The entrance including your front door is the very first impression people get of your home before they even enter it. So best make it a good one from the onset – and the right front door colour ideas can be an easy way towards this goal.
There are a few different reasons tourists love to come to Portobello Road in London – but one of the top ones are the lovely houses with colourful front doors that everyone feels compelled to take pictures of, myself included. So going for a colourful makeover is the best front door idea you can go for.
‘As the first feature people notice, your front door plays an important role in your home’s kerb appeal,’ says Jimmy Englezos, Ronseal’s senior brand manager. ‘The colour of your front door is a quick method to influence how people perceive your home and a quick route to give an expensive feel.’
These are the shades and colour-centric tips for your front door that our experts recommend the most.
1. Think about the colour of your home’s exterior
The number one tip is not necessarily a specific colour. But nothing exists in isolation, your front door included. So when choosing the colour for your entrance, don’t forget to consider whether it will go with the colour of your home’s exterior.
‘Choosing the right front door colour is of course subjective but one thing that should influence your decision is how well the colour ties in with the exterior of your house,’ says Lucy Steele, senior brand manager and resident colour expert at Valspar. ‘For example, mossy greens such as Prairie Sage will better compliment a house in the countryside whereas an urban house can be more daring with a mustard like French Mustard.’
2. Opt for earthy terracotta
With some of the more traditional front door colours going out of style - think greys and whites - they’re being replaced by more earthy shades that have recently been dominating home decor trends, too. And terracotta shades are at the top of the list.
‘Brits have been turning to warm, natural colours like clay as an alternative to white,’ Jimmy at Ronseal says. ‘Not only do these shades do a better job of hiding dirt, but they also create a calming aesthetic at the entrance of a home.’
And Lucy at Valspar agrees, ‘We’re seeing a real shift towards warmer, earthier tones and nature-inspired shades for front doors.’
If you're after a warming terracotta paint for any outside feature of your home, including a front door, Rust-Oleum has just the one. Named Siena, it's the perfect baked clay shade and I'm already obsessed with it.
3. Elevate your door with rich jewel tones
Rich jewel tones like the unexpected purple colour trend have been getting more and more popular ever since last year in interiors – so it’s only natural for this colour trend to be extended to your home’s exterior and the front door.
‘Think jewel shades, like the rich, inviting, olive hues of Constance Moss or the velvety dark blue of After Midnight,' says Sara D’Souza, content strategist and creator at Frenchic Paint. 'We’re increasingly getting braver with colour on our front doors, and a vintage green like Victory Lane will really make your home stand out.’
Who could say no to the richness of sapphire blue? As depicted on the image above, sapphire blue has all the vibrancy of the precious stone that translates beautifully into a front door colour like this shade by Graham & Brown.
4. Go for timeless sage green
Whether you want to go for a timeless shade or for a colour that could boost the value of your home if you’re looking to sell in the near future, sage green is among the most favoured in either case.
‘If you’re looking to sell your home, timeless classics like Wise Old Sage will never go out of style,’ Sara at Frenchic says.
Marianne Shillingford, creative director and colour expert at Dulux, continues, ‘If you’d prefer a gentler greeting, then I’d suggest using the colours that reflect the most familiar hues of nature. Try a green like Fresh Sage that reflects the door’s eye view of the world which surrounds your home and link them together beautifully.’
Frenchic's take on sage green is very fresh and light so it translates as more welcoming as a front door colour.
5. Opt for sophisticated olive
Olive green has been one of the most trending green shades of late. The undeniable grown-up sophistication of the shade has made it stick around for longer than a season. And we predict we’ll all be obsessed with olive green for a long time, whether that’s in our homes, clothes or on our front door.
‘Deep green shades like olive green are a fantastic nod to nature and feel wonderfully grounding,’ says Victoria Yardley of Victory Colours.
If you're after a true, deep olive green shade, Little Greene's Olive Colour is the one - after all it's in the name.
6. Choose an unexpected red with a twist
Despite its boldness and vibrancy, red is quite a traditional colour choice for front doors, especially for those wanting some colour. But this year, it’s not the classic red that’s enjoying much popularity, it's actually one of the front door colours going out of style. Instead, it’s all about the red with a twist.
‘Red is really on trend at the moment and is unlikely to be going anywhere soon,’ says Michael Rolland, paint expert and managing director at The Paint Shed. ‘It’s great for enhancing both a home’s playfulness and elegance. There is a definite shift from classic fire-engine red shades, seeing them replaced by richer, more sophisticated tones like burgundy and terracotta.’
Not only did Pinterest predict cherry red to be the hottest shade of the year, this deliciously rich colour is popping up everywhere, from table lamps to front doors.
7. Be bold with bright orange
Set the tone for the rest of your home with a stand out shade. Orange is a vivid colour so give it the finishing touch and a touch of visual balance with white self-adhesive door numbers.
