Front door color ideas - the 8 best tones to make a grand entrance

Carefully chosen front door color ideas speak volumes about the inhabitants of the home within. It's an opportunity to be brave with color and express yourself. 

Painting your door can be a fun one-day project that the whole family can get involved in and instantly transforms the appearance of your home. Taking note of the style of the door, along with the trim and siding that frames it can inform the whole look. Adding a stately color can make a simple cottage-style door look more sophisticated while a casual, bright hue can make a formal facade friendlier and more imaginative. Take your cue from our experts and get inspired by our front door color ideas whilst adding oodles of kerb appeal to your home.  

 Front Door Color Ideas

1. Sympathetic to the style

If the correct balance is struck then a contemporary colored front door nestled into a period property can make the whole facade sing, but it is important to consider the elements that surround it in achieving the perfect marriage of elements.

"In the same way you would pair paint colors alongside fabrics and furnishings, consider the architectural elements of your exterior too," advises Ruth Mottershead Director of Little Greene. "Do you have red or yellow tone bricks, limestone or granite walls, what color are your roof tiles? Build these into your design scheme to ensure your paint choices are complementary. Softer colors like 'Dorchester Pink-Mid’ combine beautifully with white masonry for a delicate finish that incorporates the current interior design trend for pastel shades." 

2. Use Gloss

There is nothing like a glossy front door to make a passer by stop in their tracks and take a second look. A glossy finish makes a door look freshly painted and hints at elegance within - but it is also a hardwearing treatment and practical for high traffic areas - so is often also incorporated into living room ideas.

"We would always recommend painting the front door in either our 10-year exterior gloss or satin finish as both are durable and hard-wearing," says Matthew Brown, Sadolin & Sandtex’s Technical Consultant. "If you would like to go for a more subtle and casual look, a pastel shade in satin would work best. However, adding either a dark or bold stately color in high gloss is not only perfect for high traffic areas, but it creates a statement. Ideal colors for high gloss are Oxford Blue, Racing green, Black and Pillar Box Red." 

3. Correspond to the Brick Work

Matching paint colors with brickwork can be a painstakingly tricky decision as original brickwork exudes so much color itself. A spectrum of earthy color - saturated and sandy or somewhere in between - and then there are variants of textures and grouting to take into consideration. For this approach, it's useful to know the colors that go with red.

"Use opposing colors to your bricks or masonry as a starting point," advises Jessica Plateo a spokesperson at Craig and Rose. "There are certain colors such as deep reds and rich greens and blues that feel in keeping with period details and will withstand the test of time. Pullman Green, for example, looks amazing next to red brickwork."

4. Pick out the Doorframe Detail

A doorframe can often be an afterthought when picking the door color is front of mind but think carefully about the surrounding hue and finish that will elevate your chosen statement color.

"Choose a favourite shade that will put a smile on your face and spread a little love amongst passers-by, then team it with a simple neutral shade on the door frame to create a smart color contrast," advises Marianne Shillingford, creative director of Dulux. "All our colors come with the new Weathershield Promise, so you can paint the outside of your home with as much confidence as the inside."

5. Match Your Trim

Another idea is taking the color of your front door all the way out to the trims or beyond. If you have windows surrounding the doors extending them to those can be a way to carry on the color and pick out architectural features of your front door.

"Adding a bold colour to your front door adds character to your home, and kerbside appeal," says Victoria Yardley founder of Victory Colours. "Make sure you take the color all the way onto the surrounding frames and any window trims for maximum effect!"

6. Pair Jewel Tones and Landscaping

This beautifully ornate porch encased in greenery and with a mature front garden is a perfect canvas for color, and this contrast fits in well with current garden trends.

"Rich, jewel-toned blues such as Pitch Blue or Drawing Room Blue and dark, smoky greens will act as a great backdrop," says Patrick O'Donnell, brand ambassador for Farrow and Ball. "Especially if you are blessed with a verdant front garden of mature trees and shrubs. These paint colors will flatter the landscaping enormously, whereas bright yellows will always shout a welcoming hello to your friends and neighbours!"

7. Match the hue to nature

If you want to promote calmness, restful shades of green or blue are perfect for both contemporary and period properties and pastel shades will help your door stand out without looking too bold, and fitting in with current color trends.

"Front doors are a simple way of adding color to your home and a project we can all accomplish in a few hours," advises Helen Shaw, UK Director of Benjamin Moore. "Consider taking lead from nature when deciding on the paint color for your front door. Shades of green in varying tones from rich forest greens to fern hues or soft sages look striking while also feeling at one in a suburban environment." 

8. Be bright and Cheery

With warm shades of yellow and orange conjuring feelings of hope, positivity and joy, it’s no wonder that yellow doors are becoming all the more popular. Bold, sunny shades, as well as terracotta oranges, tend to feel jovial and friendly, and will give you and any visitors a warm welcome the moment you arrive. This is also why terracotta is big in current kitchen trends.

“I find that people often pick colors for their front door that they wouldn't pick for inside of their home – they’re a bit braver and I love that! says Annie Sloan founder of Annie Sloan Paints. "Bright yellow is a very popular color for a front door. Bright pink and turquoise are great also. Your front door is the first thing your guests will see so why not be bold and expressive!”

What is the best color for a front door?

If you are wanting to sell your home, the best color front door is a classic color that's in keeping with the style and location. Black, greys, blues, deep reds, natural woods and classic greens are all safe and stylish options.

Should front door be lighter or darker than house?

If your house's exterior is neutral, a bold front door color may provide an attractive contrast. A rule of thumb is that if the materials surrounding your door are dark, a lighter front door color is best and vice versa.