Why Americans Aren’t Painting Their Homes White — And the Color They’re Choosing Instead

In the world of design trends, it’s rare for decor that’s considered overdone to experience a resurgence in popularity. But that’s exactly what’s happening with the colors that homeowners are choosing for their exteriors. Believe it or not, white may no longer be considered the “go-to” hue for a home’s exterior, according to a survey collected for the 2026 Houzz Outdoor Trends Study. If you thought beige was officially dead, think again: Data suggests this warm neutral has officially become the most popular exterior home paint color for anyone renovating.

Per Houzz, beige was chosen by nearly a quarter (24%) of renovating homeowners in 2026 — more than double its share in 2024, when only 10% of those surveyed opted for the shade. Meanwhile, other classic home colors are losing steam. White, which was chosen by 23% of homeowners in 2024, dropped to 14% this year. Gray has experienced a similar decline, falling 7 percentage points from 19% to 12%. The warm neutral that once felt decidedly overplayed is looking like this year’s freshest choice.

While it’s true beige is considered controversial, given how ubiquitous it’s become, it is not entirely surprising to see data supporting its comeback. Its resurgence feels in step with the broader move toward warmer, more inviting home design. After years of cool grays and whites dominating both interiors and exteriors, homeowners are leaning further into earth-coded neutrals influenced by the rise of biophilic design. When used outside, beige can provide tons of warmth, all while functioning as a neutral — one that plays nicely with gardens and greenery, wood, stone, and darker accents.

And beige isn’t the only neutral that’s playing at homeowners’ hearts: Houzz’s data also found that a few other hues surged in popularity this year. “The shares of renovating homeowners choosing green (9%), black (8%), brown (7%) and blue (5%) for their exterior walls all have remained steady or shown slight growth,” Houzz’s report reads. “Yellow has [also] risen by a modest 2 percentage points to reach 5%.”

There’s another somewhat surprising trend in color preferences occurring outside of the facade, too. Black has emerged as the most popular exterior trim color, selected by 39% of renovating homeowners in Houzz’s surveys — a dramatic 17-percentage-point increase from 2024. White, meanwhile, has fallen 9 percentage points to 19%.

That means today’s most popular exteriors aren’t necessarily monochromatic. In fact, 69% of homeowners are choosing a trim color that sharply contrasts their exterior, suggesting bold color stories are becoming an important part of curb appeal, too. Pairing a warm beige exterior with dark trim is one particularly timely way to give a home some definition without sacrificing that softer, welcoming quality.

All things considered, Houzz’s data suggest homeowners are less inclined to embrace the cool palettes that have dominated general design trends for years. White and gray exteriors may begin to fade into the background, given how quickly beige and other earth tones are overtaking U.S. renovations. If Houzz’s data suggests anything, it’s that beige’s rise (from 10% to 24%!) is too significant to dismiss as a minor fluctuation — particularly as white and gray continue to lose ground.

Of course, this doesn’t mean gray or white exteriors are suddenly outdated. But if you’re planning an exterior refresh and want something that feels current without chasing an overly trendy color, beige may be worth some real consideration. Once overlooked and considered trite, it seems that this neutral is poised for a total comeback this year.