31 Bold Front Door Colors For Bright Curb Appeal

Zoe Gowen

Fri, June 24, 2016 at 8:19 PM UTC

10 min read

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Sometimes all it takes is a splash of fresh paint.

*Hector Manuel Sanchez; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller*

Changing your front door color is an easy way to boost interest and charm if you want to power up your curb appeal. Front door colors can also say a lot about your personality and the personality of your home. Bold, bright reds are vibrant and fun, cool blues are soft and inviting, and classic neutrals feel familiar and cozy.

You can mix up your home's style in just one weekend with a few hours and a can of paint. Check out some of our favorite front door colors to see which is a good fit for your home—and don't be surprised when neighbors come knocking.

Greek Isles (P510-1)

This cheerful blue looks good anywhere, especially on a white exterior or lighthearted Dutch door. It promises an instant smile from neighbors as well as curious house hunters. As a complementary balance, double up on pots. Keep the plantings equally loose and casual with baskets and mossy terra-cotta containers.

Greenish Gray (V144-6)

Freshen up your front door with this muted green paint from Valspar. The gray tone makes it understated and the green highlights the nature around the home which makes it a great color to also paint your shutters.

Exotic Purple (2071-10)

This rich purple is best for Georgian architecture. These houses' roots go back to a style popular during the reigns of four British kings named George. This paint color is a stately shade of purple and a nod to your home's royal connections. For contrast, leave the trim light. Break up the dark eggplant door and red-brick exterior with white on the pediment and pilasters.

Pale Avocado (2146-40)

This citrusy color is best for a simple white cottage. A small dose of a daring hue, such as this surprising chartreuse tone, creates a dramatic look-at-me-now presence. Make it more modern by selecting house numbers in a sans serif font style to keep this cottage grounded in the present.

Setting Plaster (No. 231).

<p>Alison Gootee; Styling: Kate Malpeli</p> — Alison Gootee; Styling: Kate Malpeli

Give a traditional black-and-white facade a playful twist with a cheerful pink like Farrow & Ball’s Setting Plaster (No. 231). The front door selection for this lowcountry home was inspired by Charleston's plethora of colorful homes and accents.

Indigo (SW 6531)

This saturated shade is best for craftsman-style homes. Their blocky millwork and deep porches were historically associated with muted earth tones. Consider a new approach with a shot of cobalt to brighten your bungalow. For a modern update, stencil the floor. You can paint a tonal geometric pattern across your front to offset the door's deep shade.

Eco Green (SW 6739)

Bring your lawn's and garden's liveliness to your stoop with a burst of green on the doors. This versatile shade works with both gold and silver hardware. Floral arrangements can encircle the front door since this natural hue will complement every plant variety.

Pleasant Pink (2094-60)

<p>Brie Williams Styling: Jennifer Berno Decleene</p> — Brie Williams Styling: Jennifer Berno Decleene

Make a welcoming first impression by using color in unexpected ways, like this cheerful pastel pink. No one will forget a quaint white cottage with a pink door!

Mopboard Black (CW-680)

A black door—like a little black dress—adds instant distinction to your home, whether a small cottage or a big manor. There's a reason why some things are classic. Dark shades work in two ways: Offset them with plenty of white trim for a crisp look, or surround them with dark grays for a romantic, moody look.

Gumdrops (P210-3)

*Photo: Hector M. Sanchez; Floral Design/Props: Heather Barrie (Gathering)*

Want to add a quick pep to your exterior? Look no further than this cantaloupe hue. It's a little unconventional but not too out there to hear anything other than "I wish I would have done that" sentiments from the neighbors. This shade works best on homes painted white or gray.

Oceanfront (660)

*Hector Manuel Sanchez; Styling: Frances Bailey*

This bluebird day blue is ideal for a waterfront home. While the exterior was coated in Benjamin Moore's Super White (OC-152) the bright hued front door adds an extra laid-back, beachy feel to the screened porch.

Real Red (SW 6868)

This happy hue brings to mind Coca-Cola (the original, not the diet version), a great gingham-covered picnic, and neighborhood bicycle parades. This color is a surefire bet if you want to be known as the house with the best barbecues. It looks best against a crisp white, but avoid pairing it with bits of navy unless you want to invest in the patriotic theme.

Sugarcane (1185)

This pale pink is best on a blank canvas. This ballet pink takes center stage in this historical colonial-style home without competing with shutters. Bursts of pink flowers add to the sweetness without feeling too precious. Simple landscaping supports this focal feature with a minimalist approach.

Cloud White (OC-130)

The uplifting power of a fresh coat of white paint never gets old. Well-known facts aside, white also neutralizes a door with elaborate carving or brightens up a dark exterior. If you're going for the white-on-white exterior palette, choose a slightly deeper white for the door than the shingles to give it some dimension.

