How To Pick The Perfect Front Door Color To Boost Your Home's Curb Appeal

Most people want their homes to be a reflection of themselves, and this can be done through showing off their interests, their gardening know-how, or even just their favorite colors. Even after a homeowner has identified each of the elements that they want to implement in their home design, though, it can be hard to pull it all together in a cohesive fashion. Sometimes, the most basic choices are the most overwhelming ones — such as picking the color of the door at the front of your house which will be facing the public at all times. 

The seeming simplicity of picking a front door color is also what makes it stressful. Even if you pick a shade you like, you also have to think about whether it'll look just as good at dusk or snowy weather as it does in broad daylight. Furthermore, does that color work with all your seasonal decorations, and feel cohesive with the rest of the home?

Though the decision can feel weighty, the good news is that it doesn't take a ton of paint — and therefore money — to refinish a door, so even if you take the chance on something new it won't uproot your financial stability. So let's look deeper into some key ways to optimize your front-of-house-refresh, experiment with color, and also figure out what you don't want to do.

Front door colors make a bright first impression, if picked well. They're a great way to add some color to the face of a home. When picking your color, it can be useful to consider color theory. Every color tends to evoke a different feeling — red is energizing, green is calm, yellow is happy, and so on. Also note that when you do choose a paint for your door, make sure that it is suited for use outside.

If you are in search of something bold and bright, embrace it. Before you do so, though, test it out. Do a small strip on the outside of your door and leave it for a few days, so that you are able to see it in changing light: This way, you can assess how it will look at any time of day. You will also want to consider your given color pallet. If the majority of your home is painted in colors that are a bit grayed out, you will not want to go super pigmented. Likewise, if you have a brightly colored home, opting for a duller color on your door can make it feel dingy.

Now, perhaps you want your front door to be dramatic but not bright or "loud." One reliable choice for a front door is to stick with something dark and basic, but also bold. Consider navy, maroon, or green. While these won't punch you in the face with color, they do create a great focal point, while also being neutral enough to work well through multiple seasons. This will be an even bolder statement if your door is surrounded by white or light trim, creating a starker contrast.

On the other hand, maybe your choice here is less about personal expression and more about ROI. Maybe you don't want your door to "pop." If so, there's no cut and dry right color that we can give you, but it is important to make sure that you do not choose a color that sits outside of your home's style and surroundings. For example, if you live in a heavily forested and rather rugged area, a bubblegum pink door will probably seem out of place. If you have a beach chateau surrounded by other bright colors, on the other hand, that same color could end up looking cohesive with the rest of the environment. In other words, take a walk around the neighborhood and see what will blend in.

Maybe you're still unsure. Maybe you're on a tight deadline. And maybe you don't want to spend the time and energy to swatch paint on your door and wait for the light to change. If so, there are actually quite a few AI tools that allow you to take a picture of your home and digitally alter the color, so you can see what it would look like with available colors.