Most would agree that the color of a building is not the most important element of it, but most customers care about the color of a building they may work in or even have on their property for a long time. 

What do metal suppliers see coming in 2025? How do they decide what colors to provide customers in a new year? 

Scott Steele of Best Buy Metals said their purchasing team looks at the trends in their sales to determine if their lineup of the most popular colors will change.

“White is a popular choice for exterior wall panels, but we have seen an upswing in Grey and  Charcoal as those tend to match some of the more popular color patterns for modern home construction,” Steele said. For agriculture red/barn red and green are very popular, either as wall panel or trim, and white plays a role in wall panels for ag buildings. 

Typically, if it’s a roofing renovation on an existing home built in the ’90s, we see black and charcoal as the most popular combinations. For more recent construction, the colors have more variety. For instance, Galvalume is a popular roofing color. Usually, you will find Galvalume roofing with white trim and just about any wall panel color because Galvalume‘s metallic look matches very well with both bold colors and softer hues. Steele expects to see the same colors in 2025, for the most part. 

“Black is always popular for roofing, matte and high gloss, and high definition with textured coatings to add depth to the metal” Steele said. “So those will always be in the lineup, as well as white and bronze. An interesting note is that there is a current trend among consumers choosing products like the ULG (ultra low gloss) versus the HD product. Both have a matte finish but ULG does not incorporate a texture, while HD does. There is also a trending change in gauge preference that affects our orders for heavier weight coil.”

Often residential projects and commercial projects use similar color choices. It really depends on form and function Steele said. A commercial storage building will use standard colors. However, if it is to be used for any type of branding, businesses are more particular about color combinations.

Kathi Miller at McElroy Metal said, “In 2024, black and gray hues continued to dominate residential and light commercial color choices. However, color selection can vary by market segment. For instance, industrial facilities often prioritize lighter colors to enhance energy efficiency, while residential projects may lean towards darker shades based on owner preference and curb appeal. Interestingly, regional location doesn’t seem to play a significant role in color choices,” Miller added.

Miller said her team anticipates that black shades will continue in popularity. They also see a growing interest in natural colors and wood grain patterns, reflecting a trend towards an organic, earthy aesthetic.

Miller added, “One important point to consider when helping a customer is the impact of color selection on warranty coverage. Certain colors, particularly vibrant shades like bright blues, reds, and oranges, may offer a reduced warranty. This is primarily due to the stability of the pigments used in their manufacturing process, which can affect their long-term performance.”

Carly Green of EDCO Products said neutrals such as gray and sand tones dominate roofing orders, though some homeowners pick forest green or burgundy.  

“There are some colors that have a very short season, but typically high-trend colors last for several years,” Green said. For example, the black and white siding trend has been solidly in place for the last five or so years. Building owners often choose timeless shades that are compatible with their existing structure or neighborhood. With that said, we are not expecting any major changes in color trends for 2025.” 

Green said they are constantly analyzing demand through sales data, regional trends and forecasts, and gathering feedback from customers and vendors. In addition, they watch media trends to help identify what the near future will bring.

2025 Color of the Year

A look at what coating companies are forecasting for this year can be helpful in predicting what colors you should consider for your product lineup. Paint and finish companies generally have color teams that watch societal concerns, gauge the “collective head-space,” follow the trends, and develop predictions of what consumers will be looking for in colors. This year their respective “Colors of the Year” appear to have one thing in common: They are bold.

BEHR Paint Company

BEHR Paint Company’s Color of the Year is called “Rumors,” a ruby red that adds a little drama while feeling warm and elegant. BEHR’s research has shown that Americans feel that red can have a positive, energizing impact on their home. More than half of people surveyed felt that Rumors reminds them of a luxurious hospitality space, such as a high-end hotel.

Rumors is part of BEHR’s new palette, an annual selection of forward-looking colors, ranging from warm tones to cooler shades, coordinated to simplify the color selection process.

AkzoNobel 

AkzoNobel has introduced three inspiring color stories — Bold, Human, and Proud — designed to empower customers in the construction and domestic appliance markets to assist in setting their projects apart with style and creativity. The Bold Palette sparks courage to go beyond the ordinary, with bright, uplifting shades that inspire adventure. “Human” embraces grounded, earthy tones, ideal for creating warm and natural backdrops that highlight craftsmanship and natural materials. “Proud” celebrates individuality, offering confident, expressive colors that create spaces as unique as their creators. 

These palettes are anchored by AkzoNobel’s Color of the Year 2025, True Joy™, a vibrant sunny yellow that brings optimism, pride, and a splash of vibrant color to metal architecture and domestic appliance markets.

PPG 

The PPG 2025 Color of the Year is Purple Basil, a dusty violet hue that is warm and inviting, yet cool and mysterious. It is part of PPG’s Kinetic line. 

“As consumers embrace an unprecedented period of newness, movement is a distinct global theme shaping design trends in numerous industries,” said Vanessa Peterson, PPG Color Design Manager, Industrial Coatings, US.  

“The Kinetic color theme reflects the need for self-reliance in a fast-paced world. It also highlights the interplay between nature and science that is driving innovation, and the influence of new tools like artificial intelligence that are fostering boundless creativity… We’re seeing color trends reflect the need for dynamic colors, moving past the soft, more banal, safe color choices in favor of rich jewel tones, deeper earthen pastels and ancestral-inspired midtones.”

Sherwin-Williams

Sherwin-Williams had a hard time choosing just one color for 2025, and so they went to a “color capsule” of  six shades. Including neutrals that work with the bolder colors, the capsule facilitates color mixing and matching.

“We wanted a modern, fresh take on color while creating a usable palette,” said Sherwin-Williams’ Senior Architectural Color Designer Brynn Wildenauer. “Our color experts curated six hues for the building products market that create stunning combinations and push the expectations of color in this industry.” GSCB