These are the best front door colors for a red brick house, according to designers and paint experts

Choosing the right front door color can elevate the entire façade of your home, especially when working with the timeless charm of red brick. The natural warmth and texture of brick create a rich canvas, but one that demands a thoughtful, curated approach when it comes to complementary hues. Whether you're looking to enhance curb appeal or express personal style, your front door is the perfect opportunity to make a bold, design-led statement.

Navigating the front door colors, particularly when dealing with the earthy, often variegated tones of red brick, requires both nuance and vision. Not all hues harmonize with brick’s inherent depth, but with the right palette, you can create striking contrast or refined cohesion. This guide explores colors that truly work, highlighting colors that go with a red brick exterior while ensuring the overall look feels intentional, balanced, and undeniably stylish.

Here are seven standout front door colors that go with a red brick house, ranging from classic shades to more unexpected tones, all expertly chosen to enhance the beauty of your red brick exterior and make a sophisticated first impression.

1. Moss green

Green may feel like a natural partner to red, and for good reason. The two sit opposite each other on the color wheel, so it's well known that the two complement each other. If you're considering which end of the green spectrum to go for, it's the deeper, moodier green paints that offer the most refined and complementary result when set against the carroty backdrop of red brick.

If you’re keen, as I am in many areas of my home, on bright, vivid green, know that in this context, this color will feel arresting and potentially clash with the red, making for a very heady mix. A traditional sage green paint might also spring to mind, but a darker, more elegant deep green is truly a foil for red brick’s bold personality.

Dominic Mylands, the CEO of Mylands Paints, recommends an earthy, deep mid-century modern green like a classic olive green or a muddied sage green. ‘The color of your front door is a distinctive expression of personal style, offering an opportunity to elevate your home’s exterior,’ notes Dominic. ‘A deep, earthy green, such as Messel No. 39 introduces an organic depth that coordinates well with the warm terracotta hues of red brick.’

2. Classic black

There’s a reason black remains a perennial favorite for front door ideas – it exudes elegance, restraint, and a certain architectural authority. If you are looking for a color to make your front door look more expensive, this is it. Against a red brick exterior, a classic, glossy black paint on the front door offers a striking contrast and crisp definition.

It's a choice that transcends front door trends, working just as beautifully on a Georgian townhouse as it does on a more contemporary build. Many red brick houses have a serious architectural pedigree, and opting for a block front door is a great way to honor and safeguard the heritage look and feel.

‘If you have a red brick home, painting your front door black is a timeless and striking choice,’ explains Tova Kook, the lead designer and founder of New York interior design studio, TK Designs.

‘The deep black adds a sense of sophistication and contrast that grounds the facade. If paired with a crisp white paint on the trim, it will create a clean frame that highlights the entryway and enhances architectural details. This classic combination complements the warmth of red brick beautifully, offering visual balance without clashing or competing with the natural texture of the masonry. It’s an elegant update that boosts curb appeal and works well with both traditional and modern home styles.’

3. Baby blue

If you have a red brick cottage, and you’re searching for a soft color to bring cottagecore charm and a hint of storybook romance, baby blue brings a sense of openness and optimism, which is perfect for creating a charming country cottage aesthetic, without looking kitsch.

I have become somewhat smitten with decorating with baby blue, and it's one of my top colors for a front door, most notably because of how cheery and joy-sparking it feels. When thoughtfully selected, a soft baby blue paint brings a light, breezy, and uplifting contrast to the warm, grounded tones of red brick.

‘If you have a red brick house and want a softer touch, consider painting your front door in baby blue, like Lambeth Walk No. 210 – a beautiful light blue that feels both fresh and welcoming,’ notes Dominic Mylands

4. Post box red

Is there anything quite as timeless and iconic as a post box red front door? Bursting with character, confidence, and a touch of nostalgic whimsy, bright red is a wonderfully welcoming front door color that feels both classic and contemporary. For homes with traditional architecture or period details, this shade offers a heritage-inspired pop that feels decidedly fresh.

If a bright vermilion red is a color that gets your pulse racing, and you are concerned it might be a little too intense pairing red paint with red brick, rest assured that instead of competing with the warmth of the brick, bright red amplifies it – creating a layered tonal effect that looks playful, yes, but also well curated.

5. Soft and muted purple

For a more nuanced, design-forward approach, consider muted purples, lavenders, lilacs, and taupes, especially those grounded by brown undertones. These shades bring a gentle contrast to red brick, offering a softer alternative to high-contrast choices.

‘When working with a red brick exterior, I always recommend leaning into tones that complement rather than compete with the warmth of the brick,’ says Jennifer Davis, owner and lead interior designer at Davis Interiors. ‘Soft neutral paints like greige, warm taupe, muted mauves, or even creamy whites can create a beautiful balance. I avoid stark whites or cool gray paints, as they can feel too harsh next to the richness of the brick.’

The key lies in choosing a purple paint that is not overly sugary or pastel. Look out for muddied purples or lavenders that are neutral adjacent – this way you’ll get that romantic, prettified look without it feeling disconnected, even juvenile, especially when paired with more traditional and architecturally substantial homes.

Looking for lavender and lilac shades that whisper rather than shout is paramount. Perfect options would be Brassica by Farrow & Ball, with deep undertones and a hint of black pigment, or Strappy by Little Greene, which is a slightly more saturated version.

6. Off white

If you are seeking something super simple and pared back, off-white paint works well, particularly on Georgian or colonial-style architecture, where symmetry and subtlety are key. That said, off white can be a tricky color to get right with red brick, so in this case, there is some risk involved.

Too cool, and it risks looking stark and clashing with the robust personality of the red in the brick. After all, rust red and cool white is a combative pairing worth avoiding. Too warm and it can appear yellowed and dated. The key lies in choosing an off white hue with complex, layered undertones – something with a touch of taupe, greige or olive will offer the right balance.

Look for shades like Farrow & Ball Shaded White or the iconic Slaked Lime by Little Greene for a front door that feels calm, curated, and sophisticated.

7. Denim blue

I saved my favorite until last. Smokier and dustier than a traditional navy, yet much more flattering than charcoal, denim blue has a muted, worn-in quality that feels distinctly approachable and effortlessly cool. If you want a classic color but are concerned about making overly predictable choices, denim blue is a timeless option that's unexpected enough to stand out with a quiet confidence.

Jennifer Davis heartily recommends Sea Serpent by Sherwin-Williams, which is somewhere between denim and a traditional navy. ‘If you're going for contrast with your red brick exterior, Sea Serpent can look striking, especially on shutters or the front door, adding a touch of sophistication without clashing,’ she notes.

The perfect soft, weathered mid-tone blue is Farrow & Ball De Nimes or the slightly deeper Benjamin Moore’s Blue Note. For something a smidgen brighter, Woad by Little Greene is a little more spirited and would make for a highly Instagrammable front doorstep.

These paint ideas aren't just about aesthetics, they also reflect thoughtful choices that align with both the classic design principles of red brick homes and ever-evolving color trends. Whichever direction you choose, let your front door speak to your style whilst honoring the enduring beauty of red brick.