The colour you paint your house makes a big difference to its salability.
But what about the colour of its front door?
After all, this is also one of the first things potential buyers see.
Read on for our advice and tips.
Is my front door colour important?
Yes. The colour of a front door is a significant factor in a house’s curb appeal.
As one of the first things people see in viewings, it adds to their first impression of a property.
What is the most popular front door colour?
It’s difficult to find definitive stats on front door colours.
However, one recent study by Glass Times found that the most popular colours are:
- White (36%)
- Brown (18%)
- Black (10%)
- Grey (8%) and blue (8%)
What is the best colour to paint a front door?
It depends on a few factors about the property.
1. Type of property
There are several different types of property, including:
- Flats (which can be further categorised by different types of flats)
- Terraced houses
- Semi-detached houses
- Detached houses.
And more.
The type of door (see below) and surroundings (also below) is often different.
What looks like a great colour on a terraced house in one location might look bad on a flat elsewhere.
2. Style of property
There are many different styles of homes in Britain, ranging from period properties that are centuries old to new builds.
Each style has its own unique exterior, which should be considered when choosing a door.
Furthermore, with listed buildings, there might even be restrictions on the colour used.
For example, Victorian homes often suit rich hues of forest green, burgundy, or navy. Modern homes usually work well with primary colours like red and yellow.
3. Type of door
There’s more than one kind of door. They can be different styles and materials, for example:
- Panel doors: Doors divided by raised or indented sections (panels), commonly 2 or 4 panels, but sometimes more
- Glazed doors: Doors that are majority glass or have a glass panel(/s). The glass might be transparent or opaque.
- Dutch doors: Also known as stable doors – doors with top and bottom sections that can open together or independently
- Flush doors: Doors with completely flat surfaces, commonly seen on flats or houses with modern aesthetics
And more.
Each of these designs might suit different colours.
4. Neighbouring properties and surrounding environment
Your chosen door colour should blend with or compliment surrounding buildings’ doors, brickwork, stone, cladding, and windows.
The surrounding environment also makes a difference. The same property in the countryside vs an urban area will be ‘framed’ differently by its surroundings.
- Rustic homes lend themselves to nature’s colours of brown and green
- Coastal homes often suit the traditional look of seaside blue
- Contemporary residences often look good with sleek, stylish greys.
Colour psychology
Colour psychology explores the potential influence colours have on human emotions and behaviour.
It suggests different colours evoke different associations and feelings.
Some of its principles can be seen in design science, too.
Red
Red conveys vibrancy and strength—it’s an accurate statement about the warmth of your home.
Green
Green is nature’s calmer—think British racing green for a Georgian front door or a muted sage green for a country cottage.
This green also looks good on red brick new builds, adding a splash of colour that doesn’t dominate.
Blue
Classic blue conveys trust and sincerity. It makes buyers feel confident. Yellow is hugely popular for contemporary properties in urban settings.
The overall look is industrial, sleek, minimalist grey with polished metalwork.
Yellow
Yellow adds a colour pop and a playful bold splash. It’s often linked to vibrant joy, energy, and optimism.
Can I paint a front door by myself?
Yes. However, many expert joiners say the best way to paint the door is to take it off its hinges.
Removing the door allows you to make repairs, and with a wooden door, rub down to remove old paint thoroughly.
Unless you have an inner porch with a lockable door, that’s quite a security headache!
Professional joinery companies ‘dip’ the door to remove old paint, repair it, and sand it.
The door is then sprayed with different layers of primer, undercoat, and top coat.
Spraying avoids brush strokes and gives the best coverage.
You’ll need to replace all the furniture before rehanging the door, which can be challenging.
Plus, if the door is wood, it may need easing and could stick when the weather is damp.
Can potential buyers request changes to front door colours?
They can ask, but you don’t have to agree.
If you do because you feel it might clinch the deal, you should be able to charge them for the paint and the labour.
It’s just the same as calculating a separate cost for things like carpets and curtains you leave behind.
A word of warning, though. Don’t do this until after the exchange of contracts.
Can I repaint the front door while tenants are living there?
Yes, you can if you’re the landlord, but it does depend on the tenancy agreement.
The tenancy contract sets out who is responsible for any painting.
Tenants are not usually allowed to repaint any part of the property without the landlord’s consent.
And landlords need to notify tenants before they visit property, especially if this involves redecorating something, like the front door.
