What are the Best Colours for Painting the Front Door?

The colour of your front door drastically affects the look and feel of your exterior. It’s the first thing your guests will see when they pay you a visit. It welcomes you home everyday and the right colour will move you out as fast as possible when selling your house.

Is There a Best Colour for a Front Door?

There is no universally accepted “best” colour that works for every door of every house. There is however a best colour for you, and it’s based on the reason you are painting your house exterior. For example, if your door is in bad condition, you don’t want to make it stand out. If you are selling your home, certain paint colours will help you get a better price. If your home is looking too bland, add a little drama with a deep red. Who would have thought, there is so much personalization involved with choosing a paint colour?

Some Popular Door Colours

Blue is a soothing and calming colour that can be used to create a relaxing welcome. Darker blue is one of the most popular colours that customers have us paint. Muted shades, like the shade we used for this Rosedale front door above, work well with the older and traditional homes architecture.

Green is a refreshing and natural colour that creates a casual, inviting entrance. Use nature’s colour suggestions to create a harmonious look with your front garden and flowers. Green in all its shades, has been a popular main door colour, especially during the last decade.

Yellow is a happy and energizing colour. If your personality type can sustain the energy and vibe of yellow, you can’t go wrong. And of course, welcome to your happy home!

Black makes a bold statement and adds undeniable curb appeal. No wonder a study by Zillow (look below), found black as the best colour for selling your house. It’s also versatile enough to use with any style and matches perfectly with white and gray when painting your bick exterior.

Why is Red a Popular Colour?

Red is a bold, attention grabbing colour. Used at the front door, it’s a classic and it seems to stand the test of time. There are many reasons for its timeless popularity. Homeowners use it when they want to make a statement, as it draws attention to the house. Red is the colour of love and passion, which makes people feel good when they come home. Another reason is that red is a happy and energetic colour, ideal for creating a positive first impression for guests.

In Feng Shui, red is a dominant colour that has the power to change negative energy. It is the color that represents yang energy and is associated with the sun and the element of fire. Make sure to keep the “fire element” and its colour in balance. Adding a bit of red to your décor can infuse the exciting yang energy that the fire element attracts. Read more about red and Feng Shui here.

Is a Varnished Door an Outdated Look?

Paint gives you more colour options than clear varnish does, but what if your front door is already varnished? Should you paint over it to update the house exterior? Is a varnished door outdated? We get asked these questions frequently and as with any decor question, there are no simple answers. First of all, any home, new or old can look great with a properly maintained varnished front door. Depending on the style and colour of your home, there are many popular stain colours to satisfy anyone’s preference. Ranging from natural amber all the way to red mahogany and walnut dark, a varnished door looks beautiful and elegant.

There following are some considerations to help you decide whether paint or stain is your best option:

• Is the clear varnish faded and peeling? If that is the case, the work required to prep the door is extensive and expensive.
• Is there any black discolouration at the bottom of the door? The main reason stain is turning black is mildew. It needs to be scrubbed and washed 100% before any clear finish is applied.
• If the door is very old, there are dents and imperfections hidden within the natural look of the surface. Are you prepared to invest the time and money for the prep work required before painting it?
• If you want to keep your stained door looking beautiful for a long time, maintain it by refreshing the varnish coat every 2-3 years.
  

What Front Door Colour is Best for Resale?

When selling your home, aim for great first impressions. The front door is one of the first things a potential buyer will notice, so choosing the right paint colour is crucial. A welcoming and inviting colour can predispose buyers to liking your property. The entry door colour can also be used to make a bold statement or add curb appeal.

If you are looking to get the best return on investment, black is by far the best door colour. If stark black is not to your liking, different shades of charcoal will have the same effect. According to Zillow’s 2018 Paint Color Analysis (based on 135,000 photos from sold homes), homes with black or charcoal gray front doors sell for $6,271 more than expected.

Paint Type and Sheen Level

There are mostly two types of paint for front doors; water based acrylic and oil based alkyd. Despite a slight resurgence in the popularity of oil paints, most exterior doors are painted with water based acrylic. The main reasons for the popularity of acrylic are the ease of use and the lower emissions created by water based coatings. Whether you are going with oil or water based, the sheen level you choose is the most important consideration.

• Use glossy or semigloss paint if the surface is in good condition and you prefer a brilliant shiny entrance door.
• If the door is in bad condition and you want to hide the imperfections, use flat or low lustre. Keep in mind that flat paints are not as durable and need frequent re-coating.
• If you can’t decide between glossy and flat paint, consider using a satin sheen. Satin is durable enough for a front door but not too shiny for imperfect surfaces.

What is the Verdict on Colour?

So, what is the verdict? What is the best colour for a front door? The answer is, there is no definitive answer. It depends on your specific circumstances and preferences. However, we hope that this blog has given you a better idea of what to consider when making this decision for the exterior of your home. If you have any questions about exterior painting colour, feel free to contact us – we would be happy to help. Also consider sharing your own opinions and colour ideas in the comments below.