5 dos and don’ts on how to pick a front door colour + paint inspiration

Knock, knock. Who’s there? It’s your friendly paint nerds at splat! Here to guide you through the tricky process of how to pick a front door colour to reflect your personality and to make the best first impression. With a lively coat of paint, you can give your home a facelift in a flash. And by a flash we mean this project will take one day – easy peasy!

But before we begin to share our winning shades, let’s take a look at some key colour considerations that will set you off in the right direction.

First up, what front door paint do I need?

Painting a front door is a whole different ballgame from painting an interior door. You’re going to need a far more hard-wearing paint that can withstand the elements and stay sleek over time. The best front door paint for the job will be a water-based exterior wood paint that will resist scratching and create an enduring look.

5 dos and don’ts to consider before picking a colour

1.     Do: remember, first impressions count

It’s a cliché because it’s true: first impressions are everything. And this is especially relevant if you’re inviting important visitors, whether they be prospective buyers or a partner’s parents whom you’ve never met before.

You’ve heard the advice a million times, but a simple makeover can add to the value of a property, and this includes paint. In fact, a recent survey by the door retailer, Safestyle, found that certain colours tend to sell at a higher price on average than those painted any other colour. You’ll have to read on to find out which shade came out on top… Sorry, no spoilers!

2.     Don’t: forget about finish and sheen

Your paint finish shouldn’t be an afterthought. Although it’s really easy to get caught up in flicking through colour charts, choosing the right paint finish should be up there as one of your key considerations. After all, if you decide a shiny gloss isn’t for you it’ll make an expensive mistake.

3.     Do: match your tint to your personality

Sometimes it’s all about the practicality, but where’s the fun in that? If you’re anywhere on social media, you’ll have probably seen the colour matching trend floating about.

This craze started off as colour consultants made their way onto TikTok, matching people’s energy and complexion to a range of seasonal palettes. Fun fact: you can do this with your front door too! It’s all about picking what colour front door will make you feel most happy and reflects a bit of you.

4.     Don’t: neglect your exterior house colour and trim

It’s all well and good picking your favourite colour for your front door, but if it clashes with your exterior house colour and trim you might give yourself the ick.

A clever trick for complementing your masonry is picking a shade that has a shared or similar undertone and they’ll marry together quite nicely. You could also opt for colours that will add depth and make your garden and surroundings look bigger. But, of course, that’s up to you.

5.     Do: consider your surroundings

While conformity might not be your goal, it’s always worth thinking about how your house will fit in with the rest of your street. This also goes with the environment. Do you live in the countryside? Then leaning into the traditional rustic look could be a great option. Or are you by the coastline where you could draw on a nautical theme?

Wherever you’re located and whatever property you have, there will be a colour that was born for it – it’s just a matter of finding it.

What colour front door works best for you?

Now the part you’ve all been waiting for… Here’s some colour inspiration from every part of the rainbow, so you’ll know exactly how to pick your front door colour when the time arises.

Red front doors

Red front doors can be a wholesome, striking or showstopping addition to your home’s façade. They’re well-loved for evoking warmth and fun, a proven favourite amongst homeowners.

Remember the study we mentioned earlier? Well, it found that red doors sell for approximately 36% above the national average house price compared to other colours. So, if you’re selling up this might tempt you.

Black front doors

A black front door commands sophistication and class, plus it’s memorable. After all, who can forget the look of Number 10 or 221B Baker Street? As well as being timeless, it goes with everything and won’t get as mucky as a lighter shade.

Blue front doors

Blue front doors get the splat stamp of approval. A soft blue like Milano can create a calm and appealing look. Whilst taking it a step deeper and opting for a midtone like Air Force Blue can give your home a contemporary twist, particularly stunning with period properties or country houses.

Green front doors

Deep green front door colours work especially well with white houses as they create an interesting contrast and a grand entrance. If your masonry is red brick or sandstone a softer green will be more suitable.

Yellow front doors

This one is for the bolder DIYer. Whether is a bright banana yellow or something more burnished, a splash of sunshine can completely transform a dreary entryway – just make sure it matches the trim of your house, windowsills and fence colour if you have a front garden.

Pink front doors

There are two ways you can go with a pink door: soft and sugary or vibrant and bold. Whilst not having broad appeal if you select the right tone, you can draw attention to the beautiful, natural features of your entranceway.

Purple front doors

A quirkier variation of pink, purple doors are for the few. If you really want to put your mark on your home, a rich royal purple or deep aubergine can make your door stand out from the crowd.

White front doors

There’s some debate to be had about white front doors. Whilst they pop when surrounded by darker bricks, the dirt they collect is easily seen. If this puts you off at all, why not consider a darker colour and then a hint of white as your contrasting trim? This way, both colours can spotlight each other.

Natural wood front doors

Sometimes a wooden door is nice as it is. If you’re a fan of the organic, natural look, the meandering grain of a wooden front door really sells itself. Ideal for country homes or when you’re working from a neutral palette, a real-wood front door can last as long as a painted one – just make sure to keep up with the maintenance by giving it a coat of wood stain for protection as and when needed.

We recommend Gori as your go-to. It’s water-based, protective against UV rays, weathering and mould and, best of all, it keeps your door looking gorgeous for years to come.

Open the door to a world of colour

We hope this guide on how to pick a front door colour has shown that you don’t have to stick to the conventional choices when there’s a whole rainbow of paints to choose from.

Head on over to our vibrant catalogue to browse our range of premium front door paints, from lipstick reds to elegant duck egg blues.

Don’t forget: all of our paints are hand-picked so you can rest assured that you choose the more ethical option. Each is low VOC, water-based and beautifully pigmented.

This was just a drop in the ocean when it comes to colour inspiration. Explore more on the rest of our blog.