Lucky colours for front doors


Best Feng Shui Front Door Colors

By

Anjie Cho

Anjie Cho

Anjie Cho is a certified feng shui consultant, professional architect, and author with over 20 years of experience designing spaces. She co-founded the Mindful Design Feng Shui School and wrote "Holistic Spaces: 108 Ways to Create a Mindful and Peaceful Home."

Learn more about The Spruce's Editorial Process

Updated on 04/08/21

The Spruce / Bailey Mariner

In feng shui, your front door is one of the most important areas of your home and represents the face you show to the world. On a practical level, it is how you come in and out of your home. Your front door sets the tone for you and your visitors when entering your home. It’s also the last thing that you see when leave your home to go out into the world.

On an energetic level, your front door also represents how energy and opportunities come into your life. Just like you want your guests to feel welcome when they enter through your front door, you also want opportunities to be attracted to enter your life. Your front door is the main portal for people and energy to enter your home. In feng shui we call it the mouth of qi, or universal life force energy.

Your Front Door Color and Feng Shui

One easy way to feng shui your front door is with paint. While there is no perfect paint color, here are some suggestions, along with what they represent from a feng shui perspective. We recommend you work with what colors you are attracted to. Also, pay attention to what colors will work well with the exterior of the house, as well as your neighborhood as a whole.

How to Pick the Perfect Front Door Color

Red to Get Noticed

Red is the most auspicious color in feng shui, as well as a powerful color for protection and the transformation of negative energy. Red is also connected to the fire element, which represents warmth, passion, and inspiration. If you want your front door to be clearly visible from the street so that energy and opportunities can find you, a coat of red paint can be an effective way to do this. In the feng shui energy map, red is related to the Li, or Recognition, area. Red makes a bold statement, and it’s a great color to use if you want to get noticed.

Arthur Tilley / Getty Images

Black to Attract Good Energy

Black absorbs, attracts, and brings in positive energy, which make it a great choice for a front door color. It’s connected to the water element, which represents wisdom and depth. The north direction is also tied to this element. Water is also connected to your social connections and network, so black can be a supportive color for building friendships and relationships.

David Papazian / Getty Images

Brown for Support

In feng shui, brown and other earthy neutral colors are connected to the earth element and used to balance, stabilize, and nurture the inhabitants in the home. A brown door is perfect for connecting you and your family to the stability of mother earth.

moodboard / Getty Images

Yellow to Brighten 

Yellow is a bright, fun color for a front door. In feng shui, yellow is connected to the earth element. Earth represents stability and grounding, so yellow is a great choice if you or your family could use more of those things.

FOTOGRAFIA INC. / Getty Images

Green for Growth

Green is connected to the wood element in feng shui, related to new beginnings and growth. If your intention is to invite in new opportunities to help you grow and expand, you may want to try painting your door green.

Feverstockphoto / Getty Images

White for Joy

Connected to the metal element in feng shui, white represents cleanliness and purity. The west direction is also tied to this element. The metal element is related to precision, communication, and joy. Try painting your door white to invite more of these metal element qualities into your life.

SondraP / Getty Images

Blue for Knowledge

Like green, blue also represents the wood element, which supports growth and new beginnings. Deeper shades of blue are also connected to the Gen area of the feng shui bagua map. Gen represents knowledge and self-cultivation, so dark blue can be helpful in supporting an intention to deepen your skillfulness.

Nico Tondini/Getty Images

Gray for Helpful People

Gray also represents the metal element, so it is a supportive color for inviting more metal element qualities into your life. In addition, it’s the color associated with the Qian area of the feng shui bagua. Qian is all about helpful people and travel, so a gray front door can support your intention to invite helpful people and benefactors into your life or to travel more.

TriggerPhoto / Getty Images

After you’ve chosen a color for your front door, make sure you use it! A lot of us don’t use our formal front doors, but it’s important to activate it by opening and walking through it regularly. Even if it’s not the entrance you use most often, try going out your front door when you go out to get the mail, for example. 

Finally, don’t forget to keep your freshly painted door clean. Part of having an inviting entryway is having a clean entryway. When you’re cleaning your home, take some time to wash your front door, including the hinges, knobs, and frame.

