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Paint color for exterior door


74 Best Front Door Paint Colors

Ray Booth

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The Front Door Inspo: Dark Steel Blue

Ray Booth reverses the typical black and white look with white trim and dark siding, giving this home a modern edge. The extra-wide blue door (e013-60 from Fine Paints of Europe) adds a splash of interest and contrast without being too bold of a statement.

Studio 33

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The Front Door Color: Dark Steel Gray

Make It Yours: Sherwin Williams Refuge.

Eric Piasecki

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Front Door Inspo: Umbria Red

For their Millbrook, New York, country house, Peter Pennoyer and Katie Ridder used a punchy shade of red that pops against bright white.

Lara Robby/Studio D

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Paint Color: Umbria Red

Make it yours: Benjamin Moore Umbria Red 1316

Annie Schlechter

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The Front Door Inspo: Sage

Philip Thomas chose a pale sage green color to adorn all the exterior trims of this cedar home. The specific shade perfectly reflects the foundation plantings. and landscape design.

NC

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The Paint Color: Pastel Sage

Make it yours: Valspar Sparkling Sage.

Eric Piasecki

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Front Door Inspo: Light Gray-Green

A creamy neutral changes with the light for an always flattering facade at this home designed by Gil Schafer. Here, it appears to have pale sage undertones, perfect for a space with green accents and a historic feel.

House Beautiful

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Paint Color: Old White

Make it yours: Farrow & Ball Old White No. 4

Stephen Kent Johnson

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Front Door Inspo: Yellow Gold

A gray monochromatic color scheme, shown here on this charming seaside cottage designed by Juan Carretero, offers a soothing welcome to family and friends. The color contrasts beautifully with the lawn and hydrangeas. But a fun surprise greets you at the front door: Sunny yellow paint! Sherwin Williams Quilt Gold covers both the interior and exterior of the front door.

Lara Robby

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The Front Door Color: Golden Wheat

Make It Yours: Benjamin Moore St. Elmo's Fire

Read McKendree

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Front Door Inspo: Turquoise

Bella Mancini enlivened this front door as well as the screen door frame with a bold shade of turquoise, Benjamin Moore's Santa Clara. This color feels right at home with the cedar shake and hydrangeas, but also sets the tone for what's ahead inside, design-wise.

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Paint Color: Santa Clara

Make it yours: Benjamin Moore Santa Clara 753

Emily Followill

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Front Door Inspo: Light Blue

Instead of painting the front doors, designer Meredith McBrearty colored the dramatic shutters flanking them. The soft shade of blue, Winter Lake by Benjamin Moore, is used throughout the inside of the home, too.

Benjamin Moore

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The Color: Winter Lake

Make it yours: Benjamin Moore Winter Lake 2129-50

KARYN R. MILLET

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Front Door: Cheerful Orange

Designer John Wooden and landscape architect Molly Wood gave this entrance a dutch door covered in a cheerful orange paint to create a seamless flow from the outdoors to the indoors.

House Beautiful

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Paint Color: Charlotte's Locks

For a similar shade, try Farrow & Ball's Charlotte's Locks. "It's a little different—not quite orange, and not quite red. More of a persimmon. It feels warm and inviting when you come in from the cold," says designer John Barman.

Make it yours: Farrow & Ball Charlotte's Locks

Brigette Romanek Studio

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Front Door: Off-White

Use a soft off-white with a touch of gray for a cozy shabby bungalow like Romanek Design Studio did for this Southern California home.

Lara Robby/Studio D

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Paint Color: Dove Wing

Make it yours: Benjamin Moore Dove Wing OC-18

ANNIE SCHLECHTER

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Front Door Inspo: Bright Blue

Gary McBournie turned to nature to inspire the color of his front door in Nantucket: "When I did this house thirty miles out at sea, it seemed only natural to include a blue or two in the palette. And, when used against drifts of blooming hydrangea, the effect is magical!”

Lara Robby/Studio D

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Paint Color: New York State of Mind

Make it yours: Benjamin Moore New York State of Mind 805

Amy Neunsinger

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Front Door: Devonshire Green

Designer Lindsay Reid's Mediterranean-inspired Los Angeles bungalow welcomes visitors with a muted green door.

Lara Robby/Studio D

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Paint Color: Devonshire Green

Make it yours: Benjamin Moore Devonshire Green 1489

TONY SOLURI

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Front Door: Yellowcake

"This chartreuse color provides a contemporary counterpoint to this 1940s natural cedar shake cottage in Michiana Shores," says designer Steve Kadlec.

Lara Robby/Studio D

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Paint Color: Yellowcake

Make it yours: Farrow & Ball Yellowcake No. 279

WERNER STRAUBE

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Front Door: Pitch Black

Accentuate the graphic aesthetic of steel frame windows by painting shutters and the front door a deep pitch black. As you can see in this home designed by Corey Damen Jenkins, black details, like on the front door, will sharpen and ground a bright white home.

