One of the most exciting parts of purchasing or renovating a home is selecting paint colors and other elements of decor. But in the process of finding the right decor and choosing the perfect interior paint colors, don’t forget another critical choice — the color of your front door.
Color is a language of sorts, so your choice of door color is more than just an interesting decoration. Even before your guests enter your home, they get a sense of its energy and personality.
Front Door Colors and Their Meanings
What color best matches your personality (and by extension, that of your home)? Check out this collection of 25 possible front door colors and what they mean.
1. Red
Red front doors have a positive association across several different cultures, although the meaning varies depending on where you are in the world.
In America, red doors have long been used to signal hospitality. A red door traditionally meant that travelers were welcome to rest and have a meal. During the Civil War, red doors signaled that a home was a safe space for enslaved people on the Underground Railroad.
In Chinese culture (and in feng shui, a Chinese method of design believed to balance energy), red doors symbolize good luck, prosperity, and positive energy. And in Scotland, some homeowners paint their front doors red to show that their mortgages are paid off.
Red doors also have a good bit of significance in Irish culture. In some parts of the country, traditional folklore holds that a red door can ward off evil spirits. In Irish legend, citizens painted their doors red in defiance of Queen Victoria after she ordered them to be painted black.
2. Teal
Ever seen a teal front door? Teal isn’t exactly the most popular color when it comes to exteriors. Given its serene, tranquil beauty, that’s kind of a surprise.
This rich blue-green might remind you of deep ocean waters, and fittingly, it goes nicely with the bright white of whitecaps. When used for a door, teal communicates a cool groundedness. And if you combine it with matching shutters and a windowbox like you see in the picture, your home will exude happy, creative energy.
3. Bright Yellow
In many cases, the meaning of an unusually-colored door can be explained using color psychology. And even if you have no knowledge of this field, you can probably guess that sunny shades of lemon yellow like the one in the picture are associated with happiness, optimism, and positive energy.
When colors like this one are used for doors, they create a sense of welcome. If you do a lot of entertaining and want to put your guests at ease, yellow is a great choice! If you want to really amp up your home’s sense of cheerful personality, try adding a few pops of yellow throughout the interior, too.
4. Light Blue
There are seemingly endless shades of blue in the world, and depending on which one you choose for your front door, you can give your home a very different personality! Blue is also the most popular favorite color in the world, so plenty of houses out there feature blue front doors.
So what does it mean if you choose a pale shade of powder blue for your door? Blue is a cool and calming color, but light blue doesn’t have the stately seriousness of navy or other shades of dark blue. As a result, a light blue front door communicates a relaxed, casual vibe. If you want your home’s personality to be as laid back as they come, this is the perfect shade to pick.
5. Light Wood Tones
Most front doors are made out of wood, so it’s surprising that more of them aren’t finished in natural wood tones. But if you want to cultivate a relaxed and rustic look, you might consider using light wood tones.
These pleasant, soft shades of brown will give your home an air of friendly approachability. This contrasts somewhat sharply with the look of dark brown wood tones, which often create a more upscale, opulent feel.
6. Pure White
A pure white door, much like pure white walls, might sound boring and nondescript at first. But don’t discount white — a white door is a nod to tradition and a symbol of simplicity. If you want your home to have a sense of timelessness, white is a great color for a front door.
White also creates a sense of freshness and cleanliness. So if you do paint your door white, you’ll signal to your neighbors that you’re a tidy, organized person. As a bonus, a white backdrop goes with anything, so you can feel free to hang any color wreath or decoration you like!
7. Spring Green
You know that green is a cool color. But some shades (like the one of the door in the picture) have an energy that rivals that of bright shades of yellow and orange. A green door doesn’t signal just a single thing: green is connected to the outdoors, prosperity, and renewal. If your home has a spring green door, it might communicate a growth mindset — both financial and otherwise.
Spring green doors also show the world that you have a free-spirited personality and a sense of individuality. After all, it’s not the most common color for a front door, and it’s sure to stand out on any street!
8. Black
Black houses have been trending lately, and every so often, you see a black door. A door of this color might seem strange and unwelcoming. But often, a black door is a sign of sophistication — even power. It’s a bold statement to make, but if you want your home to have a dignified personality, it might just be perfect.
However, a black door might not achieve this effect on a house with an already dark color. For instance, if your home is dark gray and you paint the door black, the all-around darkness will throw things out of balance. The pictured home’s white exterior makes it a perfect candidate for a black door.
9. Tangerine Orange
Orange is a color that many designers approach with caution. But given the relative popularity of red and yellow doors, it’s somewhat surprising we don’t see more doors painted orange!
An orange door communicates optimism, gregariousness, and positivity. If you’re always the life of the party, a tangerine door might be just right.
10. Lavender
Purple isn’t the world’s most popular door color. But even if purple isn’t your favorite color, you might find the dreamy, soothing vibe of a lavender door to be appealing. Lavender flowers have a soothing aroma, so it’s no wonder that their namesake cool color is similarly relaxing.
Purple is a color that has long been associated with both creativity and spirituality. So a soft, pastel purple like the one in the picture suggests a vibrant yet laid-back personality with a rich connection to both creativity and the spiritual world.
11. Burgundy
Burgundy is a deep, wine-like color that isn’t technically red or purple — it’s a combination of both. It has a stately, dignified look to it.
