How to Choose a Front Door Color

Last Updated: October 21, 2021

Painting your front door can add an extra splash of color to your home. Picking the right color, however, can sometimes be tricky. You can choose a color that compliments other colors on the exterior of your home, a color to reflect your personality or style, or a color that matches with your home's style.

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Evaluating the Colors of Your Home

1
Consult the color wheel. You can find a color wheel online. The color wheel shows which colors best compliment one another. Choose a color that will look good with the exterior color of your home.^{[1]
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- For a monochromatic style, you can pick several shades of the same color. For example, a red house could be paired with a red door of a slightly different shade.
- For a light contrast, select a door color about 3 shades away from the color of your home, siding, or another exterior color.
- If you want complimentary colors, go for colors on the opposite sides of a color wheel. For example, choose a yellow door if you home is colored in a purple shade.
2
Try a bright color to contrast with neutral shades. If your home is a neutral shade, this gives you a lot of freedom when choosing a door color. You can use your door as an opportunity to add color to a duller home. For example, a yellow door can add a bright, welcoming touch to a home painted in a shade like gray.

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3
Evaluate the colors of your neighborhood. You may not want your home to stand out too much in the neighborhood. You do not want your home to look too strange or out of place. Make a quick drive through your neighborhood and check out other people's front doors. See if there are certain or color schemes that seem to be more acceptable.
- For example, you may notice red is a popular color in your area. If you see a lot of red doors, consider this color for your own front door.
- If you want to stand out just a little, pick something that fits with the color scheme but is unique. If most red doors tend to be very bright, go for a shade like burgundy.
4
Think about matching with subtle exterior colors. You do not have to match strictly with the color of your paint or siding. Look for subtle exterior colors found outside your home. For example, maybe the porch rails are painted yellow. You could make a yellow door to match to draw everything together. You could also look at the trim near your home. Pair a blue door with a blue trim.
- Or, match the color of your front door to the color of your garage door to tie everything together.

Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Adding Your Personal Style

1
Think about colors you would personally like. Your own tastes can help you determine the best color door for you. What colors do you personally like? If your favorite colors would go well with your home, think about choosing one of your favorite colors for your front door.
- Make sure the color is fitting, however. You may have to alter your favorite color to match your home's color scheme. Consult the color wheel.
- For example, maybe your home is painted light green. If your favorite colors are bright floral shades, like fuchsias and purples, this may not go great with a lighter green. However, a light pink is also a floral shade and would match better with a green house.
- If your home is done in muted shades, you might want to pick a high-gloss saturated color to make your door stand out. Or, pick a bold color in a muted tone to complement the other muted colors in your home.
2
Go for bolder colors if you want a dramatic look. If you want your door to be very noticeable, think about a bolder shade. Oranges, purples, and very bright blues can make for dramatic shades. If your personal style tends to veer towards the bold, think about a bright and somewhat unusual color.
- Be careful not to verge on gaudy though. When select a bold shade, do not go too bright or fluorescent. This may look too out there for a front door.
3
Try yellow or blue for a welcoming home. Yellow^{[2]
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Research source} and blue shade tend to look welcoming. People are drawn to these kind of friendly and inviting colors. If you want a home that looks hospitable, opt for a yellow or blue shade for your door.
- Yellow and blue colors can pair very well together. If you have a blue home, a yellow door can look great.
4
Blend green with exterior colors for a natural look. If you want your home to give off a natural vibe, use green. Green will blend with outside foliage. Lighter greens tend to be work best for a subtle effect.
- This works best if there are a lot of trees and plant life outside your home.
5
Opt for a dark color for a sophisticated feel. A bold, black door looks great on a modern home. Other dark colors, like navy, plum, and burgundy, lend an air of sophistication to your home. If you decide to go this route, make sure the color goes with the style of your home.

Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Noticing Your Home's Style

1
Try a richer, deeper color for a traditional home. More traditional styled homes, like Victorian homes, pair better with richer, deeper colors. Something like black, navy, or dark red would pair well with a more traditional home. It may be a good idea to stay away from brighter, modern colors.
- Old-fashioned farmhouse-style homes, however, are an exception. They often have brightly colored doors, such as a red door on a white farmhouse-style home.
2
Go for something brighter if your home is a neutral color. Many homes that were built recently are done in neutral colors. This means something brighter could work well as a front door color.^{[3]
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Research source} Think about bolder shades like bright reds, yellows, and blues.
3
Evaluate your home's geographical or period influences. A house that's meant to look like it belongs in a certain era or place may look better or worse with certain colors. Think about the geographical region or time period your home evokes and look up houses from that place or time. See what door colors are traditionally used.
- An English Tudor style home, for example, may not look great with pastels.
- Homes designed with a Mediterranean style in mind may pair well with turquoise.
- Pastel blue or pink would work well for a cottage-style or small, retro home. A pop of fun, fresh color can help your door stand out.
4
Do not be afraid to break tradition. There are no hard and fast rules for painting a door. If you're attached to a particular color, you may be able to make it work even if it clashes slightly with your house's style. Don't be afraid to break convention to get what you really want.
- For example, if you want a bright purple door, but your house is an older style, think about sticking to the purple but compromising. A rich and deep purple, for example, could pair well with a house with an older style.

Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Choosing Paint

1
Select exterior paint. You need exterior paint for your door so that it is resistant to weather and moisture. You may also want to choose a combination paint-and-primer so you don’t have to prime the door separately.
2
Opt for a high-gloss paint if you want a bold finish. High-gloss paint tends to stand out more than paint with a matte finish. However, it also shows damage to the door, brush strokes, and fingerprints more easily.^{[4]
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3
Stick with a matte finish for a basic look. Most front doors are coated with paint that has a matte finish. It won’t be as shiny, but it does disguise brush strokes and fingerprints better. It also tends to be more subtle and blend in better with your existing paint.^{[5]
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Expert Q&A

Question

How do I decorate my front door area?

Patricia Penker
Interior Designer
Patricia Penker is an Interior Designer and the Owner of Exclusively To Design, one of the top residential design companies in South Florida. With over 25 years of experience, Patricia specializes in interior design, interior decorating, and home staging. Patricia holds a Bachelor’s degree in Fashion Design from the University of Cincinnati and a Master’s Certificate in Digital Design and 3D Modeling from CADDTrain. Patricia’s interior designs have been featured on HGTV’s Rip and Renew and Save My Bath and in celebrity homes. Exclusively To Design has been recommended on Houzz, Expertise - Best Home Staging in Miami and Best Interior Designers in Miami, and Best of HomeGuide.

Patricia Penker

Interior Designer

Expert Answer

If you have a front porch, try creating a living wall as a backdrop to a chair and other decorations. Not only this adds a relaxing atmosphere, it will also hide any elements you don’t like.
Question

How can I make my front door look nice?

Patricia Penker
Interior Designer
Patricia Penker is an Interior Designer and the Owner of Exclusively To Design, one of the top residential design companies in South Florida. With over 25 years of experience, Patricia specializes in interior design, interior decorating, and home staging. Patricia holds a Bachelor’s degree in Fashion Design from the University of Cincinnati and a Master’s Certificate in Digital Design and 3D Modeling from CADDTrain. Patricia’s interior designs have been featured on HGTV’s Rip and Renew and Save My Bath and in celebrity homes. Exclusively To Design has been recommended on Houzz, Expertise - Best Home Staging in Miami and Best Interior Designers in Miami, and Best of HomeGuide.

Patricia Penker

Interior Designer

Expert Answer

Add an outdoor rug and a potted plant! If it is a covered porch, you can also add a wide ledge along the top canopy for potted plants, ivy and any other trinkets.
Question

May I see a good color wheel?

Community Answer

Yes! You can simply google "Color wheel" and then select "Images" and you will see plenty of examples!