The Best James Hardie Statement Collection Colours

Redoing your home’s exterior can be daunting. It’s a big expensive job, the entire neighbourhood is watching, and you have to live with your decisions for decades. If you’re considering HardiePlank, here’s an overview of the best standard colours from James Hardie’s Statement Collection, and some thoughts on which ones to avoid!

The majority of homeowners redoing their siding are choosing a fibre cement product like HardiePlank. Cedar siding has long been falling out of favour, for although it’s a beautiful natural material, it’s expensive and requires significant maintenance. Vinyl is affordable, but generally less attractive and less durable.

James Hardie | Fibre cement siding offers the charm and beauty of wood without the vulnerabilities and upkeep. Pictured: Fresh Mist shingles and lap siding with Arctic White Trim. PS — a soft yellow door would look great on this home!

Though HardiePlank outperforms cedar in the durability, moisture-resistance, fire-resistance, pest-resistance, and maintenance categories, it’s seeeriously lacking in the colour department (unless you have access to the Dream Collection!). While Hardie does offer primed products that can be custom painted on site, I’m told by installers that this costs significantly more in Canada (and much of the US) — anywhere from 50% to 300% more than a standard ColorPlus product.

For this reason, most homeowners choose from the 18 Statement Collection colours.

These 18 colours make up the James Hardie Statement Collection in BC, Canada. It’s not the most inspired palette, but there are still a few nice colours and combos! Colour and product availability varies from region to region, so make sure your location is set on the JH website.

So what are the best statement collection colours?

If you’re working with a clean slate (i.e. no masonry, strong roof colour, dated window colours, etc.) My general favs are Cobblestone, Arctic White, Boothbay Blue, and Evening Blue. Pearl Gray and Light Mist look lovely on coastal homes; Navajo Beige and Monterey Taupe can be useful when coordinating with stone; and Mountain Sage and Countrylane Red are great classic choices for traditional suburban homes. So really, it depends on your home!

A quick note about exterior colour…

Any colour installed outside in full daylight exposure will look a lot lighter than it does on the screen, or even inside your house. Be sure to view your samples outside and in a vertical orientation — how your siding will actually be installed!

Be sure to get some physical samples from your home improvement store or your installer, or grab a sample pot of a similar colour from your local Benjamin Moore or Sherwin Williams.

RELATED: James Hardie Statement Collection Overview & Paint Colour Matches

How many colours should I choose for my exterior?

James Hardie has been known to push a three-colour palette, but most homes look better using just one. A multi-colour palette can look great on character homes (and even modern homes) using thoughtfully selected custom colours, but this look is hard to pull off via the limited Statement Collection.

If you really want a two-toned exterior, try using lighter and darker versions of a colour instead. This adds interest while staying within a monochromatic palette — but I recommend installing the lighter colour above the darker colour to best distribute the visual weight.

James Hardie | Cobble Stone shingles look great above Khaki Brown horizontal lap. Notice how the siding coordinates beautifully with the stone skirt. However: it’s best to skip exterior stone altogether to save money and maintain flexibility!

James Hardie | Boothbay Blue (gable) and Evening Blue (body) are a lovely, subtle combination.

Can I mix siding styles?

Absolutely! Rather than colour blocking, mixing siding styles is a great way to add interest while maintaining cohesion. For example, depending on your home’s architecture, you could add shakes to your gables / dormers, while using lap siding and/or board & batten on the rest. And remember, your front door is the perfect, low-stakes place to have more fun with colour!

James Hardie | The combination of lap siding (first level), board & batten (second level), and shingles (gable) looks great on this traditional home.

James Hardie | Sticking to Mountain Sage on its own (rather than pairing it with Countrylane Red, Khaki Brown, or Monterey Taupe) offers a more current and timeless look.

So what colour should I choose!?

If you’re working with exterior stone, a strong roof colour, or a masonry driveway…

…those elements will inform your siding colour decisions. For the most updated look, choose the palest neutral that coordinates with your other exterior features.

Consider Cobblestone, Navajo Beige, Pearl Gray, Light Mist, Aged Pewter, or Gray Slate.

If you’re pairing it with traditional red brick…

…a pale neutral or a blue will work best.

Consider Cobblestone, Navajo Beige, Arctic White, Boothbay Blue, or Evening Blue.

If you’re not limited by other bossy elements…

… I highly recommend a colour or pale neutral! Mid-tone and dark neutrals get stuck in trend cycles which end up dating your home. (Think 1990s pink beiges, 2000s browns, 2010s greys, 2020s charcoals & blacks.)

Consider Cobble Stone, Arctic White, Navajo Beige, Pearl Gray, Light Mist, Mountain Sage, Countrylane Red, or any of the blues!

If other exterior elements aren’t steering your decisions, consider a pale neutral or an actual colour! Mid-tone and dark neutrals can fall a bit flat, and tend to date your home more quickly.

Still need help deciding?

Ideally the inside and outside of your home should flow, so take cues from your interior palette and finishes. You also want to consider the style of your home, the colours of your next door neighbours, and the wider context of your neighbourhood.

If you’re still stumped, I can help you select a siding and trim colour!

Selecting your new James Hardie exterior can feel overwhelming, but if you stick to the Statement Collection, follow your home’s cues, and eliminate the dated neutrals, you’re left with a beautiful and manageable selection of colours that will revitalize your home.

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