5 front door colors that make a home look expensive, according to experts

Your front door is one of the most seen parts of your home’s exterior and makes an important first impression, setting expectations for the interior beyond. Therefore, choosing the right front door color ideas is vital if you want to make your exterior look expensive. 

The right color doesn't just have the power to upgrade a space with personality and create a long-lasting impression; it can also make a room look more expensive and refined, which is a big win if you are decorating on a smaller budget.

Color is a defining feature of a front door. However, it’s far more complex than just picking a shade that you like. ‘When thinking about which color to paint your front door, there are a number of considerations: is the property brickwork or painted; is it a specific color or is there a color within the brick that you can pull out and coordinate with your door? Alternatively, consider a bold color to create impact,’ advises Ruth Mottershead, creative director at Little Greene. 

Here, designers, decorators, and experts reveal how to approach choosing a front door color to make a house look expensive, from using bold colors that make a statement to using colors that chime with nature. 

The 5 colors that will make a home look expensive

A front door is the opening statement to any property and color is as crucial as design. The best color trends can refresh the exterior of a home, add the most curb appeal, and might even increase a home’s value.

Bear in mind that your front door design will affect which front door paint ideas suit, as well as the period of your home and the color of paintwork visible from the street and your front porch ideas. It's also worth noting the front door colors to avoid (and why) before deciding on a hue that gives off the wrong first impression. 

1. Blue

'A beautifully painted front door is the way to my heart,' says Irene Gunter, co-founder, of Gunter & Co. 'Even though neutrals are popular for interiors, external schemes often fall flat without the gusto of a generous splash of color. My favorite front door colors are those that put a smile on your face. Decorating with blue would be my first port of call.'

From the alluring aquamarine hues of sandy Caribbean shores and the glistening teal tones of pebbled Mediterranean beaches, to the inky blues and midnight notes of deep Atlantic waters, the colors of the ocean are as serene as they are striking and offer a versatile spectrum for decorating a period home. 

Dark blues have a rich, worldwide history. ‘Before modern dyes and pigments, the beautiful blue was one of the most difficult and often expensive colors to make,’ explains Cassandra Ellis, colorist and founder of handmade paint company, Atelier Ellis. ‘Tiny quantities of raw materials, puzzling chemical experiments, or reliance on countries trading with each other, have always made it tricky to create, and therefore more special. Deep, deep blue is really, truly magical.'

2. Black

First impressions count and you want to look smarter, cleaner and more inviting than your neighbors. For classic good looks, black is a winning choice for a front door color. Black is also said to be the one front door color that will add value to your property, so it is a great option if you plan to sell.

‘A deep black front door is always in style,’ says certified color expert and interior decorator Pattie Kelly of Inspired Home Interiors. 'Decorating with black can be a natural partner to more traditional homes, and it’s a shade that will stand out, making the front door a focal point.'

Those with black front doors are thought to hold positions of power and authority. This person is also believed to be serious, sophisticated, and strong. 

3. Green

Decorating with green is entwined with the permanence and beauty of nature and is a timeless choice for interior decorating that shows no signs of abating. Symbolizing nature, freshness and vitality, the color green is an enduring favorite when it comes to interior and exterior color schemes. Even in the murkiest of winter days, spring won't feel far away with a green front door. 

Green reassures us on a very primitive level. We know we can find food and water, which means green equals life. Using dark green on our exterior, brings in these feelings of reassurance and rest,’ says Karen Haller, color and design psychology specialist and author of The Little Book of Color, available on Amazon. It is also the color of abundance and richness – it can, in turn, make your home look expensive. 

4. Red

One of the most passionate and life-enhancing colors to use, decorating with red offers a luxurious bank of positive energy, luxury, and opulence. It can transform exteriors and create different moods, from refined to playful, depending on its depth. 

Historically, red has associations with wealth and status. In the 17th century, flashes of red dye were used on the soles of shoes worn by aristocratic courtiers to Louis XIV, while the use of a VIP red carpet goes back to Ancient Greece. Perhaps a present-day example of this might be the eye-catching interior design trend of using red in high gloss or lacquered finishes on woodwork.

‘We have been using red to decorate the front of our homes since the beginning of human existence,’ explains Marianne Shillingford, creative director of Dulux. ‘We find red on the walls of the earliest cave dwellers and red pigment was used in Neanderthal burials as a symbol of life. It has the longest visual wavelength of any color, which makes it the most impactful, making it an enduring favorite for front door colors, gracing the most exceptional and grandest homes,’ she continues.

5. Brown

Cocooning and surprisingly versatile, browns, in particular, are growing in popularity. ‘Browns and honey-hued colors are re-taking their rightful place in our interiors. Shades of honey, caramel, and chocolate will bring warmth and comfort to the front of our homes, creating cozy enveloping spaces,’ says Little Greene's Ruth Mottershead.

The beauty of decorating with brown is that the tones work wonderfully with any surrounding nature. The power of a brown color palette to add warmth and elegance to a front door should not be underestimated.

Given today’s technology-saturated world, the idea of retreating to a remote cabin to reconnect with nature has never been more appealing. It is not all about paint either, dark wood front doors appeal to our sense of wanderlust and adventure.

FAQs

Should I repaint my front door?

One of the best ways to give the front of your home a brand-new look is to repaint your front door. Swapping a neutral tone or plain wood finish for a colorful, on-trend shade will make your exterior stand out from the crowd. For best results painting wooden front doors, thoroughly clean the door first to remove any dirt, dust or grease, then scrape off any loose paint and lightly sand the door to create a good surface for the new paint to adhere to. Apply two coats of your chosen exterior wood paint and you’re photo-ready.