Should the Sidelights Match the Front Door or Match the Trim?

I did a paint consultation on Monday for a front door of a couple who live in Washington state. The current color of the front door is red, and I chose two better options for them to consider. Below is the before:

painting front door sidelights

before

Besides choosing a front door color, I offered my advice about the paint color placement.  I knew if I simply gave them a new color for the door, they would repaint the door, sidelights, and surrounding trim all the same color. And I don’t believe they should.

Many people paint out the door and surrounding trim and sidelight windows in this manner. They probably think it makes a bigger impact since the accent color covers more area, which may be true. However, it’s not the most updated choice of color placement. Instead, I recommended two options of color for the door ONLY. The surrounding trim and sidelights should be painted out like the existing trim and body color.  Here’s an example of the difference on another home:

Deb Lamb Front Door Difference

Here’s a close-up of their stone exterior next to the door:

what-color-should-i-paint-the-front-door

stone exterior

Here are the two options for front door colors I suggested to work with the exterior stone:

choosing front door paint color

front door color options

Either of these paint colors on the front door ONLY, and the existing trim/body color on the sidelights and trim around the door will be a sharp update on this home.  If you’d like to have your front door updated, contact my assistant for details: [email protected]

51 Comments

  1. Janet Voltaggio

    Love the colors you chose. Can you show after when completed?

    Reply
    • Kristie Barnett

      Yes, Janet – if she sends me photos I will definitely share 🙂

      Reply
  2. MK

    Kristie, I love your choices!

    Our first two homes that we lived in for 12 yrs each had wood doors. Now in this house, the door feels like some kind of light steel or plastic. Sounds awful I know, but this is the most expensive home we’ve ever bought and it does look beautiful, but it is some non-natural product that a lot of builders use, probably b/c it costs them less. It looks like mahogony & it supposedly has a lifetime warranty, but I do notice some fading on the outer side of the door & sidelights. They quoted me some outrageous price to send someone out to do a multi-step process to refinish it to look like wood. Heck, forget that, I will just paint it.

    Have you specified paint on these non-wood doors and, if so, do you know what kind or priming or prep work is required to be sure the paint adheres well???

    Reply
    • Kristie Barnett

      I do specify paint on non-wood doors frequently. Ask the specialist where you are purchasing paint as to which type of paint they recommend for exterior metal or non-natural material. Unfortunately, if you get a lot of direct sunlight there will be fading over time. But painting is easier to do on a semi-annual basis than refinishing wood, that’s for sure!

      Reply
      • MK

        THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!

        Reply
  3. Kelly

    I so agree, this makes such a better statement and looks great!

    Reply
    • Dianne

      My home is brick (rose colored) just painted front door to match my shutters
      Dark taupe/gray
      Shld my side lights be trimmed in white to match my windows?

      Reply
  4. Rhonda

    Glad to know I got it right with my front door! I was thinking that rusty front door color was too harsh — the colors you chose seem perfect!

    Reply
    • Kristie Barnett

      Sometimes you can do a “random” accent color on a front door, but not in this case. With bossy stone colors, if you don’t choose a door color that relates in some way (both that I chose look like darker versions of the stone undertones), it can definitely look “off.” Thanks for commenting!

      Reply
      • Rhonda

        That makes sense! Sometimes we lay people don’t know the reasoning behind the choices. I usually know what looks best, but I don’t usually know why! I love to learn new things, and now I know that my front door is random! haha! It’s a new Victorian with the siding painted SW Georgetown, the trim is Dove White, and the front door is BM Rookwood Sash Green (I think). Not necessarily current colors, but since it is a period house, it works. Thanks for all your teaching!

        Tried to find a picture, but they’re all on my old computer. Just ignore all the people, and you can see the house colors.

        Reply
        • Rhonda
        • Kristie Barnett

          Rhonda,
          From what you describe, I doubt your front door color looks “random.” If it’s a new Victorian, I’m betting it’s siding without brick or stone. That’s the perfect place for a “random” or favorite color on the front door. Rookwood Sash Green is actually a Sherwin Williams color, and it’s stunning! The “random” front door can be a problem when you have busy brick or stone surrounding the door – that’s when the door color needs to relate in some way. I hope that makes sense!

          Reply
          • Rhonda

            Yes, there is no brick or stone on the house, just wood siding, trim, and gingerbread. Meant to correct BM to SW on the Rookwood Sash Green and forgot. Sorry the picture wouldn’t post! I guess my door isn’t random after all! 🙂

  5. Jula Cordeira

    Great and timely post…..I’ve had numerous questions about this subject and your post really addresses this issue. Thanks!

