Painting the front door is a simple way to give a home personality and boost curb appeal when selling.
“The front door is the first impression — hands down," said Sue Kim, director of color marketing at Valspar. "A distinctive color choice can instantly boost your curb appeal.”
It typically takes a gallon of paint to cover the door and trim, which costs $20 to $80, depending on the paint. Hiring a professional may cost from $100 to $200.
Picking a color is a personal choice, but a few tips and tricks can help guide your decision.
1. Consider your neighborhood and architecture
The color of a front door should reflect the style of the neighborhood and home, said Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of Pantone Color Institute.
“If you live somewhere in the Northeast and you’re going to have a very traditional neighborhood, there is the expectation that when you open the door and walk inside, you’re going to see that same mood encapsulated in the colors," Eiseman said.
For Colonial, Victorian, or traditional-style homes, certain colors fit with the style of architecture better. Eiseman said Pantone's Eggplant, a dark purple color, is a bold but traditional color that will still fit into most traditional neighborhoods.
“Traditional colors like black, red and navy blue work beautifully in classic neighborhoods," Kim said. "Black, in particular, is having a moment — it’s bold, elegant and ties in with other exterior accents.”
Modern homes and neighborhoods may lean more neutral. Bold and bright colors can be used on modern homes to make a statement.
“Dark shades add distinctiveness to a neighborhood, while lighter tones still prevail for their timeless appeal,” Kim said.
For brick homes, it's important to keep the colors warm because cool colors will not complement traditional red brick.
“I like dark olive… the dark, deep, yummy green goes really well with red brick,” said Lisa Jenkins, a color consultant based in North Carolina.
2. Consider your door's audience
Jenkins said she often paints the front door with women buyers in mind, with blushing mauves, olive greens and taupes.
“I like to do the front door with a nod toward the feminine — meaning, 'can you imagine me being with your family?'” Jenkins said. “That’s what the front door should say when a homebuyer walks up.”
Overall, front door colors are trending warmer, Eiseman said.
“Yellow is a perfect example… it’s invariably cheerful, sunshine, happy,” she said.
Warm and bold colors can set the tone and mood of the house. While living in the Pacific Northwest, which is known for its gray skies, Eiseman used yellow to bring a joyful vibe into her home.
“I deliberately used yellow not only on my front door but also throughout the major part of the living space,” she said.
As the entrance to the home, the front door's color is the first impression of the home's personality.
“Your front door color can reflect a joyful, lighthearted lifestyle — it’s a small detail that says a lot,” Kim said.
3. Consider your color story
While the front door does not need to match the whole home, there should be a sense of color congruence throughout.
“If you don’t know what to do on your front door, just open it and see what color your pillows are," Jenkins said. "See what color your art is — and that’s a starting point for you to be outside.”
These pallets can range from a dramatic color to a muted one.
“Color story means there’s a continuity of color throughout the home," Eiseman said. “It’s not just about matching — it’s about creating a flow that feels intentional and emotionally cohesive.”
Everyone has favorite colors, so play with them throughout the space. Jenkins said blush, mauves, and muted greens are ways to incorporate color while staying neutral.
Painting the front door is a relatively inexpensive way to experiment with color. From a selling perspective, a colorful door can make a property stand out among several listings.
“Pastel tones like mint, peach, or soft yellow are charming and unexpected. They add personality and play beautifully with greenery and flowers,” Kim said.
Tips for painting the front door
While painting the door will make a statement, expanding the area to include the door frame or side windows makes a larger impression.
“If it has sidelights or a transom, I like to do the entire thing the door color — it makes the door the same scale as the house — it just makes it more of a presence,” Jenkins said.
Satin, semi-gloss or glossy finish will reflect light and is more durable than matte finished paint.
Front door color suggestions
- Eggplant — Eiseman
- Yellow — Eiseman
- Periwinkle — Eiseman
- Black — Jenkins
- Dark Olive by Benjamin Moore (2140-30) — Jenkins
- Wales Gray by Benjamin Moore (1585) — Jenkins
- Litchfield Gray by Benjamin Moore (HC-78) — Jenkins
- Venetian Portico by Benjamin Moore (AF-185) — Jenkins
- Warm Eucalyptus by Valspar (8004-28F) — Kim