10 ways to use the principles of Feng Shui |

(Image credit: moodboard / Susie Novak / Alexander Spatari)

Contemplating Feng Shui front door colors to ensure your home makes the right impression? From timeless favorites to more contemporary shades, there’s a wealth of hues to consider that use the principles of Feng Shui. 

Complementing the façade of the house is important, but so, too, is the note the color will strike, be it cheerful and welcoming or more formal and classic. The principles of Feng Shui might also influence color selection of your front door ideas and the maintenance needs of a particular choice will likely come into play, too.  

Here, we’ve gathered a host of beautiful Feng Shui front door colors, both classic and contemporary in their effect for inspiration and asked the experts to share their advice as well.

Feng Shui front door colors 

Feng Shui is an ancient practice, but one that has become popular in western interior design over the past several decades, and something we should certainly take note of when choose deciding upon the best front door color ideas for our home.

In Feng Shui, your front door design is one of the most important areas of your property. This feature also represents the face you show to the world, and should be chosen with just as much care and consideration as you would the rest of your home décor ideas.

1. Attract positive energy with black

(Image credit: Emily Kates / Vivian Johnson Photography)

A smart choice for north-facing properties, black front door ideas instil positive energy and a renewed connection to nature. It’s intertwined with the water element, which represents wisdom, maturity and healing. Water is also connected to your social connections, so black can be a supportive color for building relationships and fostering communication.

For classic good looks, black is a winning choice for a front door color. ‘A deep black front door is always in style,’ says certified color expert and interior decorator Pattie Kelly of Inspired Home Interiors . 'Black can be a natural partner to more traditional homes, and it’s a shade that will standout, making the front door a focal point.'

2. Use blue to envisage new beginnings 

(Image credit: Tim D Coy / Margaret Ash Design & Home)

Another great option for north-facing homes is blue. Blue front door ideas – from sky blue through ocean blue and on to cobalt – bring serenity and tranquillity to any home because they are on the cooler end of the spectrum, and look beautiful for both city and cottage front doors.

The color blue also represents the wood element, which supports growth, knowledge and new beginnings. What's more, a dark blue has been noted to support mindfulness. Shades like this blue is a perfect partner to traditional homes, too, ensuring the front door is attention-grabbing but sympathetic to the architecture. 

'I don’t think there are any hard and fast rules about blue,' says Samantha Todhunter, founder of Samantha Todhunter Design . 'Some feel it has a froideur about it. I disagree, it is about the colors you work in with it that will make the difference. Working with blue is endlessly interesting and playing with tones and textures can change it from a vibrant jewel box to subtle and serene.'

3. Go with green for growth and renewal

(Image credit: Benjamin Moore)

Green front doors promise to renew your connection to nature and is said to evoke feelings of balance, vibrancy and good fortune. The principles of Feng Shui recommend that you paint with green if your home faces east.

Green is in general a calming, relaxing color. Being the color that represents nature, it’s one that makes us feel good and positive. 'The poet and philosopher Goethe used to describe green as a useful color, a good color to have around,' says Francesca Wezel, founder of Francesca’s Paints .

Linked to the wood element, a green front door will invite new opportunities into your life and promote growth, expansion and kindness. What's more, this verdant and uplifting color trend will blend beautifully with foliage placed alongside the front door or in nearby borders for a harmonious look.

4. Paint with gray if your property faces west

(Image credit: Future)

Decorating with gray has become de rigueur in interior design. Undeniably the new but enduring neutral, this cool color will add a contemporary edge, elegance and a refinement to a front door, and is a go-to for anyone who wants an easy-to-live with tone. 

The best choice for a west-facing front door, gray also represents the metal element, so it is color scheme associated with determination, self-reliance and sophistication. In addition, it’s the color associated with travel and help.

5. Instil purity and cleanliness with white

(Image credit: Future)

Evoking purity and cleanliness alongside confidence and sophistication, white is a wonderfully versatile color for the both the interior and exterior of your home. Connected to the metal element in Feng Shui, white also represents precision, communication and happiness. The west-facing direction is also tied to this element.

For a smart but subtle entrance, follow this home’s lead with the door painted to match the façade. Bear in mind that cleaning a front door is a more regular task the lighter the front door paint color.

6. Warm up with red

(Image credit: Erika Bonnell Interiors/Stacy Zarin Goldberg)

Contemplating red front door ideas? While the color might sound like a dramatic choice, it’s actually a hue that’s easy to live with, and definitely worth your consideration.

