The CEO of Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg once said, "Figuring out what the next big trend is tells us what we should focus on." Every year, new trends emerge in everything from food and pop culture to fashion and even the design of your house. The exterior of your home and its color, in particular, is the biggest driver of both curb appeal and financial worth. Staying abreast of the latest exterior design and color trends will not only ensure that your house is one to be admired, but also that it retains its value. While subtle palettes reigned supreme for many decades, an increasing number of homeowners are choosing to kit out their home in dark and bold colors this year. From sidings and rooftops to dark-colored finishings, here's a closer look at the darker side of home design in 2019.

Black accents

One of the hottest exterior design trends of 2019 is, without a doubt, black accents in all shapes and sizes. Although dark-colored doors and shutters have been around for a while, black unconventional accents will also become commonplace in the trendier suburbs of the USA. Accent walls, fascia boards, and downspouts have all been given a black makeover, and are expected to adorn an increasing number of houses this year. In order to keep your house looking magazine-worthy, it is important to carry out regular maintenance on all your exterior fittings including your gutters, window frames, and even your flower boxes.

Bold sidings 

For the longest time imaginable, homes had light-colored sidings in various shades of white, beige, and grey.  It has only been in recent years that completely dark house exteriors have become popular across the country. If you are not quite as daring as you would want to be, you can opt for a few lighter-colored finishings to break the darkness of the home exterior. You can also design your garden in such a way that everything from your lawn to your flower beds complements your broody house perfectly.

Dark on dark

Up until now, homeowners have been somewhat conservative in their use of dark colors on their home exteriors, opting for light trims against dark walls and roofs. This year's contemporary look involves dark on dark color schemes. Dark brown wall panels with dark stained wood finishes is a superb choice for a rustic look, while navy blue or dark grey walls with trims in the same colors can give a house a very cutting-edge look. Depending on your own personal taste and the style of your home, you can also choose to use contrasting dark colors such as charcoal, black, burgundy, and forest green together to create a striking effect.

Whether your home is in desperate need of a makeover or you simply want a change, consider joining the dark side and using dark colors to transform your house exterior. Even if you're not quite ready to take the plunge and paint your entire home black, you can slowly start introducing striking dark accents into the design mix.