    Reply
  6. Lora

    I think doing just the door looks great! What I particularly despise is when the outer frame and the frame around the glass in the door is painted the trim color (usually white) and then just the flat part of the door and side lites are painted the color. It is so jarring to look at. In that case one solid color is preferable to trim and door mishmash. But your idea of making the door stand out is something I think I’ll be doing to our home. Live your posts…. Your blog is one of the most educational around in the decorating field.

    Reply
  7. Carol Bowman

    OMG – you just made me feel great! Just yesterday I painted my front door (and yes, I left the sides white). The stone is very similar to your client’s and I painted the door a color VERY close to your top choice – the blue/gray color. Was starting to second guess my choice, but now I feel very confident that I picked a great color! If my Color Hero thinks that’s a good color, that is all the assurance I need! 🙂

    Reply
    • Karen

      Hi there I have the same situation going to paint my “before” black front door to Yellow And decided to keep the side lights and trim white/cream. We also have a storm door that’s all glass, screen for summer. My concern is what do we paint the storm door? It’s black now (we also have black shutters) Should the storm door be white/cream or Yellow like the Front door or keep it black?

      Reply
      • Kristie Barnett

        I’d paint it yellow so it doesn’t chop up your new yellow door! Just don’t paint over the handles!

        Reply
  8. nancy

    Can’t wait to see the “after” picture….I need ideas with my front door curb appeal too! Sent a note to Allison to see if there is any hope…lol. This was a great post to help me spruce up the front of my house. Thanks!

    Reply
  9. jane

    Very timely article for me. I need to paint my front door, but hesitate because I don’t know what to do with the screen door. It is a full-glass screen door with a 4″ metal frame — do you paint the screen door the same color as the front door, or paint it the color of the sidelights?

    Thank you for this inspirational blog — I always learn something interesting.

    Reply
    • Kristie Barnett

      Jane,
      I usually recommend painting the screen the same color as the door – otherwise the door color is obstructed and looks choppy. Thanks for commenting and the great question!

      Reply
  10. kate

    Hmmm… What if there is a sidelight only on one side?

    Reply
      • Pam C

        I have been wanting to paint my front door forever and can’t decide on a color. I am unclear on the single sidelight though, which is what I have. Are you suggesting if you have a single sidelight to paint it the same as the door?

        Thanks! I love your blog.

        Reply
        • Pam C

          OMG! I lied. I have the double sidelights! I am losing it. My door is a dark green and the sidelights are white like the trim. My shutters are dark green too. Pretty boring. The house is mostly clay green.

          Reply
          • Kristie Barnett

            Haha! With double sidelights, I’d probably just paint the door a color and leave the sidelights white like the trim. I’m assuming the facade is clay green? I’d play around with a door color from another color family than green, but that complements those green shutters. Or why not paint the shutters a soft black and paint the door a more vivid green?

  11. kelly

    Great advice. So many people question this. I love the blue color! So pretty!

    Reply
  12. Cynthia Gallentine

    Thanks, Kristie, for such practical information. I have been dealing with this issue for my front door set and your post settled the issue for me!

    Reply
  13. Paula Van Hoogen

    Hi Kristie, The distinction you made between the painting of the whole set up OR limiting the door color to the door itself makes complete sense to me. Otherwise the elements around the door lose their own design distinction and the door sort of becomes lost. This seems to be especially true if the unit is painted a deep color. I’ve noticed in homes with a deep overhanging porch, the whole unit becomes a dark hole……whereas, when the door ONLY is painted, the effect is then welcoming. Great job on the color choices for the consult too! (I like the blue best).

    Reply
  14. Cherie

    I don’t have sidelights, but find this post so interesting anyway. I do have a comment about painting the wood door and the storm door the same color. We did that recently. We bought the storm door in a color we love and then had paint made to match it exactly for the wood door. It looks wonderful, and the two doors read as one unit. I love it. Great post!

    Reply
    • Kristie Barnett

      Thanks, Cherie – and thanks for the input about painting the door and storm door the same, it really make a big difference!

      Reply
  15. Landi Bohner

    What’s the rule of thumb for front door color and shutters? We just moved into a red brick two story colonial (I guess). They took the shutters down and put up flower boxes on the second floor windows (4 in total). The front door is a “red brick” color with white trim and no sidelights. The storm door is the same color as the door. I would like to have shutters but don’t know what color they should be? I would be so greatful for any advice.

    Reply
    • Kristie Barnett

      Landi,
      It depends on a number of things (what doesn’t, right?) What color are the flower boxes? When dealing with shutters/door color on a brick house, it’s usually best to do one of them a “color” and one a “neutral” (like maybe black or almost black). And it depends on if it’s really red brick, or more of an orange/rust brick, which changes the colors I might recommend.