Lara Robby

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Paint Color: Pitch Black

Make it yours: Farrow & Ball Pitch Black No.256

CONROY TANZER

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Front Door: Eggplant

A purple front door adds curb appeal to this house by Fergus Garber Young Architects.

Lara Robby/Studio D

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Paint Color: Eggplant

Make it yours: Benjamin Moore Eggplant 1379

Victoria Pearson

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Front Door: Off Black

A black door helps modernize the whitewashed brick exterior of this California Cape Cod designed by Parrish Chilcoat and Joe Lucas.

Lara Robby/Studio D

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Paint Color: Off Black

Make it yours: Farrow & Ball Off Black No. 57

What Are The Best Paint Colours for Your Front Door?

The Top 9 Front Door Paint Colours

Did you know that painting your front door is one of the BEST ways to add curb appeal to your home? And in ONE AFTERNOON, you can take a ho-hum door and turn it into something that gets your neighbours talking – for less than a hundred dollars!

HOWEVER, with thousands of colours to choose from it can be hard to figure out which colour is best. That’s why you have me (insert happy face here). You can either hire me via my E-design to give you the TOP 3-4 colours for YOUR front door, or you can check out these fab options below…

1. Best Front Door Colour – Burgundy or Red

Burgundy is a great choice if you want visual interest without committing to the intensity of a real vivacious red. Brick red is a slightly more modern take on burgundy, with red coming in as the colour with the most vibrant personality!

Above samples are just approximations of paint colours

If you’re looking for a more ravishing red (check out my profile photo – wink wink), these next colours should get you on the right path. Keep in mind, while red is one of the most popular choices, it isn’t always the smartest one. Your home has to actually suit red (or a tweaked version of it) otherwise it will look out of place.

I gave my E-Design client (above) four beautiful front door options to choose from, and Sherwin Wiliams Chinese Red was the winner.

And BTW, 99.9% of the photos on my blog are from my E-Design clients; thank you for sending them in; you guys rock! 

2. Best Front Door Colour – Navy Blue

Navy blue is a wicked choice for a front door. Blue can be rich and classic or fun and fresh, but it’s the more traditional navy blue paint colours that are a hit with today’s homeowners.

Above samples are just approximations of paint colours

And while there are about half a dozen more navy blues that I could rattle off the top of my head, those are a few of my FAVES.

Benjamin Moore Cheating Heart

3. Best Front Door Colour – Teal / Blue Green

Whether you’re looking for a farmhouse or a beachy look, there is nothing like a fresh, modern teal paint colour for your front door! Teal is a mixture of blue and green – and not always an even mixture. Some teals lean more on the blue side, while others lean more green.

The above samples are just approximations of paint colours

Today’s popular teals also have gray in them, keeping them a bit more in-check and not so ‘day-glo’.

Looking for something a bit spunkier?

And of course the darkest of the teals – Benjamin Moore Yorktowne Green.  Not for the faint of heart, Yorktowne Green is a gorgeous blend that’s flexible and easy to live with. It would look stunning in a woodsy environment with a lot of cedar siding.

The Best Blue Green Paint Colours for Your Front Door

4. Best Front Door Colour – Green

There’s something about a solid dark green that seems to work on a LOT of homes.

The above samples are just approximations of paint colours

The above front door is Sherwin Williams Night Owl. Another beauty is Benjamin Moore Mohegan Sage or even Sherwin Williams Rockbottom for a stronger, striking look.

This next home was oooookay with its blue front door…

But I knew siding colour (Benjamin Moore Dragon’s Breath) would be WAY better suited to a lil’ chartreuse, which also satisfied the owner’s desire for something a little OUTSIDE the box!

Benjamin Moore Chartreuse was the PERFECT choice to take things up a notch!

Let’s take a quick break to talk about paint samples…

Undoubtedly, you’ll be heading out shortly to grab paint samples – stop right there! I want you to check out SAMPLIZE. Samplize offers peel and stick paint samples that are more AFFORDABLE, EASIER and more ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY than traditional paint pots. Here are just a FEW reasons why I recommend Samplize to my clients…

Visit the SAMPLIZE website HERE

5. Best Front Door Colour – Black 

Black is bold and is a great way to make a statement on a large or small home. It looks especially fabulous when paired with a crisp white trim.

The above samples are just approximations of paint colours

And while black is a classic in the fashion world, it isn’t a ‘sure’ thing on a front door. Some homes look too intimidating with a black door – particularly ones that don’t have enough natural light around them.