Arugula (SW 6446)

*Alison Gootee; Styling: Matthew Gleason*

For an extra punchy hue, try a true vibrant green like designer Meg Kelly used on her front door. It not only adds a playful feel to the exterior, but also the entryway.

Seabourn (PL238)

People typically fall into two categories: blue lovers or green lovers. Make everyone happy with this pleasing shade that's equal parts of both. It looks just as good on a shingled house as on stone.

Blue (2066-10)

Have you collected a sizable collection of ginger jars? This classic Southern aesthetic can be yours with a door to match traditional china or ceramics. Avoid using a matte finish with this color, and accessorize with deep greens. Any color next to this door will add a bolder radiance to your house.

Blustery Sky (SW 9140)

The exterior's white paint, Sherwin-Williams' Drift of Mist (SW 9166), echoes the paths made of crushed oyster shells, and the porch's star detailing was "borrowed" from a Fernandina Beach home. Concrete planters from Birch Lane flank the antique front door painted in Sherwin-Williams' Blustery Sky (SW 9140).

Greenhow Vermillion (CW-340)

Embolden your home with a complicated, dramatic door color like a vermillion. It's not quite red, and it's not quite orange. It's somewhere in the middle. Keep expressing your wild side and outfit the rest of your door with atypical things like planters filled with sculptural agave plants.

Toque White (SW 7003)

This shade is not entirely white, cream, or gray but instead a mix. The color adds a grittiness to a pastel exterior without hijacking the overall light effect. Keep this in a matte finish.

Heritage Red (HC-181)

This traditional red is best for Tudors. Whether stone or stucco, big or small, these homes have a naturally imposing attitude. A welcoming door, lifted from the pages of a storybook, adds harmony to the house. Skip delicate flowers around the entryway, and pick shapely boxwoods for effortless impact.

Ash Blue (2057-40)

Take a color cue from your oldest, softest pair of blue jeans for your front door. It gives your home an instant welcoming warmth. Just like your jeans that go with everything, this color will too. Try it on a white shingle house, a log cabin, a hacienda, or even a stately Tudor. Select a finish with some shine to give your door some liveliness.

Hot Spice (2011-30)

Complex and soothing at once, this soft red-orange changes color depending on the time of day. With direct sunlight, it will act as a coral. In the shade, it will be a can't-quite-put-your-finger-on-it red, similar to the lighter tones of a hot house tomato. Play up the color's warm tones with brass or gold hardware.

Rosewood (MW1222)

Don't force a painted finish on a beautiful wooden door. Try a rich stain instead that will bring out the wood's grains. Surround it with loose, lush green plantings to loosen up the stain's stately vibe.

Sunshine (2021-30)

If you're searching for one color to invigorate your entire house, look to yellow. The shockingly happy color will make your home the easiest one to find on the block. You'll only need to say, "It's the one with the yellow front door." This hue is best paired with simple colors like white, dark gray, or black since it is such a statement. You can get a Crayola effect if you match it with many colors.

Favorite Jeans (SW 9147)

<p>Wilson Design and Construction</p> — Wilson Design and Construction

Just like that prized pair of jeans in your closet that are perfectly soft yet structured, this just-right blue strikes a balance between light and dark to add softness and depth to your home's exterior. It pairs especially well with glass-front doors.

North Creek Brown (1001)

*Jonny Valiant; Styling: Elizabeth Demos*

Enliven antique doors with a grey-brown matte. Pair the dark color with an off-white shade for a striking contrast. Let this comforting neutral draw your attention, and keep the surrounding decor simple.

Pine Grove (511)

*Robbie Caponetto; Styling: Kendra Surface*

Create a welcoming entrance with an expansive terrace and a front door with a custom coat of rural green. This moss-green paint color pairs well with the house's siding and alcove in varying shades of white. Keep the landscaping neutral to complement this natural setting.

Old Navy (2063-10)

A paint color that simultaneously adds a bold new look to your exterior and retains a classic look doesn't happen too often. A true navy adds personality to your home that can coordinate with many styles. Navy will complement your house and its surroundings whether you have brick, siding, stonework, or clay structures. Dress it up with colorful potted plants that can change with the seasons.

Black Satin (2131-10)

Illuminate a hidden cottage with a matte black door. Add this deep black shade to the front door to create an inviting look with whimsical charm. The effortless shade adds sophistication to a home without being overbearing.

Oceanside (SW 6496)

For a subtle mix of blue and green, this calming turquoise is the just-right shade to fit any environment or architectural style. If you're not 100% sure about a color, try it first. "Sample your options before making a final decision," says Sue Wadden, director of color marketing at Sherwin-Williams. "I recommend crossing the street to see what they look like from your neighbor's perspective."

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