Does the Front Door Color Really Matter?
Spoiler alert: Yes, front door color does matter!
The front door of the house is often the focal point of the exterior—it is usually placed near the visual midpoint of the house. When you look at a house, your eyes are naturally drawn toward the door due to its location. It’s also a detail that realtors capitalize upon for online photos of homes—you know, the photos of the front door that beckons, “Come on in!” Front door color is important, and I will tell you why.
Why the front door color matters so much
As with all color choices, the front door needs to make sense in the context of the exterior of the house. Undertones, contrast, and sheen are all important aspects to consider when choosing front door color. The texture of the underlying door material and the desired sheen must also be considered because these elements affect the appearance of the final color.
Front door color also sets a tone for the exterior of the home. Do you want your house to rock a classical, rustic, grand, or playful vibe?
Paint vs. stain: Wood doors
If your door material is wood, it can either be stained or painted. Consider the condition of the underlying wood, though. A wood door with water damage or irregularities may absorb stain unevenly. If you don’t mind slight unevenness, extra coats of polyurethane can add sheen and deflect attention from irregular color. However, if you demand a perfectly even finish, paint may be a better option.
Paint vs. stain: Fiberglass doors
Amazingly, fiberglass doors can actually be stained! Although the nonporous material cannot absorb stain like wood, stain can still give a wood-like result to fiberglass. According to Ville Painters https://willepaintersinc.com/types-of-stain-to-use-for-fiberglass-doors/
, opaque gel stain or oil-based exterior stain provides good coverage and durability. Like with wood doors, though, irregularities of the fiberglass surface can cause stain to adhere unevenly, giving blotchy results. For best results, I recommend leaving that project to a professional painter with experience in staining fiberglass doors.
Paint, of course, can be easily applied to a fiberglass door for a smooth, even finish. The door should be cleaned thoroughly and primed, with removal of hardware, prior to painting.
Color selection
You must consider all of the exterior surface colors when choosing a front door color. Consider the color or tone of the body of the house. Is the primary undertone warm (red, orange, yellow), or cool (green, blue, violet)? Even gray, beige, and brick have undertones; you will need to determine which undertone is predominate. Also, consider the color of the shutters, downspouts, gutters, garage doors, and any trim.
Contrast, when used thoughtfully, provides a visual point of focus, so I like front doors that contrast with the rest of the house. By “contrast,” I do not mean “clash.” For example, a white house with a black door is more interesting to see than a white house with a white door. One trend common in my area is to match the front door, shutters, downspouts, and gutters, creating a frame for the body of the house.
Front door color should also be selected with general appeal in mind. Some houses look outstanding with a blue, teal, or yellow door. However, if the rest of the exterior does not support the bold front door color, the color will stand alone and appear to be a bad choice.
Most popular front door colors
An online search will reveal a lot of divergent opinions about front door colors. From what I could gather, the current trend is to take chances with color. While I like a bold color on certain homes, I advise anyone considering a nontraditional color to virtually paint their door before committing to an unusual shade. The Sherwin-Williams and Benjamin Moore websites allow people to download house photos and test drive different colors. It’s worth the trouble.
https://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/color-overview/find-your-color/color-a-ro
If you are planning to list your home for sale, My advice as a home stager is to play it relatively safe. When you are selling, it is wise to avoid taste-specific colors in order to appeal to the widest audience. Black, dark gray, classic red, white, and natural wood tones complement most architectural styles and are typically what buyers would expect for front door color. However, if you’re not selling, it’s all about what appeals to your own sense of aesthetics.
Which color front door do you think looked best on the sample colonial house? I’m interested in hearing what you liked! Please comment below. Thanks for reading!