Red is the most prosperous color in Feng Shui, as well as a compelling and dominant color choice for the transformation of negative energy. Red is also connected to the fire element, which represents passion, aspiration and warmth.

As with any color used in decorating, there are many variations of red to choose from, and it’s a good idea to think about which way your room faces when selecting. The principles associated with Feng Shui suggest that this color would be best suited to south-facing door. It is also a fantastic color choice for those living in colder climates.

7. Perk up with pink

(Image credit: Walls and Floors)

Pink front door ideas really do work, especially if you own a south-facing home. This controversial hue can actually form a reliable door color that channels anything from a contemporary to a classical country-house spirit, as long as you find the right tone the exterior of your home. Not everyone would risk using pink for their front door color scheme but use the right shade and it will make any room look fresh, modern and very grown-up. 

Color conjures up different reactions in everyone, adds designer and decorator Sarah Fortescue . 'To me, pink warms my heart, it cushions my entire body and I feel its warmth and comfort. There is an infinite spectrum of pinks, however, depending on the style of front door you are decorating, the history of the house, its scale and function, pinks can vary hugely.'

You'll be pleased too; the decorator Nicky Haslam is a long-term believer in pink being the most flattering color for doors and walls. It is certainly worth considering the colors you use alongside pink. Pink can also look wonderful alongside black. The key is balance – but neutrals next to pink will always make it look elegant.

8. Ground your space with brown

(Image credit: Taylor Lombardo Architects)

The return of the seventies has been influencing exterior and interior trends for 2022; with a palette of either a warm taupe or tan brown that will pair beautifully with the surrounding nature. This season sees a return to simple, restrained color palettes – and being close to nature has moved from greens of the forest to a soft, neutral palette of fossil tones and natural elements.

In Feng Shui, brown and other grounding neutral colors are connected to the earth element and used to balance, stabilize, and nurture the inhabitants in the home.

When it comes to front door color ideas, brown is probably not on your decorating agenda, but it's time to rethink this once detested shade, as the color is suitable for just about any front door style.

9. Inspire with yellow

(Image credit: SondraP / Getty Images)

In Feng Shui philosophy, yellow is a color of optimism 'The use of yellow can create a mellow and uplifting exterior all at the same time. It transports us back to long lazy sun-drenched days in the Mediterranean and it can brighten us up on gloomy days. 

Representing stability, harmony and rootedness, yellow is connected to the earth element. But yellow can be a tricky color to master, says Mike Fisher, creative director and founder of Studio Indigo . 'In particular bright primary yellow as it can be quite harsh and childlike despite its sunny and positive connotations. ' He likes to use darker yet richer fall version of yellows in an ochre or saffron hue which work particularly well on the front door.

10. Create a lasting impression with purple

(Image credit: Future)

From the deepest aubergine shades and striking royal purples, through to lavender, mauves and soft lilac, purple is a versatile Feng Shui front door color which can be used to on south-facing front doors to create a bold and beautiful aesthetic. Reminiscent of countryside vistas, soft lavenders can also have a beautifully therapeutic feel to exteriors.

While bold, violets and royal purples such as Pantone's Very Peri can be seen as a daring choice, they can work brilliantly for the exterior of your home, explains Paula Taylor, trend specialist at Graham & Brown .

‘Last year we predicted the striking blue-purple to be a big player on the paint scene – a bold splash creating that vibrancy that we are so in need of during these uncertain times. '

What color is good luck for a front door?

Within the principles of Feng Shui, the color red is considered to be good luck for a front door. Red represents good fortune, protection, and symbolizes fire energy. It is also a color of power and authority – an exceptional choice for those of us who want to make bold statement.

How do I Feng Shui my front door?

The principles of choosing the best Feng Shui front foor colors are as follows:

North-facing door

Feng Shui element: Water

Choose: Blue, black, white, and gray

Avoid: Green, brown yellow, red, purple and pink

South-facing door

Feng Shui element: Fire

Choose: Red, yellow, pink and purple

Avoid: Black, blue and brown

East-facing door

Feng Shui element: Wood

Choose: Green, brown and neutrals

Avoid: White, gray, yellow, pink, and purple

West-facing door

Feng Shui element: Metal

Choose: White, gray, yellow and light brown 

Avoid: Black, blue, red, purple, bright yellow and pink

Jennifer is the Digital Editor at Homes & Gardens. Having worked in the interiors industry for a number of years, spanning many publications, she now hones her digital prowess on the 'best interiors website' in the world. Multi-skilled, Jennifer has worked in PR and marketing, and the occasional dabble in the social media, commercial and e-commerce space. Over the years, she has written about every area of the home, from compiling design houses from some of the best interior designers in the world to sourcing celebrity homes, reviewing appliances and even the odd news story or two.

