Top-rated wood deck paint 2025: Sure, painting or staining the deck regularly protects the deck boards from rotting. There is no doubt that wooden decks take a lot of wear and tear. Therefore, you should stain or paint the deck every 2-5 years to maintain the wood.
Our goal is to inspire your next DIY or professional painting project with some of the most popular deck ideas derived from real works we’ve featured.
Let’s start with a timeless deck paint color that never goes out of fashion! Choosing a deck paint color is tricky.
Finding the best color starts with looking at deck paint jobs for inspiration. That’s what this deck painting article is all about.
Top-rated Wood Deck Paint 2025
| Color Option | Description |
|---|---|
| Golden Oak | Warm, classic finish that highlights natural wood grain; ideal for traditional decks. |
| Dark Brown | Rich, elegant tone offering excellent coverage and a premium look; hides dirt well. |
| Light Gray | Modern, sleek appearance; reflects sunlight to keep surfaces cooler. |
| Beige or Tan | Neutral, versatile shade that complements most exterior styles; easy to maintain. |
| Black | Bold, contemporary style providing striking contrast; great for modern outdoor spaces. |
1. Golden Oak
Golden Oak or Honey is a classic light deck color that we love because of its versatility. In fact, this warm and attractive deck stain color works with most home exterior paint color palettes.
Likewise, Golden Oak looks beautiful when applied as a semi-transparent stain on many different deck wood surfaces. This includes previously unpainted or new pressure-treated wood, redwood, and cedar wood decking.
Just remember to wait 3-6 months for newly installed pressure-treated wood to dry before staining or painting.
There is no doubt that Honey Oak or Golden deck stain colors are timeless as deck paint or stain. Overall, this is why we ranked it as the best deck stain tone overall.
2. Dark Brown
Dark gray is a modern deck paint color that can revitalize a tired-looking outdoor color scheme. You can find dark gray solid deck paint, solid stain or semi-transparent sealer from most manufacturers such as Behr or Benjamin Moore.
Painting deck railings and deck board’s dark gray creates a balance between the classic warm wood look and modern deck paint colors like black or gray.
Another important thing is that darker brown stains hide imperfections on older wood surfaces better.
Additionally, darker shades can protect wood better than lighter deck paint colors because they contain more pigment.
As you can imagine, professionals swear that this is the perfect deck paint color for giving an old worn-out deck a makeover.
Not to mention that it covers most light deck stains or paint colors well after applying a few coats.
3. Light Gray
One of the trendiest colors of deck paint this year is light gray. Painting your deck gray is an easy way to create a contemporary look in the backyard.
Undoubtedly, most homeowners choose neutral colors like light gray or off-white to paint interior rooms.
Accordingly, a gray deck is a great way to extend a modern interior paint color scheme to the outside.
In addition to gray being a modern deck paint color, it also matches beautifully with a black front door or dark trim accents on the home.
Likewise, gray deck paint is a perfect color to coordinate with black or slate colored siding on the home.
4. Beige or Tan
One of our favorite deck paint color choices today is beige or tan. Similar to honey or golden oak, the versatility of this color stands out.
It not only matches well with a variety of brick house colors, but also blends well with outdoor elements.
If you want the focus of your outdoor space to be on the furniture, a tan deck color is a great backdrop. You can think of beige or tan as a blank canvas that pairs well with most outdoor decor.
5. Black
A beautiful and modern color option for your deck is to paint it black. In fact, black deck paint colors can add a dramatic accent to your exterior color palette.
Similarly, black is a contemporary deck color that can be paired with white railings and dark brown wicker furniture, upgrading an outdoor oasis.
