Choosing colours for front doors
As the first introduction to your design style, the colour of your front door can have a transformative effect on your home exterior. The colour you paint your front door offers the chance to make a bold statement. Or it can present the chance to incorporate a subtle and sophisticated design.
Choose a front door paint colour that reflects your personal style and complements your interior scheme. Create a seamless flow from outdoors to indoors by choosing colours that work in harmony over the threshold.
Discover inspiring ideas to update your front door and enhance your exterior kerb appeal…
Consider surrounding elements
When choosing a front door colour, it's important to consider the overall style of your home exterior. Pick a complementary shade that sits comfortably alongside the surrounding brickwork or render.
Many home exteriors are red brick, which pairs beautifully with green front door colours for a natural colour contrast. Nori is a sumptuous deep teal that evokes the colour of Ocean Moss. This shade of green creates a striking entrance alongside decorative stained glass and strong red brickwork. Incorporate lush foliage in the path leading up to the door for another element of greenery.
Front Door & Fanlight: Nori
For light-coloured stone exteriors, choose a warm light neutral or grey front door paint rather than a traditional white front door. The subtle difference in shade creates an understated and elegant entrance. Slate II, a popular warm grey paint, pairs beautifully with sand-coloured stone. To create a cohesive exterior colour palette, use a related neutral like Slate V on your plant pots or surrounding masonry.
The self-priming Architects’ paint finishes are suitable for painting brickwork and ceramics as well as wooden doors.
Front Door: Slate II
Terracotta Pot: Slate V
Learn more about self-priming paint finishes for your front door refresh.
Ideas for a classic front door
While period or listed properties often feature front doors in neutral tones, brighter colours can work just as well. Grand traditional properties, such as Georgian homes, suit dark and confident colours. Consider the dark charcoal hue of Acqua Viva. This luxurious blue front door colour will create a strong focal point that delivers real impact. To add further contrast, team Aqua Viva with masonry paint in Stone IV, and terracotta pots painted in Ruse.
Front Door: Acqua Viva
Door Surround: Stone IV
Lettering: Kohl
Terracotta Pots: Ruse
If you are looking to create character with a softer shade, select an elegant pink like Roben’s Honour. This ancient colour, originally made using flake white and red ochre, sits comfortably in traditional settings like country cottages. Combine with a bright white such as Fuji on the porch for a charming entrance that welcomes guests inside.
Front Door: Roben’s Honour
Porch Exterior & Interior: Fuji
Be inspired by additional schemes, and related paint colours, for front doors.
Ideas for contemporary front door colours
You can use the colour of your front door to create a striking contemporary entrance. Opt for a bold coloured door that corresponds with your personal style. Whether you have a contemporary home or a period property, this approach works well.
Vibrant blues or bright blue green teals are ideal for more contemporary exterior schemes. This is because these shades contrast with their natural surroundings and pair well with bright whites.
Front Door: Blue’s Blue
Door Surround: Acqua Viva
Underside of Porch Roof: Cotton I
For a warm yet contemporary blue front door, Blue’s Blue is an excellent choice. This confident shade of blue will elevate any entrance. Pair it with Cotton I on the surrounding masonry or woodwork.
To create a stronger colour contrast, paint all your exterior render in Clean White as a bright backdrop. Introduce Deep Water Green on your front door – a real personality driver that will achieve a striking entrance. Paint your railings in Kigali to ground the scheme.
Front Door: Deep Water Green
Exterior: Clean White
Numerals: Glass I
Flooring & Railings: Kigali
Other considerations before a front door refresh
Choosing the right front door colour is the first and most important phase of an exterior refresh project. But beyond selecting an impactful shade, we recommend considering:
- Paint finishes: from luxurious high-sheen gloss to subtle eggshell, the paint finish you choose will influence the final design. The light-reflecting finish, Architects’ Gloss, pairs very well with dark, impactful colours to elevate your entrance with added luxury.
- Door furniture: choose handles, door knockers, and letterboxes that complement your chosen front door colour. A traditional aged bronze finish is an harmonious accompaniment to a classic front door, whilst contemporary schemes might favour polished steel or nickel.
- Seasonal project planning: The Architects’ finishes are suitable for painting when the surface temperature is between 10 C and 25 C. Always ensure the surface is completely dry before commencing your project.
Learn more about the innovative Architects' finishes
Or explore the Paint & Paper Library inspiration gallery.