When it comes to making a first impression there's nothing more important than your front door, so it's important you choose a colour that reflects your home's personality.
If you're struggling to decide on a shade, we've picked out some of our favourite front door colours below, as well as the meanings behind the most popular front door colours.
Keep reading to discover our pick of the best front door colours, and when you're feeling suitably inspired, don't forget to check out our roundup of the best paints for exterior wood, too. Happy decorating!
The best front door colours – and what they mean
Blue front door
From glittering oceans to gorgeous skies, blue is the colour of tranquillity. According to colour psychologists, looking at the colour blue can evoke feelings of peace and relaxation, so a blue front door is a great option for those who want to transform their home into a calming sanctuary.
What does a blue front door mean?
Have you ever noticed how some of the biggest businesses in the world have blue logos? That’s because the colour blue is thought to connote a sense of order and reliability, so it’s often favoured by companies that want to give off an image of dependability.
The same logic applies when it comes to front door colours, so opt for a blue front door if you want your home to be associated with feelings of security and safety. Whatever shade of blue you opt for, it’s guaranteed to look elegant and grounded.
According to feng shui principles, the colour blue is linked to the wood element, which means that it symbolises new beginnings and growth, particularly associated with lighter shades of blue, while deeper shades connote wisdom and confidence.
Our favourite blue front door paints
Frenchic Al Fresco Paint in Kiss Me Sloely
If you’re looking to make an impact with your entryway, you really can’t go wrong with Frenchic’s Kiss Me Sloely. A rich yet bright purply blue, this shade is dramatic, sophisticated and perfect for making a bold statement. As it’s a chalk and mineral paint, it dries with a matte, flat finish, so it’ll achieve a cool, contemporary look.
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Farrow & Ball Masonry Paint in Stone Blue
If you’re not in the market for bold electric blue or traditional navy, Farrow & Ball’s Stone Blue might just be the shade for you. It’s still timeless and impactful, but it feels just that little bit different thanks to its saturated indigo pigments. As with many other paint brands, Farrow & Ball’s shades are usually available in a number of different finishes, so make sure you’re opting for the exterior eggshell formula if you’re using it on a wooden front door.
Pink front door
Whether it’s soft blush or summery coral, the colour pink is known for its calming, nurturing qualities. Aside from the fact that it’ll give your home instant curb appeal and Instagramability, a pink front door will immediately evoke feelings of warmth and comfort.
What does a pink front door mean?
In colour psychology, pink is known as the colour of hope, so painting your front door pink is a great way of symbolising that all in life will be well.
In feng shui, pink is linked with love and romance, but also the wider concept of partnerships of all kinds – making it a great choice for households of all kinds keen to give their visitors a warm welcome. The colour pink is also considered peaceful and non-threatening, so whether it's vibrant fuchsia, subtle rose or anything in between, a pink front door will give the impression that the home which lies behind it is a relaxed and safe space.
Our favourite pink front door paints
Little Greene Intelligent Exterior Eggshell in Mischief
Rich, glamorous and stylish, Little Greene’s ‘Mischief’ paint is available in a number of different formulas, but for a wooden front door, you’ll need the Intelligent Exterior Eggshell finish. Designed for exterior woodwork and joinery, it's self-priming, and has a low sheen. If you’re after a similar shade for a UPVC door, try Rust Oleum’s UPVC paint in the shade Raspberry Ripple.
Farrow & Ball Middleton Pink in Exterior Eggshell
Middleton Pink is the perfect sophisticated pastel pink – it’s delicate, fresh, and ideal for creating a welcoming entryway. We love this colour because it pairs well with all different sorts of white shades – whether they’ve got cool or warm undertones
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If you’re after a UPVC friendly alternative, check out Rust Oleum’s UPVC paint in China Rose or Strawberry Vanilla.
Green front door
Green décor is often revered for its reviving qualities – studies have even proven that just looking at the colour green can reduce cortisol levels and boost feelings of wellbeing.
What does a green front door mean?
In Britain, green is actually the best-selling front door colour. Traditionally, people associated green front doors with ideas of wealth, and so would often paint their front doors green as a way to welcome prosperity into their homes. Green can also signify safety – a green light means go, so painting your front door green is believed to make your guests feel more comfortable and confident on entering your home.
In feng shui, a green door can also symbolise fresh growth, new beginnings and healing. As green is the colour that we most associate with nature, a green front door is said to connote feelings of harmony and renewal.
Our favourite green front door paints
Frenchic Al Fresco Paint in Apple of my Eye
A firm favourite amongst the YourHomeStyle team, Apple of My Eye is a soft, jade green inspired by the colour palettes of the 1930s.
Clean and crisp, it instantly breathes new life into even the most lacklustre of front doors, and we love how it gives your entryway a springlike energy all year round.
Rust-Oleum Universal All-Surface Paint in Racing Green Gloss
If your dream front door has a traditional vibe, you can’t go wrong with Rust Oleum’s Racing Green gloss paint. This paint is striking, pigmented and perfect for period properties – not to mention super durable, doesn’t require a primer, and can be used on UPVC as well as wood.
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Yellow front door
Perhaps the most upbeat and joyful colour of them all, a yellow front door will bring a little bit of sunshine into your life all year long.
Whether you choose pastel lemon yellow, a sumptuous saffron shade or bright yellow, yellow signifies optimism, so it's a great shade to choose if you want your home to conjure up feelings of hope and enthusiasm.
What does a yellow front door mean?
Yellow is one of the most intense colours on the colour wheel. It'll instantly attract attention, so only use it if you're hoping to make your home stand out from the crowd.
