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:
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:
Here’s a close-up of their stone exterior next to the door:
stone exterior
Here are the two options for front door colors I suggested to work with the exterior stone:
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]
Love the colors you chose. Can you show after when completed?
Yes, Janet – if she sends me photos I will definitely share 🙂
I like the before picture and that’s what I planned to do today .
I was looking for picture with the red trim and door and saw their picture. Same stone wall .
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???
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!
THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!
I so agree, this makes such a better statement and looks great!
Thanks, Kelly!
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?
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!
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!
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.
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!
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! 🙂
Great and timely post…..I’ve had numerous questions about this subject and your post really addresses this issue. Thanks!
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.
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! 🙂
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?
I’d paint it yellow so it doesn’t chop up your new yellow door! Just don’t paint over the handles!
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!
There’s always hope, Nancy! 😉
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.
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!
Hmmm… What if there is a sidelight only on one side?
Kate,
The same question was asked on my Facebook page – you’ll find my answer and a photo there:
https://www.facebook.com/thedecorologist
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.
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.
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?
Great advice. So many people question this. I love the blue color! So pretty!
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!
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).
Thank you, Paula!
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!
Thanks, Cherie – and thanks for the input about painting the door and storm door the same, it really make a big difference!
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.
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.
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.
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!
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).
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!!!
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!
I tried so hard to keep this concise and apologize a portion of it was duplicated.
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.
Ann, I would leave the sidelights white to match your trim!
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.
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.
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?
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.
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
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.
What about shutter color???
Should it match the front door?
Great insights! I never thought about how the sidelights and front door could relate to the trim. I think matching them could create a cohesive look, but I also love the idea of a bit of contrast for a more dynamic entrance. Can’t wait to experiment with color options!