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painting the front door

2 years ago

It’s time to paint our front door. It seems now it’s two colors; inside and outside are different. My husband wants to match it and just paint over and I’m wondering if there’s some other nicer color we can go with that complements that glass piece in the middle and goes with the overall brick of the house’s exterior. I know the door is dated but changing the door is not an option right now.

Comments (26)

  • 2 years ago

    I would keep the color on the inside different from the outside. I like the current color. You could go black, dark gray or an interesting color. Maybe a deep plum.

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  • 2 years ago

    You could pick just about any color door as you have brick. I had a new front door installed and we painted the door on both sides with Behr , color “ Baby Spinach”, for a pop of color. I was stationed in England (I am a retired United States Air Force Captain). Many of the entrance doors in England are painted with beautiful pops of color that put a smile on your face. It is also best to remove your door when you paint it so you can paint all 4 edges of the door.

  • 2 years ago

    Leave the inside, and paint the outside whatever color you want. Exterior sides of doors are most always painted different than the interior, which many want to match their trim.

  • 2 years ago

    The inside I’d paint to match the trim around it.

    Outside, I’d go with terra-cotta or blue.







  • 2 years ago

    Black. You just can’t go wrong with black.

  • 2 years ago

    I would match trim on inside and use a dark navy on the outside.

  • 2 years ago
    last modified: 2 years ago

    Please change the way the horseshoe hanging above the door inside is hanging. Right now, it's basically upside down. It should hang with the open end upward -- the luck that the shoe is meant to bring is supposed to fall into it, acting like a cup. No luck can be captured the way it's hanging now.

  • 2 years ago

    I think the dark colors (especially black) just look like the door is open / a black hole. The navy and terracotta Jilly posted are both nice and both work with your planters (which yes can be changed but why not work with them).

  • 2 years ago


    My front door is almost the same. We live on a farm, and I love the style. I painted it mint green. Outside color is similar.

  • 2 years ago

    I have a similar brick color
    Years ago I followed advice received on Houzz
    I had tried multiple combinations & sought advice from paint shops but nothing worked until Houzz suggestions- I received many good ideas! We changed from yellow to taupe/chocolate brown
    We've been very pleased

  • 2 years ago

    I painted the inside of my front door black and I LOVE it! The outside is blue like your planters. Also fun. (Time for me to take down those Xmas lights!)

  • 2 years ago

    Honestly, I like how it is now. I wouldn’t change it just for the sake of changing it.

  • 2 years ago

    I agree tht the color of the interior of the door should match the color of the interior trim (and that the horseshoe needs to be turned around). In looking at the photo of your house, some of the exterior bricks have a gray tone and the roof is gray. I think a gray color on the exterior would look very nice. Either a charcoal gray as previously suggested or perhaps a slightly lighter (but still dark) shade such as "Cast Iron" by Sherwin-Williams. Buy some sheets of large poster board and paint them with the different colors you are considering. Tape them to the exterior of the door and view them at different times of day to see how the color looks as the light changes.

  • 2 years ago

    I do not undderstand the reasoning behind comments that the inside of the door should match the color of the interior "trim".


    What have you got directly inside the door? A black and white rug.


    I'd suggest painting both the inside and outside of door Black. Classic look.

  • 2 years ago

    Deep eggplant with brass hardware.

  • 2 years ago
    last modified: 2 years ago

    Outside: I prefer when the front door and brick enhance each other. To visually make the entrance feel more prominent/less broken up, suggest also painting the trim and sidelights the same color.




    Inside: I’ve used a different color but also the same, dependant on what was best. It just takes a bit more precision with two colors, but worth the outcome.

    You could paint door white, so it‘s not as broken up/will feel much fresher. Add interest with a large, modern rug (and remove plants).


    If you decide to go with the exterior’s color, be sure to add some decor that pulls the look together.


  • 2 years ago

    I also prefer the interior of the door to match the trim around the door. For the exterior, the white is clean and pretty, but it seems like you are ready for a change. Thankfully you have that pretty brick which is quite versatile. I am a sucker for a medium or dark green with brick, in this case with a gray undertone. If you coose the right green it won't look christmasy. I also could see a muted teal/turquoise/peacock being pretty, again with a gray undertone. I would also prefer the exterior trim around the door be painted the same as the door. These Benjamin Moore colors for the exterior.


  • 2 years ago

    No need to replace the door, you can replace the panel with the glass to just a solid panel.

  • 2 years ago

    Wow! thank you all so much for your input. I think I am going to go with Naval from SW. I saw this picture and it really 'called to me' :) I think I'll do both sides that color but keep the surrounding white both inside and out as they are now. I'll just freshen up the white paint. Here's the picture that I liked.


  • 2 years ago

    Oh and….😂😅

  • 2 years ago

    The door I mocked-up is SW Naval. I think it’ll look great. :)

  • 2 years ago

    Pretty sure that’s my color too!

  • 2 years ago

    Looks good the way it is, but a pink or peach color that is in the brick would be nice, or a darker terra cotta red/orange that is darker than the colors in the brick. The interior of door should not be the same - not sure where your husband got that idea. Paint it to match interior of house usually the color of your trim around doors and windows.

  • 2 years ago

    Maybe a cream white would look pretty that might be what you have on the inside already. :)