Black doesn’t always suit homes with river rock or ledgestone detail or front doors that are under heavy shadow

6. Best Front Door Paint Colour – Gray & Charcoal

Gray and charcoal are a hit with homeowners these days and with their varying undertones, suit a HUGE variety of homes.

The above samples are just approximations of paint colours

I also love the SUPER PASSIVE approach of Benjamin Moore Gray 2121-10, shown on this next front door…

7. Best Front Door Paint Colour – Yellow & Gold

Yellow and gold can look warm and welcoming on a home. Just remember that yellow reflects much more light than most other colours, so when choosing a yellow make sure its intensity suits your home and your personal style (in other words err on the side of caution when choosing ‘intensity’). 

The above samples are just approximations of paint colours

8. Feeling brave for your front door?

My client Mark was wanting a front door that was a little different from the rest. I threw some beauties at him and he settled on Sherwin Williams Knockout Orange!

And while orange won’t suit MOST homes, it was the PERFECT choice for his home and the palette he decided on (see the whole project here).

This last one is just for fun, as I don’t HAVE a violet-inspired front door section yet, but this one was just TOO pretty not to include.

Before, the rusty red wasn’t BAD, it just wasn’t connecting enough with the stone, whereas Sherwin Williams Darkroom hit JUST the spot…

READ MORE

Painting the INSIDE of Your Front Door

The 12 Best Navy Blue Paint Colours for Cabinets, Feature Walls & Front Door

The 7 Best Teal & Navy Blue Paint Colours for Your Front Door

Not sure which paint colour is best for YOUR front door?

Let me help with my Online Paint Colour Consulting services! 

ORIGINALLY WRITTEN IN 2021, UPDATED FOR YOU IN 2022

What color to paint the front door

The front door is an integral part of any home, be it a home or an office space. Many people enter through it, therefore, not only the mood of a person, but also his internal state will depend on what color to paint the front door. And all because the state of the door and its color completely and completely affect the entire energy of the whole house.

It should be noted right away that it is better if the entrance doors are located to the east or to the south. Properly located doors will make it possible to saturate the room with positive energy. Therefore, when designing a house, one should take into account the location of the front door, depending on the desired direction. If your house has already been built, then for a positive aura in the room, you should carry out the correct coloring, or rather, find out what color to paint the front door.

Choosing a color for the front door

According to Feng Shui, the best colors for the front door facing west and southwest are beige, brown and golden. For doors facing north, blue and black would be the best paint option. Yellow color is better to paint the door facing the northeast. But for the east side, black and green are suitable, while for the south-facing door, red and green shades are suitable.

•Green is a symbol of life and prosperity. In addition, greenery is a natural color, symbolizing a friendly and strong family. But it is better to paint the door in this color only for those who have achieved significant financial success or are approaching them. Otherwise, such a color scheme will not affect the state of life of the family in any way. If the door has an exit to the east and southeast, then it just needs to be painted green and it is desirable that it be made of wood. In addition, this color will attract many friends to your home, so those who are single and dream of finding a friend should paint their front door in this color. It is believed that the green color of the door attracts a large number of buyers. If you are still thinking about what color to paint the front door, then choose the color of greenery.

• Black is the most unusual color, as it conceals a secret and hides a riddle. This color carries a certain emptiness and strength. For some, this color of doors is unacceptable, as it causes jitters and fear. In general, the black door gives the room protection from bad energy. You can paint black on any door, except for those that face south and west.

• The blue color of the front door will help in the growth of the career ladder of its owner. Therefore, such doors are recommended to be installed by young people who want to achieve significant results in the professional field. The blue tint is especially suitable for the east direction of the doors. In addition, it is desirable that the door opens inward, and not outward, this will contribute to the harmony of vital energy flows.

• The brown color of the door will give the owner confidence and protect him from apathy for a long time. This color is suitable for the north direction of the doors. And if the life of the family, for some unknown reason, does not add up, and they all become indifferent, then it is recommended to repaint the door of the front doors in brown, this will help return the family to its previous course. Dark and light brown tones bring confidence to the house, while brown with a reddish tint adds stability to it.

•If your door faces a hospital or a cemetery, and you don't know what color to paint the front door to be energetically protected, feel free to choose red. It is desirable if these are bright red tones, illuminated by lamps. With such staining, negative energy will not penetrate into the room.

• The yellow color of the entrance door, as well as brown, is suitable for those houses where there is no harmony. Shades of this color are well suited for west and northwest facing doors.

But whatever color you choose to paint your doors, you should remember that the paint itself must be of high quality. In addition to standard liquid paints with a roller, you can apply powder coating, it is much better and more practical.

What color to paint a metal door

Metal doors are considered the most reliable and burglary resistant. It is not without reason that they are preferred to be used as entrance structures - they ensure the safety of the house for many years. However, even metal doors can lose their aesthetic appeal, because being under direct sunlight, experiencing all the aggressive influence of the environment, the doors can lose their original saturated color.

