House Trim Colors to Match Shake Siding

Brown

• This is probably the most obvious choice, but a matching brown trim is both tasteful and low profile. This can also make your house look larger by creating a unified visual plane, rather than a space broken up by areas of different color. In a heavily wooded environment, this will also allow your house to blend more with the space around it, making your home look natural and rustic.

Gray

• Shake siding often has a distinctive silvery-gray color. For a trim that will match this color, look for a very neutral, tasteful light gray. This low-contrast color combination is less obvious than brown and will emphasize the silvery, weathered appearance of your shake siding. Use this color in small quantities for trim only; if you need to paint an attached porch or garage door, consider a brown that will match the color of the shake siding. Consider gray-blue as an alternative to straight gray.

Copper

• For shake siding in a warmer gold color, copper trim will reinforce the overall tone of the house. Consider several different shades of copper and even shades of orange-red before settling on your final choice. Look for a color that is natural and earthy -- not too bright -- but different enough from the color of the siding that it will stand apart from the shake shingles, thereby positively affecting the appearance of your home.

Vinyl Shake Siding

• Vinyl shake siding can be just about any color that regular vinyl siding can be, which means that the trim should match the color of the siding. Just about any color will pair well with neutral colors such as tan, gray and white, but if you're trying to be more creative, look for colors that have a relationship on the color wheel. For example, red siding will pair well with other warm colors such as copper or even a deep gold. For a high-contrast color combination, you may consider painting the trim a light, subtle-green color.