Red Front Door Colors That Will Boost Your Home’s Curb Appeal

Crimson, salmon, burgundy, scarlet, ruby: With its hundreds of shades and hues, red is full of drama. It can offer playful energy or traditional elegance, draw a striking contrast, or complement your existing color scheme. A red front door is a popular choice regardless of the shade and can make an otherwise bland exterior pop. This quick and easy update can add a big boost of curb appeal to your home. If you've decided to refresh your home's facade, picking a shade that works with your exterior is the next step. Follow these tips to choose the right red for your front door.

Understand the Different Shades of Red

In general, different shades of the color red are made by adjusting the amounts of white and black, as well as by varying the intensities of bases. For example, a deep, rich burgundy has much more black in it than a soft shade of red. On the home above, a muted shade of red incorporates more white for a soft salmon appearance that complements crisp the white trim and architectural details.

Suggested Paint Color: 100 Mph P170-7, Behr

Whatever your home's architectural style, red can complement that design and establish a mood that's apparent from the street. A deep, rich red creates soothing and solid feelings. On the other hand, a brighter, more electric hue will convey much more energy and excitement. Decide what you want your exterior to say, and select a red front door color that provokes that feeling.

Suggested Paint Color: Stop SW 6869, Sherwin-Williams

Match Your Red Door with Your Home’s Color and Style

A red front door can serve as a complement or a contrast with the rest of your home's exterior and provide an accent to its particular style. For example, a dark-colored siding or brick exterior might need the pop of a brighter red front door. On the other hand, a lighter shade of siding might benefit from a darker hue of red. Both choices will help draw attention to the door and offer an attractive contrast.

Suggested Paint Color: Red 2000-10, Benjamin Moore

Your home's style can provide guidelines for the best shades of red for your front door. A traditionally styled door might call for a more classic hue. A cottage or contemporary-style home might offer more design and color flexibility, with options like a quirky candy-apple red or a sophisticated ruby shade. However, design rules can always be broken, so choose a color you love.

Suggested Paint Color: Red Gumball PPG1187-7, PPG

If you have a few samples of red that you're trying to choose from, test them out. Paint swatches a few inches apart and near the surrounding door frame, then step back to see how they look. View them from various angles and distances, including from the driveway and the street. When it comes to sheens, high-gloss red paint adds elegance and complements a traditional home, but it also shows the most blemishes, while semi-gloss paint will give you a red front door you love while hiding imperfections.