Choosing the perfect paint colour for your front door can truly transform your home’s appearance, and that’s sooooo exciting, but it does require careful thought.

Your front door is one of the first things people notice when they visit your home. And you want it to make a good first impression. Plus, it can definitely influence your home’s curb appeal. 

If you choose a colour too quickly though, you might end up with a door that clashes with your house or its surroundings, making it stand out for the wrong reasons!

Recently, I worked with a lovely client who had a large brick home in a suburban neighbourhood filled with other similar-looking brick homes. She wanted to bring some personality to her home and thought that painting her front door a bright, bold fuchsia colour would do the trick. She happens to love the colour pink! I’m so glad she reached out to me before going ahead because, while vibrant, bold colours can be stunning on the right house, they aren’t always the best choice for every home and neighbourhood.

This consultation reminded me of why it’s so important to consider several key factors before deciding on something as seemingly simple and straightforward as the paint colour for your front door. 

Don’t get me wrong. Yes, it’s important to express your style and personality when decorating your home and create a welcoming entrance that invites your family, friends, and guests. However, making a hurried decision about this paint colour, while standing in front of the paint chip display at the paint store, can often lead to regret. 

I know because I’ve seen it happen many times at our store when a customer makes a rushed decision because she’s so excited to see the transformation but ends up coming back to the store to find a new shade because once the paint colour got on the front of her door on her house, she didn’t love the result.

You might be thinking, “what’s the big deal?” as it probably only requires a litre of paint and so it isn’t an expensive mistake. And I get that. While painting a door isn’t a massive expense, doing it incorrectly can lead to extra costs. If the chosen colour doesn’t work out, you’ll need to repaint, which involves more paint, time, and effort. 

By taking the time to properly prepare and select the right colour from the start, you can avoid these additional expenses and ensure a beautiful, lasting finish. So my best advice is, as always, don’t rush this decision!

Here’s what you need to know to make an informed and confident choice that you’ll love for years to come.

DO’s FOR CHOOSING A FRONT DOOR PAINT COLOUR:

1. DO Complement Your Home’s Exterior:

To complement your home’s exterior, you need to consider the existing colours of your siding, trim, and roof. The goal is to choose a front door colour that harmonizes with these elements rather than clashes with them.

Think of your home’s exterior as a complete palette. If your home has warm-toned brick, like red or brown, a complementary door colour might be a deep green or a classic black, which can enhance the overall look without overwhelming it. For homes with cooler tones, like grey or blue siding, colours like navy or charcoal can create a cohesive and appealing appearance.

2. DO Consider the Style of Your Home

It’s important to match the front door colour to the architectural style of your home to ensure a cohesive and harmonious look. Each architectural style has colours that traditionally complement its design.

For example, a Victorian home might look stunning with a rich burgundy or deep green door, while a modern home might benefit from a bold, bright colour like red or teal.

On the other hand, a colonial-style home often looks best with classic colours such as black, navy, or white.

I love this saturated blue colour for a front door especially in contrast to the white trim and red brick!

3. DO Test Colours in Different Lighting

I can’t imagine making this decision without testing and comparing paint colours. Do not rush the decision or you risk being unhappy with the end result. It’s so easy these days to get sample cans of the paint colours you’re considering and painting them on large pieces of bristol board. Test these large sample boards on your door in different lighting conditions and at different times of the day. Even snapping a photo of the samples to look at them in a photograph can also help make the decision.

NOTE: We TESTED several shades on the front door of my client’s brick home and found that Kendall Charcoal by Benjamin Moore, a sophisticated dark grey with green undertones, looked perfect in both morning sunlight and evening shade. This colour provides a really nice contrast to the light grey brick, creating a modern yet timeless look that enhances the curb appeal of her home.

4. DO Consider Timeless Curb Appeal

When selecting a front door colour, I would aim for a timeless curb appeal that will stay stylish and inviting for years to come. So ideally I would choose a colour that not only looks good now but will also remain attractive as trends change.

Timeless colours are those that have stood the test of time and continue to be popular choices due to their versatility and classic look. Colours like navy blue, black, deep red, green, and classic white are examples of shades that rarely go out of style. These colours can add a sense of elegance and sophistication to your home’s exterior.

I worked with a client who had a beautiful colonial-style home. We chose a deep rich red for her front door, which not only enhanced the home’s classic architecture but also provided a timeless and elegant look that would remain stylish for years

5. DO Use Quality Paint and Proper Preparation

Proper preparation is crucial for a long-lasting and beautiful finish. My husband and I own a Home Hardware store with a BeautiTone paint department, so I understand firsthand how important it is to properly prep your door for a new paint colour and choose the right paint product for exterior doors.

