Let’s be real: choosing colors for your deck is one of the trickiest parts of the whole planning process. It’s a big decision—and making it based on a 12-inch sample board just doesn’t give you the full picture. It’s tough to visualize how that color will look across a full deck, in your yard, with your house, and in different lighting.
Since we can’t build you full personalized sample decks of each color you’re considering, we put some photos together to help. Real decks, built by us here in Wisconsin, featuring the TimberTech decking colors our clients actually picked—and still love. You’ll see what those colors look like in real lighting, with real railings, and surrounded by real landscaping. No showroom lighting or over-edited promo shots.
We’ll walk through the most popular TimberTech PVC and composite collections, show what the colors look like in action, and help you feel more confident choosing something you won’t second guess years from now.
TimberTech Advanced PVC Decking Colors
PVC decking is the premium stuff—cooler underfoot, highly durable, and ridiculously simple to maintain. If you want a deck that looks sharp, has a longer warranty, and will look the same in a few decades as it does now, it’s worth checking out!
Just like we mention on our maintenance-free decking guide, it’s important to note that the only differences between each of the PVC collections are aesthetic and price. So, no matter which color you’re drawn to, you’ll get the same 50-year limited fade & stain warranty!
Vintage Collection
This is TimberTech’s top-tier PVC line—and it shows. It’s got the most realistic wood grain patterns and a wide range of color options.
Coastline
Think driftwood on a Lake Michigan beach… Clean, soft gray. It’s a cool-neutral that works well with just about any color siding!
Weathered Teak
Warm and sun-faded, like a beach house in Door County. Something about this color just feels so classy (and it pairs beautifully with a darker picture frame color – as shown below).
Dark Hickory
A cooler, deeper gray-brown. Clients who want contrast love this one. It’s most popularly selected as a picture frame accent color paired with English Walnut, Mahogany, or Coastline. However, we were still able to round up some photos of it used as inlay as well.
Mahogany
Rich, warm, medium-toned reddish brown. Really similar to a traditional, stained wood deck color, which makes it super popular among those who want a maintenance-free option that mimics the real deal.
English Walnut
Again, very traditional, brown color, but slightly cooler toned and darker. Honestly, Mahogany and English Walnut look very similar in person unless you’re looking at them side by side. Don’t let the swatches fool you.
Landmark Collection
Designed to mimic crosscut hardwoods, this line has more dramatic color variation. There are four different TimberTech decking colors in this collection, but the two below are selected time and time again.
French White Oak
Light, beautiful warm gray option perfect for areas of high sun exposure. This classy decking is a huge favorite for clients and our team. It looks incredible as a drink rail when paired with black TimberTech Impression Rails (as shown in the first photo).
American Walnut
Darker and moodier, with a bold grain pattern. This color is just about as popular as its similar counterparts, Mahogany / English Walnut, but a smidge cheaper!
Harvest Collection
More budget-friendly with a cathedral grain pattern and fewer colors, but still the same durability. All three colors offered are popular amongst the homeowners we work with in Madison & Appleton, WI.
Slate Gray
Straightforward light gray – clean and timeless! Has a little more warmth than Sea Salt Gray composite, which we’ll get to in a minute.
Brownstone
A warm taupe that pairs beautifully with Kona. A lot of our clients will do Brownstone inlay with Kona picture frames or vice versa because they complement each other so well.
Kona
Deep brown that looks great with a classic black railing. Because it’s PVC, it will stay cooler than composite in direct sun, but we still think it’s best for shaded areas!
TimberTech Composite Decking Colors
Composite is a great choice if you want performance without the price tag of PVC. Still low-maintenance, still beautiful, just a different formula that will last 25+ years. These boards come with a 25-30 year product / fade & stain warranty, so you know TimberTech is backing what they’re selling.
Legacy & Reserve Collections
While looking through archives of client projects, we found no photos of the Legacy Collection colors and very few of the Reserve Collection colors. They’re still great products, but we often encourage clients away from the Legacy line. At that price point, you’re overlapping with the PVC Harvest Collection and may as well get the extra warranty / longevity. If you love the colors within the Legacy Collection, by all means, it may be worth it to you, but we just want to help clients get the most bang for their buck!
Terrain+ & Terrain Collections
Tried-and-true composite lines with subtle, natural woodgrain and classic colors. They’re both durable, low-maintenance, and budget-friendly—great for homeowners who want something timeless that won’t break the bank. The first three colors on this list are from the Terrain+ Collection and the final is from the Terrain Collection.
The main difference between these two lines (aside from colors) is that Terrain+ is pluggable, which means the fasteners are easily hidden.
Dark Oak
Warm, medium brown with a clean, straightforward grain. It’s a solid choice if you want something rich and earthy without going too dark or too bold.
Weathered Oak
A mix of soft gray and light brown tones. Feels like it’s been out in the elements in the best possible way—laid-back, lived-in, and versatile.
Natural White Oak
Light and airy, with just enough warmth to cozy it up. Great if you want something neutral that doesn’t compete with your house or landscaping.
Brown Oak
Medium brown with that traditional wood deck feel. Nothing flashy—just a solid, warm tone that works with almost everything.
Prime+ Collection
Great for modest budgets. Simple lines, natural tones, and it still holds up well over time. Again, the one thing to consider (similar to Terrain) is that we typically use color matched screws with this decking (rather than deck-matched plugs).
Dark Cocoa
A rich, chocolate brown with subtle streaking. It’s warm, bold, and brings that “classic deck” feel without looking fake or plasticky.
Sea Salt Gray
Medium, coastal gray with a smooth, even tone. It’s clean and modern, and it plays especially well with dark railings or white trim.
Coconut Husk
Saturated tan with a natural vibe, this color is very appropriately named. Super versatile—pairs easily with both cool and warm tones on the house.
How to Choose the Right TimberTech Color
Here’s what we tell clients:
- Look at your house. Your siding, trim, and even your roof all matter. Think of coordinating more than matching! Ex. Do you have a warm-toned house? Warm or neutral decking might make more sense then.
- Sun vs. shade. Lighter colors stay cooler. Darker colors look awesome but can toast your toes in direct sun. Even though TimberTech’s PVC options stay cooler than composite, dark colors still absorb more heat. We wish we could defy science on this one, but unfortunately, we can’t!
- Furniture and railing. What do you already own / gravitate to? What color will look best with it? When it comes to railings, look at your home trim and consider your contrast preferences. Ex. Light deck + dark railings = sharp aesthetic, but it’s not for everyone or every home.
- Maintenance expectations. All TimberTech decking is low-maintenance, but some colors hide grime better than others. If you have a muddy yard and four-legged friends, medium brown colors might be helpful. That said, when cleaning really is as simple as a powered rinse, this shouldn’t be the biggest determining factor.
Bonus tip: Don’t overthink it. Most people end up choosing between two or three initial favorites, and you really can’t go wrong with any of them.
PVC vs. Composite — What’s the Difference?
Quick and to the point answer:
- PVC = all synthetic, cooler to walk on, longer warranty, slightly more expensive, great for pools or full-sun decks.
- Composite = wood-plastic blend, a little warmer, more affordable, tons of great color options.
Both are solid and will save you from annual staining. We install both all the time. It usually comes down to personal preference and budget.
Next Steps
There’s no “best” TimberTech decking color—only the best one for your house and your style. Hopefully this helped narrow things down. The photos above? All real projects we’ve built here in Wisconsin, and we’ve got plenty more. Choose your own adventure below!