Feng Shui Tips - what the front door can tell you.

1. Feng Shui and the harmony of life
2. What is a Feng Shui door?
3. Entrance door and sides of the world
4. Color of the entrance door
5. Shape of the entrance door
6. And if the door is not according to Feng Shui
7. Correction of incorrect location
8. Mirror in the hallway
9. Staircase and entrance door
10. Tips and Recommendations

West and East interpret the principles of harmony and human happiness in different ways. Western culture focuses on functionality, practicality and external beauty. The East is trying to get to the bottom of things. Feng Shui, with its oriental aesthetics, offers us, people of a different culture, a fresh look at familiar interior solutions. One has only to plunge into his philosophy and see how the world around us is changing.

1. Feng Shui and the harmony of life

How do well-being, prosperity and good luck come to the house? Just like the people living in the house, they enter through the front doors. According to the laws of Feng Shui, space, people and everything that surrounds us consists of energy, in China it is also called Qi. The human body and soul cannot live without constant replenishment of Qi, as well as plants and animals. Qi is invested in us from birth, it comes to us in the form of food and water. It enters our homes with air currents. In order to feel strong and happy, we must not hinder its free penetration. From the point of view of Western culture, the door is only a necessary element of a human dwelling. Its dimensions, color, opening side, location relative to the cardinal points - these are just small nuances that can be neglected for the sake of comfort, beauty, functionality. But if you think about it, a door is what connects two different worlds. It is the link between the inner and outer life of man.

2. What is a Feng Shui door?

According to Feng Shui, the front door should be of medium size. It is believed that too large an entrance to the premises can create financial difficulties, a small one leads to family quarrels. The door itself should be of a regular rectangular shape, open and close easily and freely, and have a beautiful appearance. The color is chosen depending on the direction of the world - the north, east, south or west direction in which the door is facing. In the hallway, as well as in the outer corridor, if it is an apartment, there should be no extra things, untidy shoes and clothes. Clutter, blockage of a direct passage to the dwelling block the flow of energy. But in order to understand this, it is not necessary to be a follower of Feng Shui. Aesthetics, purity and freedom of space make our thoughts and feelings cleaner, more consistent and clearer.

Feng Shui consultants advise to install the front door in the form of a solid sheet without glass inserts. Also, an absolutely glass version will be undesirable. The entrance to the house must be reliably protected and hidden, which is why it is not recommended to make a door from fragile delicate materials. For free penetration of energy into the dwelling, the door leaf is hung so that it opens into the room. It is believed that the opening outward allows the dissipation of Qi, its loss. If there are windows on both sides of the front door, it is necessary to decorate the window sills with pots of live plants or beautiful curtains, so the energy will remain in the house.

3. Entrance door and cardinal directions

4. Entrance door color

The Feng Shui direction of the door must harmonize with its color.

5. Front door shape

Feng Shui door shape is determined by the element that corresponds to each cardinal direction.

6. And if the door is not according to Feng Shui

7.

Correction of incorrect location

When buying a ready-made housing, we cannot make the front door where we want. But, if you still really want to observe the principles of harmonious home improvement, Feng Shui invites us to outwit the Qi energy.

8. Mirror in the hallway

You can not place a mirror in front of the door, and the best location will be the same wall on which the door is located. It is believed that in this way the Qi energy entering the house will not only not run out, but will also increase. In extreme cases, one of the side walls next to the door can be mirrored.

9. Stairs and entrance door

The location of the apartment opposite the entrance stairs is considered unfavorable. In private houses, you should also not place steps to the second floor opposite the entrance to the house. According to Feng Shui, this prevents the Qi energy from flowing freely. You can correct this problem by installing a barrier screen. If this does not work out, and in multi-storey buildings this is simply impossible, you need to qualitatively illuminate the area in front of the door and use Feng Shui talismans.

