tones, so they feel tranquil and subtle, but the darker you go, the more calm moodiness you will also create.