      Reply
      • Landi Bohner

        The flower boxes are really baskets. Black wire with that potting insert. I’m pretty sure the brick is red. At least it has more red than orange. Looking across the street, I see homes with more orange in the brick. The door is like a burnt red not red red. I have pictures but don’t know how to upload them on this post. Thank you for replying so fast.

        Reply
        • Landi Bohner

          The door is similar to the door you posted but brighter. Does that make sense? Kind of like a fall tree with red leaves and the sun shining on it. Ok, that’s proof right there that I’m terrible with color!

          Reply
          • Kristie Barnett

            Landi,
            I’d probably recommend black shutters if you have a red door – and the black would tie in well with the black wire baskets beneath. Just make sure you get shutters that are exactly half the size of the window it sits next to – nothing looks more cheapy than undersized shutters that wouldn’t close the window if they were actually shut (even if they never would).

          • Landi Bohner

            Thank you so much! That puts my mind at ease. Now I don’t have to worry about having to change the door color or not. I’ve learned a lot and will be following your website. Thanks again!!!

  16. Laura Smith

    Dilemma: This week we had a new front door and storm door installed and I am having second thoughts on my color choices. I had purchased the primed front door with the intention of painting it black (like the previous door), along with a matching black/full-glass storm door. Now that it is installed we actually like the front door white! But we fear it looks odd having the storm door black. I doubt painting our brand new storm door white is a good option as it would most likely kill the warranty; but I sure do like the look of keeping the front door white. Would you recommend having them match, no matter what, so paint he door black as planned? Either way, we need something else other than the storm door to be black and if it isn’t shutters would you recommend flower boxes?

    We have a cape cod style (no dormers) home, newly painted last fall. The main color is a slightly darker grey/army green that looks great. We have white trim and black shutters to re-hang (although now I fear they aren’t appropriate as our windows are larger and one of them is a bay window, so they probably never should have had shutters in the first place.) We do not have sidelights around our front door. I doubt painting our brand new storm door white is a good option as it would most likely kill the warranty; but I sure do like the look of keeping the front door white. Either way we need something else to be black and if it isn’t shutters maybe flower boxes?

    Thanks so much for taking questions on your blog!

    Reply
    • Laura Smith

      I tried so hard to keep this concise and apologize a portion of it was duplicated.

      Reply
  17. Ann Hoffman

    Just had a new front door installed. Have painted it wild blueberry and was concerned about the sidelights. I am planning to leave the sidelights white. The shutters are graphite which is almost black and the trim on the house is white. I hope I am making the right choice. Loved the comments. They are very helpful.

    Reply
    • Kristie Barnett

      Ann, I would leave the sidelights white to match your trim!

      Reply
  18. Ann Hoffman

    Just had a new front door installed. Have painted it wild blueberry and was concerned about the sidelights. I think I will leave the sidelights white . The house is vinyl and is off white with graphite shutters (almost black). What is your feeling concerning the sidelights? Trim is white.

    Reply
  19. Marilyn

    Dear Kristie, My small colonial home with 1 car garage is light beige vinyl sided with red brick around the garage. The garage door and all house trim is white. I painted the 4 shutters in the front of the house black. The front door has only one sidelight. The door and sidelight are half glass which is white etched in a filigree design for privacy. I painted the door only Heritage Red (BM) and the entire trim and sidelight white to match the rest of the house trim. Is this the right way to go? Thank you for your time.

    Reply
  20. Kendra Painter

    We just painted our house white with black trim around windows. We are planning to paint the front door black. Given our whole house is white, would you do the sidelights black in this case?

    Reply
    • Kristie Barnett

      I’m not sure without seeing it, Kendra. If the windows and doors will be black and the trim white, I definitely would paint the sidelights white.

      Reply
  21. Drew Michael

    Hi! I just had my front door professionally painted with a latex based paint. Now that it’s dry, do you recommend I varnish the door? Can that be done well? Thank you

    Reply
    • Kristie Barnett

      No, I certainly wouldn’t recommend that. Although it should prolong the life of your paint job, I’d be concerned about having to remove the varnish to ever repaint. Could be more trouble than if you just simply repaint every few years.

      Reply
  22. Jodi

    What about shutter color???
    Should it match the front door?

    Reply

Trackbacks/Pingbacks

  1. Should You Painting Front Doors Inside and Out? - Decor - […] However, choosing whether to paint the inside or outside of your front door isn. Read more about should front…

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related Posts

paint color training course

Staging Certification

paint color training course

Color Certification

paint color training course

My Staging Book

paint color training course
Psychological_Styling_Accessorizing_Video_Pic
web-just-the-right-furniture-arrangment-product-image

Small Wall

paint color training course
Loading...