Jessica Alba uses this front door hue to make an elegant first impression – estate experts say it adds curb appeal to every home
This 'safe but statement choice' has eternal approval among real estate professionals – and Alba's house exterior is the perfect inspiration point
If celebrities and real estate agents can agree on one thing, it's the power of a timeless front door color – and nothing sets the standard quite like Jessica Alba's black front door.
The Honey actress, seen below, opted for a moody yet elegant front door color that, estate experts say, has the eternal power to boost curb appeal – and improve house value. To accentuate its power yet further, Alba has carried this hue beyond her front door to her home's entire façade – but getting the look begins with the door.
'The black front door adds instant curb appeal to the home with a timeless, sleek look that many buyers are drawn to. This color is very versatile and can go with different types of architectural styles, contemporary to traditional, making this a safe but statement choice,' comments Saddat Abid, an expert from Property Saviour.
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Unsurprisingly, Abid is not exclusive in his observations. Kate Terrigno, a real estate expert with Corcoran HM Properties in Charlotte, NC, explains how the last few years have seen a 'drastic increase in white and black colors' and exteriors that exhibit a 'high contrast,' similar to the modern farmhouse aesthetic.
'We are seeing the trend of clients painting the exterior of the home with and pairing it with a stark contrast of by adding black trimmed windows and black front doors to significantly enhance a home's curb appeal and potentially increase its value,' Terrigno comments.
'It adds a touch of elegance and sophistication, often creating a strong, welcoming focal point with a fresh look. We see daily how these small aesthetic touches can truly change the home's curb appeal and lead to properties selling for higher prices compared to other colors, as they tend to convey a sense of luxury and style.'
As mentioned, Alba has painted her entire home's exterior in an elegant black hue, but keeping the rest of our home lighter won't harm our curb appeal. In fact, Abid explains that this contrast can only improve our home's appeal to potential buyers.
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'A dark front door contrasts beautifully with lighter-colored exteriors to give a more inviting and noticeable entrance,' he says.
'Following this research was another study, this time on how homes with black or charcoal gray doors sell more on average with $6,271. It also picks up dirt and wears much slower than lighter colors, which means that it will still look good much longer and will require less maintenance.'
Shop H&G's exterior edit
Creating the right first impression goes beyond our front door. Here are some of our current must-haves, including a sample of our go-to exterior black paint, naturally.
Megan is the Head of Celebrity Style News at Homes & Gardens. She first joined Future Plc as a News Writer across their interiors titles, including Livingetc and Real Homes, before becoming H&G's News Editor in April 2022. She now leads the Celebrity/ News team. Before joining Future, Megan worked as a News Explainer at The Telegraph, following her MA in International Journalism at the University of Leeds. During her BA in English Literature and Creative Writing, she gained writing experience in the US while studying in New York. Megan also focused on travel writing during her time living in Paris, where she produced content for a French travel site. She currently lives in London with her antique typewriter and an expansive collection of houseplants.
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