Consider your climate, the exposure to the elements, and the level of traffic your door receives. It’s really important to select the best sheen for your door, whether it’s glossy, semi-gloss, or matte, based on these factors. Be sure to get advice from experts and not just grab the paint that happens to be on sale.

For our customers in cottage country, where we can have fairly harsh winter weather including snow and ice and then really sunny, hot, humid summers we recommended a high-quality, weather-resistant paint with a semi-gloss finish, which provides both durability and an elegant look that stands up well to the elements.

DONT’s FOR CHOOSING A FRONT DOOR PAINT COLOUR:

1. DON’T Ignore The Style of Your Home

Avoid colours that clash with the architectural style of your home. Each home style has a set of colours that traditionally enhance its aesthetic appeal. Ignoring this can result in a front door that feels out of place.

For instance, a front door of a farmhouse style home suits soft, muted colours like sage green, light blue or pastel shades. And a Colonial front door suits classic colours like black, red, dark blue, or white. A modern style home suits bold and vibrant colours like red, teal, or even yellow but also look good with black. And for a Craftsman-style home, earthy tones such as deep greens, rich browns, warm oranges and reds, or even a muted blue-grey are ideal.

2. DON’T Choose a Colour That’s Too Similar to the Siding

While this isn’t a hard and fast rule, in general, a front door tends to look more welcoming and inviting when the colour stands out from the home’s exterior. A contrasting colour for the front door helps to create a focal point, drawing attention and making the entrance more noticeable. This distinction adds character and depth to your home’s facade.

Keep in mind, there are exceptions to this rule. For instance, in modern or minimalist home designs, a monochromatic look can be quite striking. If your home has a sleek, contemporary design with clean lines, choosing a front door colour that matches the siding can create a seamless, sophisticated appearance. This approach can make the house look larger and more cohesive, which can be particularly effective for homes with a minimalist aesthetic.

3. DON’T Skip Proper Preparation

Proper preparation is critical for a successful paint job. Ensure the door is clean and thoroughly primed before painting.

Many customers in our paint department are eager to get the job done quickly, but rushing can lead to peeling paint, bumps, or an uneven finish, which means you’ll have to redo the job. Taking the time to prep your door properly can save significant time and effort in the long run, ensuring the paint adheres well and provides a smooth, lasting finish. We’ve seen customers who rush this process face these issues, but with proper preparation, you can achieve a beautiful, durable result.

4. DON’T Just Paint Over Stained Wood

Painting over a stained wood door can be challenging and requires specific preparation to ensure a good finish.

If you decide to paint over a stained wood door, it’s crucial to sand the door thoroughly to remove the top layer of stain and finish. After sanding, use a high-quality primer to prepare the surface for painting. This step is essential to prevent the paint from peeling and ensure a smooth, even finish.

5. DON’T Rush the Decision

I know I sound like a broken record, but choosing a paint colour should take time and should not be hurried. Because paint colour has the power to transform but it needs to be the right colour to do so. And 9 out of 10 times you’re not going to choose the right paint colour when you go the paint store and pick one on the spot. Or copy the colour you saw online or in a magazine.

The colour needs to complement your home in your neighbourhood and whether it will can only be determined with proper testing of colours and comparing colours. Pick at least two if not three (and if it’s me I usually pick up to 6!) and test and compare them. Your home is worth the effort and you will be so much more confident about this decorating decision when you paint on that perfect colour!

6. DON’T Just Pick a Colour Because It’s Trending

Too often I have clients or customers who just want to paint their door a colour because a famous designer or blogger has used the same one on their front door and it looks great on that house.

The reality is though that the same colour may look entirely different on your front door because of so many factors including the undertones of your home’s exterior including brick, siding, stucco, trim, stone, eavestroughs, and so on. Sure you can test that colour and use it as inspiration, a jumping off point for coming up with a few colours to test, but don’t just assume if it looks amazing on that person’s home that it will have the same effect on yours. It just doesn’t work that way unfortunately. 

Choosing the perfect front door colour can really boost your home’s curb appeal and show off your personal style. I hope these do’s and don’ts help you FEEL CONFIDENT in making a decision you’ll love for years to come.

BUT if you’d like a little extra help picking the right colour, I’m here for you! Feel free to explore my paint colour consultation packages—I’d love to help you find the perfect shade.

And don’t forget to follow me on Pinterest and Instagram for more inspiration and tips!

Stay inspired!