6 front door colors to avoid – don't fall foul of curb 'appal'

When curating your home's color scheme, you could be forgiven for forgetting about your front door. 

But, your front door is a mirror to your interiors – giving guests and passers-by a glimpse of what they could expect from the rest of your home. Plus, its color can negatively impact your home's curb appeal.

So, it's imperative to get your front door color ideas right. Here, design and real estate experts advise on which front door color mistakes and color palettes to avoid so that you don't make a costly mistake.

The front door colors to avoid, according to experts

The power of color is undeniably transformative, but while you may want to know which paint ideas are best for your front door, it is just as essential to know which hues to avoid and what colors cause anxiety. 

Bear in mind that your front door design will affect which front door colors you should avoid, as will the period of your home and the color of paintwork visible from the street, plus your front porch ideas. 

Got an interest in Feng Shui? You may want to take a look at which Feng Shui front door colors to avoid and use, too.

1. Moss green

When choosing paint colors for the exterior of a house, it may feel inevitable to begin with green. Nature's most associable hue is one that may seem to thrive outside, but according to Nishtha Sadana, the creative director and founder of NISH, not all tones are suitable. 

'Even though this warm sage green color can be quite attractive and eclectic, the color on the door can appear quite dull and dingy.' 

Though, if you're focused on green front door ideas, there are other options that can provoke the first impression you desire. Nishtha particularly urges you to opt for cooler sage green and subtle gray-green colors that will add a hint of vibrancy to your porch or terrace. 

2. Black

Nishtha also warns against black because it is a Feng Shui house feature to avoid, suggesting that the color omits unwanted energy, despite its timelessness. However, Zaeem Chaudhary, an architectural draftsman at AC Design Solution, warns that its problems are practical too. 

'A black front door absorbs the heat daily and will expand (and repeatedly contract) until the timber gives out,' he warns. This can cause some doors to split, crack, or warp to the point that they don't fit the frame correctly. 

'Painting your door black may, unfortunately, terminate your door's warranty due to these unfavorable impacts,' Zaeem adds. 

3. Yellow

Yellow is an attention-grabbing color that can work well as an accent. However, Paige Anderson from Nitido Design warns that it is better left beyond your front door. 

'It has a tendency to make people feel nervous or anxious when there's too much of it around them, and who would want that?' Similarly, Nishtha suggests that stark and warm colors (such as a traditional tone of orange) can have a degrading impact on your home's exteriors. 'Rather, choose the tones of burnt orange and rust to create an eclectic feel,' she says. 

4. Brown 

Brown may feel like another conventional choice when it comes to front door design, but Nishtha cautions against this popular hue. The designer explains that a brown front door may not appear welcoming to your guests – and could even impose a 'sense of insecurity.'

'If you truly prefer the feel of browns, it’s rather better to choose a tone of bronze, such as Sherwin Williams' Urbane Bronze. Such shades offer the best of both worlds,' she says. 

5. Violet 

'Violet can be a difficult color to work with. Considering the options of exposed brickwork or natural stone cladding, the violet on the front door may not be the best option,' Nishtha explains. Moreover, the designer explains that it can sometimes stand out too much – making it difficult to sit simultaneously in your neighborhood or community.  

6. White

This is a front door color to avoid if you live on a busy road, says Homes & Gardens' Editor in Chief Lucy Searle. 'Don't get me wrong, I love white as a front door color: it's classic, timeless, goes with anything and incredibly smart. However, if your front door is close to a busy road and you don't have the protection of a porch it will quickly become dirty. If you don't mind spending 20 minutes every weekend giving it a wipe down to keep it pristine, then fine. If you don't want the upkeep, choose a darker color that will disguise the dirt.'

What colors should you not paint your front door?

'My advice would always be to avoid painting a front door a color that will divide opinion. This includes most bright colors, such as pink, purple or yellow. If you are selling your home any time soon, it's vital to choose neutral colors that won't offend,' says Lucy Searle, Editor in Chief, Homes & Gardens. 'When thinking about front door design, look beyond color and think about what else will make a front door more attractive, too.'

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