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“Leave your front door and back door open. Allow your thoughts to come and go. Just don’t serve them tea.”
— Shunryu Suzuki
Your front door color may need some freshening up—you probably know that it’s crucial to boosting your home’s value.
Before you reach for the exterior paint, know that your choice of front door colors can tell perfect strangers quite a lot about who you are. Moreover, there’s a certain feng shui to front door colors that you might want to take into account. Check out the following front door color meanings before you dive into turquoise paint!
Front door color meanings: What’s the deal with front door colors?
A lot, according to environmental psychologist Sally Augustin of Design With Science. She took us on a tour of the color wheel to get her insights on what each exterior door color might indicate about a homeowner.
So in addition to deciding which shades work best with your curb appeal, your home’s siding and exterior color palette, think about the statement you want your front door colors to make.
Violet front door meaning
Dreaming of painting your front door purple? Prepare to feel like royalty.
Shades of violet are “linked to sophistication,” Augustin says, and visitors will expect the same attention to luxury in your interiors.
But be careful when picking a shade—a purple front door can easily turn from luxurious to garish.
Orange front door meaning
This bright, affordable paint can mean different things when used as an exterior door color, depending on the quality of your home. (No, not all colors cost the same—and orange paint tends to be one of the cheapest.)
For most homes, an orange front door can send the message that “I’m cheap or weird,” Augustin says. But paired with tasteful home decor accents inside, an orange front door might just be the perfect touch for your one-of-a-kind style.
If you’re lucky enough to own a high-end home, “you transcend that message,” Augustin says, citing the luxury brand Hèrmes’ trademark orange.
“When it’s clearly expensive, you can do whatever you want.”
White front door meaning
What does the most common of all front door colors say about you? You might be a neat freak, or just really into modern Scandinavian design. The least neutral of the neutrals, white indicates sterility, cleanliness, and simplicity.
On the flip side, it can also say “this homeowner is way too obsessed with cleaning her baseboards,” and might make visitors nervous about making a mess.
Yellow front door meaning
Looking for curb appeal that stands out on your block? This bold paint color certainly makes an impression as an exterior door: Yellow is linked to optimism and extraversion. Guests will expect sunny rooms and cheerful decor inside.
Don’t splash it everywhere, though—it looks best as a spot of front door color against a home with darker siding. If you cover the whole exterior of the house, it can indicate irrationality and anxiety.
Blue front door meaning
Looking for visitors? Try painting your front door a bright blue or turquoise, which is linked to calmness and trust.
“If you were knocking on a blue front door and you have time to ponder a second, you might come to the conclusion that the homeowners were more likely to be trustworthy,” Augustin says.
Green front door meaning
Green is one of the best-selling front door colors (in Britain, at least). Traditionally, this paint color indicates prosperity and wealth, but its natural appeal means you’re also serene and peaceful.
Don’t be afraid to pick a vivid green paint, though: Too neutral and you (and your front door) may seem bland.
Black front door meaning
What’s more stately than a solid black front door? If you’re looking for a paint color that connotes seriousness, this one’s for you.
This traditional color often seems formal, but you can add a playful tone with a modern black door against a colorful exterior. Covered with a shiny veneer, this front door is definitely glamorous—and might make your home appear safer and well-protected.
Wood front door meaning
Don’t want to paint? Unpainted wood “conveys a more relaxed atmosphere,” Augustin says, with a rustic appeal that’s both cozy and welcoming—and it probably matches your siding (bonus!). But you’ll want to carefully consider whether the material makes sense in your neighborhood.
Red front door meaning
The Chinese design philosophy of feng shui considers red front doors lucky if they’re facing south or southwest.
Even if your home faces another direction, Augustin says this conventional paint color is “often linked with things like action,” making dwellers seem like “real go-getters.”
Want to seem vibrant and exciting without going too wild? This might be a good bet for your front door.
Brown front door meaning
Some might see you as practical, but you risk going past practical into humorless with this plain, common front door color.
Still determined? Try choosing a lighter paint shade, which is a warmer, softer alternative to black or wood; a darker paint shade will seem somber.
