20 Bold Colors for Your Front Door

This cheerful blue looks good anywhere, especially on a white exterior or lighthearted Dutch door. It promises an instant smile from neighbors as well as curious house hunters. As a complementary balance, double up on pots. Keep the plantings equally loose and casual with baskets and a smattering of mossy terra-cotta containers.

This rich purple is best for Georgian architecture. These houses' roots go back to a style popular during the reigns of four British kings named George. This paint color is a stately shade of purple and a nod to your home's royal connections. For contrast, leave the trim light. Break up the dark eggplant door and red-brick exterior with white on the pediment and pilasters.

This citrusy color is best for a simple white cottage. A small dose of a daring hue, such as this surprising chartreuse tone, creates a dramatic look-at-me-now presence. Make a modern play and select house numbers in a sans serif font style to keep this cottage grounded in the present.

This saturated shade is best for craftsman-style homes. Their blocky millwork and deep porches were historically associated with muted earth tones. Consider a new approach with a shot of cobalt to brighten your bungalow. For a modern update, stencil the floor. You can paint a tonal geometric pattern across your front to offset the door's deep shade.

This pale pink is best on a blank canvas. This ballet pink takes center stage in this historical colonial without competing with shutters. Bursts of pink flowers add to the sweetness without feeling too precious. Simple landscaping supports this focal feature with a minimalist approach.

Bring the liveliness of your lawn and garden to your stoop with a shot of green on the doors. This versatile shade works with both gold and silver hardware. Floral arrangements can encircle the front door since this natural hue will complement every plant variety.

This traditional red is best for Tudors. Whether stone or stucco, big or small, these homes have a naturally imposing attitude. A welcoming door, lifted from the pages of a storybook, adds harmony to the house. Skip delicate flowers around the entryway, and pick shapely boxwoods for effortless impact.

A black door—like a little black dress—adds instant distinction to your home, whether a small cottage or a big manor. There's a reason why some things are classic. Dark shades work in two ways: Offset them with plenty of white trim for a crisp look, or surround them with dark grays for a romantic, moody look.

Want to add a quick pep to your exterior? Look no further than this cantaloupe hue. It's a little unconventional but not too out there to hear anything other than "I wish I would have done that" sentiments from the neighbors. This shade works best on homes painted white or gray.

The uplifting power of a fresh coat of white paint never gets old. Well-known facts aside, white also works to neutralize a door with elaborate carving or to brighten up a dark exterior. If you're going for the white-on-white exterior palette, choose a slightly deeper white for the door than the shingles to give it some dimension.

People typically fall into two categories: blue lovers or green lovers. Make everyone happy with this pleasing shade that's equal parts of both. It looks just as good on a shingled house as on stone.

This happy hue brings to mind Coca-Cola (the original, not the diet version), a great gingham-covered picnic, and neighborhood bicycle parades. This color is a surefire bet if you want to be known as the house with the best barbecues. It looks best against a crisp white, but avoid pairing with bits of navy unless you want to invest in the patriotic theme.

This shade is not entirely white, cream, or gray, but instead a mix. It's the color to add grittiness to a pastel exterior without hijacking the overall light effect. Keep this in a matte finish.

Take a color cue from your oldest, softest pair of blue jeans for your front door. It gives your home an instant welcoming warmth. Just like your jeans that go with everything, this color will too. Try it on a white shingle house, a log cabin, a hacienda, or even a stately Tudor. Select a finish with some shine to give your door some liveliness.

If you're searching for one color to invigorate your entire house, look to yellow. The shockingly happy color will make your home the easiest one to find on the block. You'll only need to say, "It's the one with the yellow front door." This hue is best paired with simple colors like white, dark gray, or black since it is such a statement. You can get a Crayola effect if you match it with many colors.

Embolden your home with a complicated, dramatic door color like vermillion. It's not quite red, and it's not quite orange. It's somewhere in the middle. Keep expressing your wild side and outfit the rest of your door with atypical things like planters filled with sculptural agave plants.

Have you collected a sizable collection of ginger jars? This classic Southern aesthetic can be yours with a door to match traditional china or ceramics. Avoid using a matte finish with this color and accessorize with deep greens. Any color next to this door will add a bolder radiance to your house.

Complex and soothing at once, this soft red-orange changes color depending on the time of day. With direct sunlight, it will act as a coral. In the shade, it will be a can't-quite-put-your-finger-on-it red, similar to the lighter tones of a hot house tomato. Play up the color's warm tones with brass or gold hardware.

A paint color that can simultaneously add a bold new look to your exterior and retain a classic look doesn't happen too often. A true navy adds personality to your home that can coordinate with many styles. Navy will complement your house and its surroundings whether you have brick, siding, stonework, or clay structures. Dress it up with colorful potted plants that can change with the seasons.

Don't force a painted finish on a beautiful wooden door. Try a rich stain instead that will bring out the wood's grains. Surround it with loose and lush green plantings to loosen up the stain's stately vibe.