8 tips to choosing a colour front door

1. You don't need to match your windows or garage door

So do think outside the box and consider choosing a contrasting colour.  If that is too much of a step for you consider going a few shades lighter or darker than your windows or garage door. Making sure your front door stands out as 'special' can really add interest and shout 'Come in'. 

2. Grey isn't the only neutral colour to consider

Yes, anthracite grey is a trend but that doesn't mean that its the only colour out there that can work with grey windows.  Consider picking a colour that works with (not matches) other elements of the building or better still means something to you.  Do keep in mind though that grey doesn't have to be dull. Some shades of grey are quite sophisticated and do have a bit of a kick to them - its choosing the right one that matters!  Neutrals in general can allow you to build up colour and intrigue elsewhere for instance when you enter a hallway so it's worth considering your approach in this way too

3. Keep in mind the colours of other building materials

Thinking about the brick, cladding, and roof colors can help you make a decision. For example, if you are using zinc, a shade of black may be a good choice. If your house is all timber cladding, any color will stand out and create drama - see timber cladded house on the left.  If you have brick with tones of white, brown and dark red - one of these colours could work beautifully on a front door.

4. Use colour to brighten up a darker exterior

Better still consider really shouting 'hello, this is the front door'. See examples of how yellow and turquoise have been used to do just that. After all, the front door is really the first impression your visitors get of you and what may lie within. If you see a lemon yellow door, you really do wonder about the interior or the people who live there. Same would go for colours like orange, purple or lime green.

5. Opt for a dual coloured door

A great way to consider the outside and internal hallway of a home is to have a dual coloured door. Use a colour on the outside that works well with the frontage and a different colour on the inside that works well internally. Colour doesn't have to be garish it can really add value and make a statement even when you never thought you needed one. 

6. Monochrome shades are forever trends

Although blacks and whites can be considered dull choices, we think they can be masculine and bold with a little mystery and style thrown in.

Yes, older traditional houses in the United Kingdom have a lot of white and black doors but consider that black comes in many shades like pitch black, midnight blue or charcoal - these can make a big difference to the end result. A very light grey or pebble colour could be seen as a white but these very light colours can soften an otherwise bold exterior even if the windows aren't white.

7. Think of your frontage as a blank canvas

Another way to think about a front door colour would be to make it an accent to your frontage. Like you would a cushion to a sofa. Make the house itself the blank canvas that you then accessorise with the door colour - this is especially useful if the door itself isn't particularly large or impressive in design.

8. Avoid trying to match metallic shades with their non-metallic equivalent

Beware of trying to match metallic colours with a straightforward paint colour. For instance, choosing a murky brown to go with copper or a light grey to go with aluminium.  This is tricky to get right and it's way more interesting to steer clear of matching.