Known to evoke feelings of positivity, warmth and happiness, yellow shades can breathe new life into even the most lacklustre entryway, and will brighten up tired home exteriors in an instant. In feng shui, yellow is also linked with power - some Chinese emperors reserved the colour for exclusive use of the imperial family.
On a practical level, yellow is a great colour to paint your front door if you're looking to make your home memorable and recognisable.
Our favourite yellow front door paints
Little Greene Traditional Oil Gloss in Mister David
Bright and sunny, Little Greene’s ‘Mister David’ gloss paint will revive wooden doors in no time. Mister David is the brand’s brightest yellow paint on offer, and as such, it’s guaranteed to make any front door look joyful and cheery. Try Frenchic’s ‘Daffs’ if you’re after a similar shade for UPVC… it’s slightly less rich, but just as punchy!
Farrow & Ball Exterior Eggshell Paint in Babouche
We’re huge fans of Farrow & Ball’s Babouche here at YourHomeStyle. Taking its name from the distinctive colour of the yellow slippers worn in Morocco, it’s bright and attention-grabbing, but never garish. For a wooden front door, you can either use the full gloss or exterior eggshell.
Red front door
Nowadays, we often associate the colour red with strong emotions like anger, and in everyday life, red can be used to signify danger or encourage caution.
In some traditions, however, red doors signified a warm welcome and hospitality, and red remains a popular colour for front doors.
What does a red front door mean?
In feng shui, red is believed to be the most powerful and auspicious colour of them all. People who follow feng shui principles will often choose a red front door to protect their home, as it is thought the colour red will clear their home from negative energy.
Red doors have a really interesting history in the British Isles, too. In years past, people in Scotland would paint their doors red to signify that they had paid off their mortgage, whereas in Ireland, people painted their doors red as an act of rebellion against the British monarchy.
In colour psychology, red can signify love and passion, and is even proven to act as a physical stimulant - it stimulates the adrenal gland and provides energy, so choose this colour if you're looking to feel energised and inspired.
Our favourite red front door paints
Rust-Oleum Universal All-Surface Gloss Paint in Cardinal Red
Rust Oleum’s Cardinal Red Universal All-Surface Gloss Paint is a rich, vibrant red hue that’ll look at home in a period property surrounded by original features, but equally good on a new build. Plus, the ‘universal’ nature of the paint means that this product is suitable for use on uPVC and wooden doors.
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Wickes Exterior Gloss Paint in Poppy
Much like Rust Oleum’s Cardinal Red, Wickes’ Poppy paint is a beautiful, deep red shade that looks fantastic in any setting. Designed to last for longer than conventional gloss paint, this formula has a durable, high shine finish that can be used on both wood and metal. To get the best results, Wickes suggest that you use their Exterior Primer Undercoat first.
Black front door
Sophisticated, timeless and classic, black front doors are used to signify wealth and power. Although the colour black can have negative associations in everyday life, in a decor context black gives off an air of simplicity that makes it ideal for contemporary, minimalist schemes.
What does a black front door mean?
Those who practice feng shui consider the colour black to symbolise mystery and power, and so it can be associated with positions of authority. Black is also associated with the water element, which in the feng shui energy is connected to career and life pathways. If you're an ambitious go-getter, black could be the right colour for your home's entry.
Many people consider a black front door to be the most sophisticated of them all, and will paint their front doors black to make their house look more expensive and luxurious. Studies have also found that painting your front door black can increase your home's value by 2.9 percent, so black paint is a fantastic option if you're looking to make your house more appealing to prospective buyers.
Our favourite black front door paints
Frenchic Al Fresco Paint in Blackjack
If you’ve got a UPVC front door, we think Frenchic’s Al Fresco paint in the shade Blackjack is a fantastic bet. Thanks to its water-based chalk and mineral formulation, it’s self-priming, self-sealing and dries with an almost flat finish. It’s also super pigmented, so you’re not likely to need more than one or two coats… we love it!
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Dulux Weathershield Satinwood Multi-surface Paint in Black
Also suitable for exterior wood, metal and UPVC, Dulux’s Black Weathershield paint is a fantastic front door paint that has a gorgeous satin finish. You will have to prep your front door before you apply it, but then it’s just a case of applying a thin coat with a bush or a roller, and your door will be totally transformed… not to mention weather-proof for 6 years!
How do I choose a front door colour?
If you're struggling to decide on a colour for your front door, there are a few different factors to consider which might help you narrow it down.
First, it's worth considering the age of your house. If your home is Edwardian, for example, shades that were popular at the time - like muted blues and greens - might best suit your door, whereas an Art Deco era home might look best with a dramatic, peacock blue door.
Check out our guides to Victorian homes, Georgian homes, Mid Century homes and Bridgerton inspired Regency homes and to discover inspiration on the colour palettes from each era!
Secondly, give some thought to the style of decor inside your house, and choose your front door colour accordingly. For example, if your home is boho style, choosing a front door colour that complements a boho scheme - like rich terracotta or neutral - will help to give your home a sense of flow, make it feel cohesive, and give guests an insight into your own personal style before they've even stepped foot inside your home.
Below, we've outlined a few more examples of colours that complement the different types of interior styles:
Front door colours
Industrial style: cool charcoal grey, dramatic black or red
Scandi style: simple white
Mid Century modern: olive green or striking terracotta
Eclectic vintage: pastel shades or muted blues
Cottagecore inspired: pretty pinks, powder blues and greens
Japandi style: neutral beige or strong black
Farmhouse style: shabby chic white, pale yellow or sage green