10. Tips and Tricks

1. Do not place paintings with battle scenes or collectible weapons in front of the front door. It is believed that such elements will bring discord between family members and the people around them.

2. The front door should open easily, silently, without creaking. And locks and hinges should be lubricated, serviceable and reliable.

3. Install the doorbell in a convenient position in the line of sight and make sure that it is in good working order. Pay attention to its sound. "Correct" sounds according to Feng Shui cannot be sharp, unpleasant, aggressive. Choose only melodic sound.

4. Make sure that the apartment number is legible and easily visible.

5. Despite the outward appearance of cleanliness, the door must be taken care of periodically by wiping it with a damp cloth.

How to choose the right color for the doors in the apartment

The main purpose of the front door is to protect the house from intruders, keep out extraneous sounds and unpleasant odors, and protect against drafts. But at the same time, the door is one of the main components of the design project of the apartment, a bright accent and a significant detail of the room. Therefore, it is important to pay attention not only to technical characteristics, but also to the color and design of the finish.

To choose from a large range of offers the right front door for a particular interior, study the tips and recommendations of experienced designers. We will help you figure out how to choose the right door for your apartment so that it harmoniously fits into the interior.

We tell you what to build on, what to pay attention to and what to combine with.


Popular colors



Floor combination

Often, when choosing a color, the doors are repelled by the tone of the flooring and this is a good combination. Since the floor is not changed during repairs as often as, for example, wallpaper. The ideal option may be a single color solution, but it is advisable to select colors with a difference of 1-2 tones. If the coating is dark, then it is better to choose a door 1-2 shades lighter. In a room with parquet, you need to select a door with the same shade. For general harmony, complement the interior with decor items that will become a link in the room.

If the floors are light colors, then the door should be appropriate. A plinth will help create a contrast, which will match the color of the door frames as much as possible.


Wall combination

When all the walls in the room are painted the same color, the entrance or interior door can be chosen in the same tone, guided by the rule - for a saturated color, choose a door leaf a few shades lighter. When the wallpaper is a bright and saturated shade, the same color of the walls and the door frame will give the impression of a monolithic surface, which can cause discomfort.

Designers advise when combining the color of the door and walls to focus on the contrast to the floor. Door frames and plinth in the room should be contrasting elements, they will help reflect the shade of the walls or floor.


Furniture match

When planning the entire interior of an apartment or house at once, they most often take into account the color of the furniture and try to choose the front door for it. It is believed that dark furniture goes well with a door frame a few tones lighter.


Room style doors

Designers advise, in addition to walls, floors and furniture, to pay attention to the room. After all, it is the general view of the room that will correctly determine which shade should be chosen, and which one is better to refuse.

Art deco, loft, eclecticism, hi-tech, minimalism and other modern trends are ideal for original door panels in black or silver colors. As well as more common shades of wenge and dark oak. But it is worth noting that for high-tech it is best to purchase models without any inserts and lush patterns.


Country, eclectic and modern are perfectly coordinated with products of warm colors. Such unusual and bright directions will decorate beech or ash door leaves with glass inserts or deep milling. For bold options, it is recommended to choose doors with colorful patterns and sinuous lines.


Baroque stands out for its pomp, wealth and luxury. Therefore, the doors must be selected appropriately. For example, massive light products made of natural wood with figured milling, golden patina and unusual fittings in a classic design.


Classic implies a certain rigor and richness, so it is best to install light walnut or light oak models with laconic decor elements in such an interior.


Ecostyle involves choosing only natural materials and shades. Therefore, wooden door leaves are installed in natural color and imitation of wood texture. OakPanel coated doors will do.


In an apartment with a country or Provence direction, designers recommend inserting original light doors with an aging effect.


If there is a large amount of metal, give preference to gray models.


Tip
Experts suggest not to combine canvases with different directions in the interior with floors, walls and furnishings. They advise choosing models in neutral shades, for example, oak, beech, white, cream or gray. And in order to create a harmonious and holistic picture, you need to add the same skirting boards and trim to the room.


In any case, in the world of design there are no strict criteria by which it is necessary to acquire one or another shade. It all depends on the taste of a person, his imagination and sense of harmony. And this is considered more important than rules and prohibitions.

The tendency to install entrance and interior doors with the same or similar color finish is gaining great popularity.


Learn more