'They’re the perfect budget-friendly option and come in a wide range of designs or customise your own using our bespoke templates,' says Joanna Baumard, co-founder of Purlfrost. 'The end product is a cost-effective alternative to having your glass professionally etched and is very easy to install. Each number sticker can also be used on any smooth non-porous surface like steel, plastic, as well as varnished or painted wood.'
A few brands do a vibrant orange shade as well as Farrow & Ball and their Charlotte's Locks. And the fact it comes in its exterior-friendly eggshell finish is perfect for a front door.
8. Lift your mood with sunny yellow
If you adore colour then go for it – and if you have wood detailing that can be painted in the same shade then all the better, it will really create a focal point and become a design feature in its own right.
'If you’re feeling brave, I’d try a colour that’s bursting with joy – like a yellow, something that’s going to make you feel happy to get home whatever type of day you’ve had,' Marianne at Dulux says.
If you're after a mood-lifting, sunny yellow shade, Dulux released the perfect one as the colour of the year for 2025.
9. Embrace regal dark blues
Dark blue shades, including navy, royal blue and nearly black blues, will add depth to your exterior. And they're ideal if you don't want to stand out, but still create a statement.
'Classic navy is always a winner – it’s elegant, works with any style, and never looks dated,' Victoria at Victory Colours says.
Michael at The Paint Shed continues, 'The Notting Hill-style front door is popular and for good reason. Try a luxurious dark or royal blue like Farrow & Ball's Blue Maize. It’s timeless, bold and a great colour choice for giving your exteriors an elevated sense of sophistication.'
Named after the unusual colour of a type of corn popular in Mexico, this Farrow & Ball shade doesn't come in the exterior eggshell finish, but you can use the full gloss which is suitable for front doors.
10. Keep it pretty in pink
'For added warmth, consider a soft pop of pink with Dusky Blush,' Sara at Frenchic says.
Pink is becoming a more popular front door option, and if you've painted the rest of your exterior using another colour then choose a front door shade that's vibrant enough to hold its own.
Warming yet feminine, pink is a friendly shade that makes it a good choice and one that will make you smile as you walk up your path even on the darkest and wet wintery days!
While you can certainly go for a bright shade of pink on your front door if that's what you prefer, muted and pastel hues of pink are more popular these days. And the matt-finish Dusty Blush from Frenchic is the perfect example.
11. Opt for soft pastel blue
A gentle colour that's easy on the eye, sky blue is a good solid choice if you want a clean and fresh looking front door and it looks smart with crisp white woodwork.
'The front door offers the perfect opportunity to inject some personality and there has been a significant increase in the popularity of bold and bright colours such as yellow and blue rather than the more traditional black or white,' says Helen Shaw, director of marketing at Benjamin Moore.
'Consider drawing on the natural environment and choosing tones which mimic the setting, such as sky blue or forest green as this not only adds familiarity and comfort to the home but complements nature rather than distract from it.'
Pale Powder is Farrow & Ball's lightest shade of aqua blue. It's so soft and gentle, it's just what you need to see first thing coming home after a long and stressful day.
FAQs
What colour is best for a front door?
'Your front door is a great introduction to the interiors that lie beyond, so choose your colour to express the personality of the household and be bold, but do consider how the chosen colour will sit with your brick, stone or render,' advises Patrick O'Donnell, brand ambassador at Farrow & Ball.
'Rich, jewel-toned blues and dark, smoky greens will act as a great backdrop especially if you are blessed with a verdant front garden of mature trees and shrubs, these paint colours will flatter the landscaping enormously, whereas bright yellows will always shout a welcoming hello to your friends & neighbours!'
What is the best paint for a front door that gets a lot of sunlight?
'Colours can often look several shades lighter when used on a south-facing frontage that is flooded with light throughout the day,' says Patrick O'Donnell at Farrow & Ball. 'Using a bolder shade will give your door maximum kerb appeal, and prevent it from becoming washed out by the light!'
'The front door is a hard working area and therefore you need to ensure you use the correct paint, especially if it is an area which is exposed to a lot of sunlight,' advises Anna Hill, brand director at Fenwick & Tilbrook. 'Our exterior eggshell finish uses exterior grade pigments and won’t yellow overtime. It has been designed to protect outdoor woodwork even in the harshest of weather and as it is water based it is not only very low in VOCs but will also flex with the wood, whereas oil based paints can be prone to going brittle and cracking.
A bright bold and sunshiny yellow such as Summer Glow will look fabulous in the sunshine, as will the burnt orange of Shepherd’s Delight or the terracotta pink of Marrakech. For a more neutral option, Portobello Road offers a soft, warm tone which will look elegant and welcoming in the sunshine.'
Even though there are front door colour mistakes that could be made, we believe that just like with the interior of your home, your front door colour choice should be based on what you like and gravitate towards. Is it classic black? Great! Or bright, sunny yellow? Even better!
