If you’re planning to reroof your home, you have a lot of decisions to make. Not only do you need to choose the brand and style of shingle, but also the perfect shingle color.

Staying with the same color you’ve had for decades is easy, but if your home’s been recently painted, or you want to boost your curb appeal, you might consider a change.

But don’t get bogged down in the options. With a few design tips and suggestions based on your home’s color, this guide (see image gallery above) will help you choose the best shingle color for your new roof.

Design Tips for Choosing Shingle Colors

If you have trouble imagining what your home will look like with different colors or types of shingles, try Atlas Roofing’s Roof & Home Design Studio. Simply upload a photo of your home and then “try on” different shingles from Atlas Roofing’s wide range of products.

The free Atlas RoofSwap! App also helps take the guesswork out of choosing shingles. Designed for the iPad, RoofSwap! lets you take a photo of your home with your tablet, swipe to “try on” different shingles and then save your favorite looks in a mood board, among other functionalities.

While you’re designing, remember these tips:

• The shingle color should be a darker shade than the siding. For instance, you wouldn’t want light gray shingles on a home with barn red siding.
• Stay consistent with your neighbors. If homes in your neighborhood have predominately gray or black roofs, don’t choose emerald green. The purpose is to enhance curb appeal, not stick out as the odd duck. Also, remember to check with your homeowner’s association. Some have rules about shingle colors.
• Because dark colors absorb heat, you don’t see a lot of black roofs in hot climates. Homes in warmer climates are better served with light-colored shingles.
• Dark colors belong on multi-story homes because they draw attention to themselves. Ranch style homes are best topped with a medium color shingle.
• Consider a blended shingle color, such as Atlas Roofing’s StormMaster® Shake shingles in Majestic Shake for plain siding. Choose a solid color shingle for a varied siding like multicolor brick or stone.

These ideas are just the beginning. To see all of the shingle styles and colors offered by Atlas, visit AtlasRoofing.com.