Seems like everyone has an opinion about the best color for a front door:
It should make a strong statement.
It should reflect your personality.
It should blend into the overall exterior color.
The truth is, there are no rules. But you can learn a lot from design experts who follow color trends.
Here’s what the experts have to say about front door design:
Interior designer Jennifer Ott of Austin, Texas, has a fondness for bold, bright colors. “Austin has a quirky vibe, so you see lots of fun front door colors such as turquoises, lime greens and gold oranges. Another hot trend is high-gloss black front doors.”
Color expert Maria Killam, who is based in Vancouver, B.C., has seen a trend toward bright pops of color against neutral backgrounds in her neck of the woods. “Bright yellow is a big trend for front doors as well as kelly greens and oranges. A front door is an easy change to make, and last year when I painted my front door kelly green all the neighbors wanted me to come over and choose a new front door color for them.”
Consider Climate and Location
In the Southwest, Ott points out, bright colors are prevalent due to the influence and close proximity of Mexico, where home exteriors are often painted in vibrant hues. Yet in a cool climate like Seattle, “you tend to see deeper, darker-colored homes.” This not only reflects the architectural style of the community but also the colors of the Seattle landscape such as the “deep emerald greens of the trees, and dark watery blues of the Pacific Ocean,” she says.
The Allure of Glass and Wood
Linda Castle of Decorated Designs in Atlanta says homeowners in the southern region are replacing traditional wooden front doors with glass doors. Color is often secondary. “It’s either half-glass, full-glass, oval-glass or glass at the top,” Castle says. Muted earth tones in charcoal gray and chocolate brown are being used on door frames or for trim work. For wooden doors, staining is becoming more popular than painting. “It’s that natural earthy look, the natural wood showing through,” says Castle.
Even fiberglass doors—increasingly popular in the Mid-Atlantic region—can enjoy the aesthetic benefits of staining, says remodeler John Tabor. “With fiberglass doors we have stains that look very similar to wood, but you really can’t tell without tapping your fingernail on them. Some doors have a mahogany grain. Fiberglass is a much stronger door. It insulates much better.”
Have you ever looked through dozens of paint samples without finding that ideal shade? Sometimes the color you want might not exist in a commercial paint. Consult with your paint contractor to custom-create that unique paint color you want. “If you are painting yourself,” Ott advises, “find a local paint retailer such as Sherwin-Williams or Benjamin Moore and go in and ask questions of the staff. You’ll often get great advice and tips.”
Don’t Be Afraid to Buck Trends
If you choose your front door color based solely on the resale appeal of your home or on the most common color palette seen in your neighborhood, you might end up being unhappy with your decision. A neutral door color like beige or black can look elegant, but if lime green is your favorite color and you want to use your front door for self-expression, why not try it? You can always repaint the door if it doesn’t work out the way you imagined. Ott offers this practical advice: “I advise people to ignore trends and go with colors they love,” she says.
“That being said, I personally feel that deep red has been overdone as a front door color. I like to see more of an orange-red color used instead. And I’m seeing lots of lemony yellows and yellow-greens being used for doors. Again, I think if you go for a bold, bright door color, it’s best to keep the main house color more neutral.”
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