Metal doors are often coated with protective compounds to increase their service life. Their task is to improve weather resistance and enhance visual appeal.

But when choosing a coating composition, understandable difficulties can arise - the market offers several types of paint, each of which has its own characteristics. What - we will understand in this article.

Contents:

  1. How to choose paint?
  2. Oil paint
  3. Graphite Paint
  4. Acrylic paint
  5. Powder coating
  6. Alkyd paint
  7. Nitrocellulose Enamel
  8. Epoxy enamel
  9. Hammer enamel
  10. A few subtleties of paint application

The choice of paint should be approached seriously, because the wrong coating will not be able to provide adequate protection to the surface of the door. Properly selected paint will not only give an attractive appearance, but also:

The right type of paint should always be chosen on a case-by-case basis – only corrosion resistance or a sufficiently bright saturated color may be required.

Consideration should also be given to the surface on which the paint is to be applied, whether it be the previous coat or bare metal. Some paints cannot be applied over a previous coat as the new coat may peel or show through.

Oil paint

The best known oil paint for front doors. It has the perfect set of properties needed for a simple household floor:

This type of coating has undeniable advantages over other paints. It reliably protects metal from corrosion. In addition, even a thin layer of paint gives a durable sealed layer. But good tightness is also a disadvantage, because if the layer is dense, then air does not penetrate under it. Over time, the paint begins to dry and peel off. To prevent this, or at least delay it, even at the stage of choosing a color, you should think about pre-applying a primer to the door.

Graphite paint

The graphite on the basis of which this type of paint is made is highly electrically conductive. Thanks to this, graphite paint has a number of advantages. The anti-corrosion properties of this coating are of a dual nature: not the coating itself, which has the standard properties of paints and varnishes, but also cathodes is responsible for protecting the metal from rust. When the metal comes into contact with the carbon present in graphite, gaseous oxides are released. One of their properties is to actively prevent the spread of rust.

Graphite paint has the following characteristics:

Acrylic paint

Due to the flexible polymers, acrylic paint can maintain its integrity (and therefore attractive appearance) for up to 7 years. All this time, the acrylic-based coating perfectly protects the metal from water. In addition, the paint has the following properties:

But acrylic paint has some peculiarities in application. This type of coating should be applied in several layers to obtain the desired color saturation. This means that the consumption of the composition and the cash costs for painting increase. To appreciate the resulting color, you need to let the paint dry completely - the tone of the dried paint is slightly darker than the raw one.

Powder coating

This type of coating is reliable and effective in protecting the metal door from environmental influences. However, powder paint has a significant drawback - it is possible to cover the door with it only in industrial conditions, because the final stage of the coating is the heat treatment of the product in the oven.

A special chamber is required for the application itself. A grounded metal surface attracts powder particles. The dried paint forms a monolithic coating. Thanks to this, a perfectly even coating is achieved and certain characteristics are acquired:

Alkyd paint

Special enamel based on glyptal, pentaphthalic or melamine type alkyd lacquer perfectly protects metal from various harmful factors: bright sun, rain, snow.

After application and complete drying, a high gloss finish is obtained. Such enamel is able to protect the metal from rust. It also perfectly tolerates temperature fluctuations (in the range from -50 to +60 about C).

However, enamel has a significant drawback - it contains toxic substances. These are dyes, solvents and antiseptics that have certain necessary protective properties. Therefore, alkyd enamels are very flammable. Before applying enamel to the door, be sure to study the safety precautions, and during the work itself, exercise increased caution.

Nitrocellulose Enamel

A specific cellulose-based paint allows you to quickly and inexpensively cover a metal door and make it brighter and increase its strength. The paint dries quickly enough, forming a smooth shiny surface.

Despite the availability and ease of use, enamel has some drawbacks. The main one is its weakly expressed protective properties. This is due to some characteristics:

Epoxy enamel

All epoxy enamels are based on an epoxy resin and an oxidizing agent. This combination provides:

However, it is not always convenient to cover metal doors with epoxy enamel on your own, because before applying enamel on the door, you need to mix several necessary ingredients, and then carry out a special hot drying.

Hammer enamel

Such enamels include compositions with an alkyd or epoxy base, additionally reinforced with metal flakes or powder. These components provide protection to the metal. Thanks to the same additives, the surface acquires a beautiful relief, which makes the door unusual and attractive. At the same time, all properties of the enamel are preserved.

It should be noted that no preliminary preparation and metal processing is required for application to the door. The paint perfectly lays down on any surface, even subject to corrosion. Moreover, if you apply several layers of hammer enamel, it can hide minor defects, even rust.

More recently, the application of powder enamel required industrial equipment - a final heat treatment was required.

Learn more