If you choose to paint your door burgundy, you’re revealing your home’s personality as one of refined taste.
12. Turquoise
Like teal, turquoise is a blend of blue and green. But unlike teal, it’s lighter, brighter, and more energetic thanks to a burst of yellow. From tropical waters to striking semiprecious stones, turquoise has no shortage of positive associations!
This shade is fairly energetic for a cool color, so it might come as a surprise that in feng shui, turquoise symbolizes trust and calm. If you paint your front door turquoise, you’re communicating that you’re relaxed, balanced, and trustworthy.
13. Pale Pink
Pink is a cheerful shade with a pleasant energy. But despite that fact, it isn’t a very common color for doors.
Pink is often associated with romance and playfulness, so if you’re a sweet soul who loves making thoughtful gestures, a pink door will give your home a personality to match yours.
14. Olive Green
Olive green is a classic shade. But even though it sounds like it’s a very specific color, “olive green” can refer to a range of different hues. Some shades have more yellow, more green, or more brown. The door in the picture is especially green — much like the color of a real green olive.
An olive green front door still has the typical green associations — it’s connected to wealth, prosperity, renewal, personal growth, and nature. Olive is more muted and earthy than many greens, so it’s a good choice if you don’t want something as loud as a brighter shade.
15. Slate Blue/Slate Gray
In a recent study of homebuyers, slate blue was the most popular color for front doors. This pretty, peaceful color has a certain elegance to it. It’s beautifully understated yet refined.
If you want your home to have a personality that’s timelessly cosmopolitan, shades of slate blue and slate gray are worth considering.
16. Cream
Plenty of people love the look of quaint country cottages. And even if you live in the city, your home can exude some of that country charm with a cream-colored front door. Cream is a great color to choose, especially if you like the general look of white but want something with a little more warmth.
So what does a cream-colored front door communicate? It suggests that your home is warm, welcoming, and a little rustic. And if you have a unique archway like the one in the picture, you might even be able to make your home look like a little fairy cottage!
17. Periwinkle
Periwinkle is a delicate, dreamy shade that sits somewhere between baby blue and lavender. It gives your home a whimsical personality, so it looks beautiful alongside a garden of pink blooms.
To keep the soft, gentle aesthetic going, combine the periwinkle front door with a cream-colored exterior.
18. Peach/Salmon Pink
The line between peach and salmon pink is a blurry one. Either of these inviting colors is worth considering if you want a memorable, uncommon front door. They’re cheerful and inviting without having the sometimes-overbearing energy of bright red, orange, or yellow.
If your personality is welcoming and social without being boisterous, a peach or salmon door might be just right.
19. Navy Blue
If you’re trying to cultivate a classic, calming, and understated vibe, a navy blue front door might be right for you. Like black, it gives your home a sophisticated air. However, because it’s less stark than black, it tends to be easier to integrate into different types of decor.
If you’re a little more conservative in nature but still like a little color, a navy blue front door (especially when paired with a white or ivory exterior) will let your personality shine through.
20. Dark Wood Tones
Some dark wood tones will give your home a warm, rustic energy. But if the wood is stained dark and finished with a high gloss, it often lends an upscale feel — just look at the elegant home in the picture!
When it comes to the meaning of dark wooden doors, context matters a good bit as well. For example, on a log cabin, a dark wooden door gives off a sense of warmth and dependability. But on a brick home with white pillars, it has a distinctive air of refinement.
21. Mustard Yellow
The distinctive style of the door in the photo really makes it stand out. But even on a more traditional front door, mustard yellow can have a transformative effect.
Like brighter shades of yellow, mustard communicates positive energy, happiness, and a welcoming atmosphere. It’s a great choice of door color if you like the general energy of yellow but want something a little more toned down.
22. Royal Purple
For centuries, purple has been a color associated with royalty. And as the name suggests, no shade of purple has been more connected to royalty than royal purple.
That being said, purple doors are so uncommon that they’re much more likely to be associated with an offbeat, funky personality than with royalty. Unsurprisingly, a purple door also suggests creativity and open-mindedness — two great traits to have!
23. Cobalt Blue
Navy blue front doors suggest a proper, conservative nature. Royal blue doors have a spirit of fun and non-conformity. Cobalt blue doors sit somewhere in the middle.
This rich blue shade doesn’t have the darkness of navy, but it doesn’t have the mega-bright energy of royal blue, either. It suggests a balanced personality — you know how to have fun, but you also get down to business when need be.
24. Sage Green
Sage is a vintage-inspired green that has taken on new popularity in recent years. While it’s most commonly seen in interiors, it makes an interesting (and often appealing) front door color. Like many shades of green, sage is connected to nature and the earth.
Part of sage’s popularity in the world of design comes from the fact that it often functions almost like a neutral. It’s quiet and unimposing, but it has more character than beige.
25. Dark Green
Last on our list is a dignified, stately shade ideal for anyone who likes dark shades like black and navy but wants something with a little more personality.
A dark green front door exudes confidence, and it’s a color that says you value tradition with a little ingenuity mixed in.
What’s Your Home’s Personality?
You (probably) put a lot of thought into the outfits you choose each day. It’s a lot easier to change clothes than it is to repaint a door, so be sure to choose your door color with care. Ideally, you’ll find something that coordinates with the rest of your exterior house color but broadcasts some personality, too!
