Home Exterior Colors and Products Inspired by Nature
By Jerome Zenoby
Director of Creative & Design
Home Exterior Colors and Products Inspired by Nature
Neutral color schemes are still a popular choice for exteriors, but current trends show homeowners returning to warm, nature-inspired color palettes—a departure from the signature white cladding and black accents that have been a part of the modern farmhouse trend for the last decade. Light and dark color combinations offer a clean and minimalist style, but those who have an affinity for nature favor a more earthy color palette that harmonizes with the environment. The same can be said for building materials: the sleek lines of smooth siding and vertical panel metal roofing combine beautifully in modern architectural styles, while embossed roofing, woodgrain vinyl siding, and manufactured stone convey a more rustic façade.
Exterior products that offer the textures, colors, and characteristics found in nature include:
EMBOSSED METAL ROOFING PANELS REPLICATING REAL CEDAR SHINGLES AND QUARRIED SLATE
Organic cedar shake shingles and quarried slate are time-honored roofing materials that offer charming character and style, but they do have their drawbacks. Slate is heavy, difficult and expensive to install, and can chip and break when exposed to extreme weather. Cedar shingles require frequent maintenance to prevent algae and mildew growth, and their natural wood composition presents a fire hazard.
ProVia metal slate and shake roofing systems provide a unique and durable alternative, comprising all the beauty of these organic materials along with the strength and weather resistance of steel. The GalvaTec™ finish on the roofing panels delivers enduring performance, with proven protection from hail, wind, rain, and corrosion. The lifetime limited warranty and expected product lifespan of 50+ years is an important advantage to homeowners looking for long-term value and sustainability.
With tens of thousands of surface impressions, the embossed panels replicate the textures and composition of real cedar shingles and quarried slate tiles. Metal shake and slate profiles are available in handsome variegated palettes of deep, rich browns and rough-hewn, steely grays. These metal roofing styles are perfect for any type of architecture, providing the crowning touch to any exterior color scheme and aesthetic.
VINYL SIDING FEATURING REALISTIC WOODGRAIN TEXTURES
Traditional wood clapboard siding made from oak, cedar, redwood, and other species was the predominant cladding for decades. While authentic hardwoods create handsome, robust facades, they are prone to rotting, splintering, and moisture damage from exposure to precipitation, and fading from harsh sunlight.
Today’s vinyl siding formulations provide impact resistance and protection from the elements, ensuring long-lasting durability. Molds created from authentic wood produce realistic grain textures, while UV blockers and weather-barrier materials provide protection from color fading.
ProVia vinyl siding is available in a wide palette of nature-inspired hues that complement the landscape and provide exurban curb appeal. Earthy, woodsy shades like Pine, Aspen, Timberline, Granite, Prairie, Clay, and Canyon create pastoral homescapes and complement the terrain and scenery. Visit our vinyl siding colors page to see all our siding colors, from classic cool and warm whites to serene earth tones, vibrant saturated shades, and bold, deep tints.
Our siding profiles include several woodgrain options:
- Harbor Mill™, with an embossed surface replicating rough-sawn and split cedar shakes
- Cedar Peaks®, featuring a natural patina finish crafted to represent the look of natural cedar
- Willowbrook™, which offers a brushed cedar woodgrain finish
- HeartTech®, displaying a sophisticated oak woodgrain
MANUFACTURED STONE MOLDED TO REPLICATE AUTHENTIC QUARRIED STONE
Stately manors and rustic country cottages share a similar aesthetic: the elegant, robust character of a handsome stone façade. Exterior stone cladding has a way of grounding a home, providing a dramatic, earthy base. Authentic quarried stone, however, is expensive and heavy, and the extraction process can be damaging. Manufactured stone is an eco-friendly option, as it improves energy efficiency by retaining radiant heat, costs less to produce and ship, and does not bear the invasive and adverse environmental effect that extracting natural stone does.
ProVia uses organic stones selected by professional stone masons to create handcrafted master molds, and a precise mixture of aggregates, cement, and pigment to artfully craft realistic stone veneer. Careful attention to the contours, textures, and colors of natural stone ensures unique, native-looking replicates that enhance any architectural design. Stone profiles that pair beautifully with siding and landscaping features include:
- Ledgestone, with its haphazard shapes, jagged contours, and scraggy surfaces
- Dry Stack’s compact, tightly layered profile and sandblasted visage
- Terra Cut™, a coarse-grained blend of large and small slabs with rugged faces
- Natural Cut’s™ irregular and disproportionate slabs and roughcast veneers
Nature-inspired stone color palettes, such as Shale, Glacier, Timber, Desert and Copper, add visual interest and great curb appeal, either on their own or paired with a contrasting or complementary shade of siding. Browse our various manufactured stone color palettes on our Grout Visualizer page, or search for manufactured stone by color family on our Stone Color page.
Check out our roofing, siding, and manufactured stone galleries to see beautiful examples of nature-inspired exterior design, or visit the Palettes & Colors page in our Design Center to browse complete exterior color pairings inspired by nature, featuring palettes such as Eucalyptus, Evergreen, Natural Bark, Truffle, and more.
Visit the Palettes & Colors Page
Last Updated: May 23, 2025
By Jerome Zenoby
Director of Creative & Design
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