5 front door colors to avoid according to experts – to ensure a welcoming home exterior

The color of your front door presents an opportunity to set a positive and welcoming impression upon your home, so it's important to choose wisely. Before settling on your favorite hue, it's worth knowing the front door colors to avoid which can negatively impact your home's curb appeal.

From visually jarring colors to those that won't withstand daily wear and tear, experts say there are various front door colors generally worth avoiding.

Read on to learn what these colors are, standing you in good stead to avoid making any front door color mistakes.

5 front door colors to avoid

'Exterior colors are always tricky as we are led by the existing finishes of the rest of the home,' says designer Eugenia Triandos, Principal Designer at Hibou Design & Co. 'It's important to make this selection while considering all other elements of the architecture.'

As Eugenia says, your front door design will affect which paint ideas work – or don't work – for your own home. Above all else, keep in mind your home's surroundings and existing features before deciding on the best front door color.

1. Deep and dark hues

Although dark paints can result in a smart and sophisticated look, they can have negative implications when used for front door ideas.

'Very dark colors might come off as too harsh or uninviting,' says designer Cinzia Moretti, Creative Director at Moretti Interior Design. 'Dark purples, browns, or charcoals can sometimes create a gloomy appearance, especially if not well-lit.'

Zaeem Chaudhary, an architectural draftsman at AC Design Solution, warns that these colors can present practical problems too.

'A black front door absorbs the heat daily and will expand (and repeatedly contract) until the timber gives out. 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,' says Zaeem.

2. Trending bright colors

While your front door color should align with your interior design style, embracing an overly trend-led approach can result in one that constantly needs updating.

'When choosing a color to paint your front door, it's wise to consider several factors to ensure the color is welcoming, timeless, and complements the overall aesthetic of your home,' says Cinzia. 'Colors that are currently in vogue might become too dated over time such as certain shades of bright pink, or very specific trendy hues like millennial pink or gen-Z -yellow.'

3. 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,' says Nishtha Sadana, the creative director and founder of NISH.

Moreover, the designer explains that it can sometimes stand out too much as a paint color for the exterior of a house – making it difficult to sit simultaneously in your neighborhood or community.

4. White

There's no denying that white is one of the most classic colors for a front door, and if it was just down to visual appeal, white would be a highly-ranking choice. However, white front doors can be incredibly impractical, quickly losing their clean look due to wear and tear.

'I would advise avoiding lighter colors for a front door,' suggests interior designer Kathy Kuo. 'Your front door is going to get lots of use and high traffic day in and day out, and a lighter color is going to show scuffs, fingerprints, weathering, and just general wear and tear much more than a darker tone.'

5. Neon colors

'We always avoid bright and neon colors for front doors, as they can be too trend-led and lack longevity, often clashing with the overall exterior space,' says Eugenia.

Cinzia also advises steering clear of neon hues for the front door, adding that they can quickly overwhelm the outdoor setting: 'Extremely bright or neon colors like bright lime green, electric blue, or neon yellow can be too bold and may clash with the overall design of your home and neighborhood, making your home stand out in an undesirable way.'

While context is important and no two houses are the same, avoiding these front door colors will ensure you don't make a costly mistake. Generally speaking, neutral hues and muted colors are failsafe front door color choices that will withstand the test of time.