Front door paint colors can have a tremendous effect on your home’s curb appeal. After all, it’s the first part of the house a potential buyer will actually see up close! Your front entry should be warm and welcoming to guests. While there are endless paint color options for your front door, the most important consideration when preparing to sell is choosing a color that fits the style and color palette of your home. Let’s take a look at some of our favorite front door paint colors and a few tips to help them stand out (or blend in).
The Dos and Don’ts of Choosing a Front Door Paint Color
- Do buy the right product. Use a latex exterior paint to protect your front door from exposure to outside elements. A paint with rust-protection is a must for metal doors. Use an exterior primer first no matter what you select. When it comes to choosing sheen, remember that glossier finishes reflect more light. A satin or semi-gloss finish may be a great choice for a door that needs to camouflage a few blemishes or nicks, while a high-gloss paint may be better at highlighting your door as an architectural feature.
- Do strike a balance between what you like and what fits the house. Just because you like a color doesn’t mean it will look great on your home. The trick is finding the right balance between your personal preference and what will work with your existing finishes and surroundings. We can help with that.
- Do select paint swatches a few shades darker than what you’re initially attracted to. On a computer screen or inside at the paint store is are terrible places to evaluate paint colors (especially colors intended for outdoors). Those samples will look considerably lighter and brighter when viewed outside. They’ll also reflect even more light depending on the glossiness of the paint sheen you choose.
- Don’t ever, ever buy paint without viewing real sample swatches first. You need to hang them outside, vertically, and on the actual doors or walls where they’ll be used. Evaluate them at different times of the day as the light changes.
We ship large paint swatch samples to all of our Virtual Color Consultation clients. Click below to learn how we can help you choose the right colors for your exterior paint project.
…and now, on to the best front door paint colors!
Black
Black is a dramatic, bold, classic color that never goes out of style. Its versatility and visual contrast make it a perfect partner to almost any style and color scheme. We like:
- Benjamin Moore Black 2132-10 (also known as Black HC-190)
Front door in Benjamin Moore Black 2132-10.
Front door in Sherwin-Williams Tricorn Black 6258.
- Looking for a black paint that’s a bit softer? Try Sherwin-Williams Iron Ore 7069.
Fascia, soffits, French doors, and garage doors are painted Sherwin-Williams Iron Ore 7069.
Dark Blue
Dark blue front doors evoke a sense of harmony and elegance. A few of our favorites:
Front door in Benjamin Moore Hale Navy HC-154.
Front door in Sherwin-Williams Naval 6244.
Front door in Benjamin Moore Newburyport Blue HC-155.
- You may also consider Sherwin-Williams Cyberspace 7076 (a blue calmed down with a heavy dose of gray), Sherwin-Williams Anchors Aweigh 9179 (a deep, dark navy), or Benjamin Moore New York State of Mind 805 (a classic navy that’s a bit more colorful and brighter than the others).
Red
As Elizabeth Arden reminded us all in the late 1980s, a red door is classic. Red is an especially auspicious color for front doors in Feng shui design. It’s also a favorite among potential home buyers. Take a look at a few of our faves:
Front door in Benjamin Moore Caliente AF-290.
Front door in Sherwin-Williams Real Red 6868.
The front door is painted in Sherwin-Williams Poinsettia 6594.
Teal
Teals are tranquil blue-green hues that remind us of the sky and the sea. These colors play well with a variety of styles but are particularly well-suited to farmhouse and coastal-style homes.
- If you’re looking for a soft, desaturated blue-green paint color, try Benjamin Moore Wythe Blue HC-143 or Benjamin Moore Aegean Teal 2136-40.
Front door in Benjamin Moore Wythe Blue HC-143.
- On the other hand, if you’re looking for a deep, rich, vibrant teal, try Sherwin-Williams Blue Peacock 0064 and Sherwin-Williams Rainstorm 6230.
Front door in Sherwin-Williams Blue Peacock 0064.
- We also love Benjamin Moore Gentleman’s Gray 2062-20, a blackened teal that’s both rich and reserved.
Front door in Benjamin Moore Gentleman’s Gray 2062-20.
Gray or Charcoal
Gray front doors are sophisticated, elegant, and classic. Like black paint, grays are incredibly flexible and work well with many home styles and finishes (from brick to stone). There is a lot of range when it comes to selecting a gray. There are literally hundreds of shades of gray that belong to every single hue family on the color wheel. Make sure you’re choosing one that works well with your home’s stone, brick, siding, or other existing finishes. To get you started, take a look at these:
Front door and trim in Benjamin Moore Kendall Charcoal HC-166.
Front door painted in Sherwin-Williams Gauntlet Gray 7019.
- We also like Benjamin Moore Chelsea Gray HC-168 (a beautiful gray with a brownish-violet hue) and Sherwin-Williams Dovetail 7018 (a somewhat lighter version of Gauntlet Gray).
Yellow
Yellow front doors can be welcoming and cheerful to potential buyers. Make sure to select a yellow that fits the style and color palette of your home.
- If your exterior is bold and modern, you may want to select a more vivid, saturated sunny yellow like Benjamin Moore Delightful Yellow 335 or Benjamin Moore Yellow Hibiscus 357.
Front door is painted Benjamin Moore Delightful Yellow 335.
Front door is painted Benjamin Moore Yellow Hibiscus 357.
- If your house has a more traditional design, consider opting for a softer, gentler yellow, like Benjamin Moore Pale Daffodil 2017-60.
Front door is painted in Benjamin Moore Pale Daffodil 2017-60.
Not Sure Which Color Is Best for Your House? We Can Help!
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Whether you’re looking for a complete refresh of your space, experimenting with a new style, or just need a little professional guidance to help narrow down your paint color choices, our online color consultations can help!
