What color front door to compliment the house's exterior color?

Debbie Lanning
by Debbie Lanning
My home is a burn't orange color with tan windows and tan trim. I have a dark brown door now but in picture you can hardly see the door. What color would pop on this color, as close as you can guess? Thank you.
Ranch style home, one story. Need to add more color for curb appeal. Want to paint door a pop color, like olive green? What about the trim around windows? Do I need to do something to change that color? Thanks
  111 answers
  • Pol10332237 Pol10332237 on Oct 19, 2016
    Barn red.
  • Arlene Ball Arlene Ball on Oct 19, 2016
    Green
  • Janet Pizaro Janet Pizaro on Oct 19, 2016
    I would choose a golden yellow to compliment the rest of the house.
  • Pam Ferrier Swaine Pam Ferrier Swaine on Oct 19, 2016
    dark hunter green
  • Sev12234828 Sev12234828 on Oct 19, 2016
    I agree with teal or slate blue
  • Adele Kurtz Adele Kurtz on Oct 19, 2016
    I always do color studies. Here you go! PLEASE CLICK ON PICTURES to see her actual house with 4 door colors. Dark colors fade away in the shadows. The door disappears. So hunter green, navy, any color darker than 50% -- will all disappear as well. White is a good choice, golden tan, softer greens or blues will do well.
    • Adele Kurtz Adele Kurtz on Oct 27, 2016
      Did another set of color studies showing the trim lightened to white (in shadow) and other recommended colors.
  • Adele Kurtz Adele Kurtz on Oct 19, 2016
    Because you are in shadow -- dark colors like hunter green will give you the same dark effect & recede. Paint trim same light color to pop frame. Then paint door in trim color, teal, gold, green or grey or.... Stay light!
  • Sandra. Jackson Sandra. Jackson on Oct 19, 2016
    As you already have tan trims so why not paint the door a cream colour that way it would go with all the other colours
  • Chi12839854 Chi12839854 on Oct 19, 2016
    I would go with a harvest yellow color because you want the door to stand out and be easy to see. Homes with doors that do not show up well are not welcoming.
  • Melissa Melissa on Oct 19, 2016
    Cream, I recently used Romano from Lowe's color 7003-15. It a pretty cream or buttery cream
  • SBlizzard SBlizzard on Oct 19, 2016
    My first thought was a blue, but I think based on Adele DuranGO's pics, I would chose that light green. I also agree a white trim would be a nice change.
  • Linda Deshazier Linda Deshazier on Oct 19, 2016
    I would try either bright yellow or kelly green (St. Patrick's Day color)
  • Pam Pam on Oct 19, 2016
    Stick with a darker color than your trim but light enough to pop.
  • Lauramichca Lauramichca on Oct 19, 2016
    Same tan, or same orange, or explore lighter shades of either, or a rich forest/emerald green that isn't too dark or light. But unless you paint it day-glow I doubt anything will really pop in all of that shadow (North facing?). Try to find a way to bring in more light to there. For example LED spotlights from the eaves or the garden would help, solar ones with any light-sensor disabled would be best. Oh, and I like Bonnie Miles idea about the garage door too. Good luck!
  • Bonnie Miles Bonnie Miles on Oct 19, 2016
    I would do the door and trim in white. Next best would be a cream to match the trim. I would also paint the garage door the same if possible.
  • Rita Scheibeler Rita Scheibeler on Oct 19, 2016
    I would choose Navy Blue
  • Bre12296288 Bre12296288 on Oct 19, 2016
    Our house is peachy with darker peach shutters and my painter suggested a beautiful green door
  • Hhe6378054 Hhe6378054 on Oct 19, 2016
    tarnished gold/brass let people know where the front door is
  • Sandra Webster Sandra Webster on Oct 19, 2016
    What color is your house? Hard to tell from photo. Is it brick...can you get closer up?
    • Lorri R Lorri R on Oct 19, 2016
      This is from the beginning of the post. "My home is a burn't orange color with tan windows and tan trim. I have a dark brown door now but in picture you can hardly see the door" :)
  • Janet Rung Peck Janet Rung Peck on Oct 19, 2016
    I would do teal/turquoise and add shutters to mat.
  • Lori Lori on Oct 19, 2016
    I'm a Designer and say Navy Blue.
    • Tonia Tonia on Oct 19, 2016
      I agree. You might try a teal or turquoise as well
  • Pam Bean Pam Bean on Oct 19, 2016
    Something in the blue family.
  • Suzanne Lee Suzanne Lee on Oct 19, 2016
    I too agree with blue. Think I like turquoise, but teal might work as well.
  • Patricia Campbell Patricia Campbell on Oct 19, 2016
    I like the Navy, or maybe French blue.
  • Judy Judy on Oct 19, 2016
    I like the teal idea, since it is a favorite color. Another option is yellow Whatever color you choose for your door do shutters and trim in the same basic color. If you want to spice it up do different varations of the same color by lightning or darkening it up. Add landscaping with varing hights and color that compliment what you choose for your door.
  • Aimee Rountree Aimee Rountree on Oct 19, 2016
    I would pick a brighter color (say buttermilk or cream or a nice bright yellow) to make it pop.
  • K K on Oct 19, 2016
    I painted the door on my orange house blue.
  • Vee Vee on Oct 19, 2016
    Snow White
  • Vee Vee on Oct 19, 2016
    you may paint the trim white and/or yellow door and trims really pop
  • Barbara Bierniat Meloche Barbara Bierniat Meloche on Oct 19, 2016
    I also painted my door a blue with orange brick looks amazing
  • Anne Anne on Oct 19, 2016
    Paint the house white and it will look huge. Then pick a bright color you love like blue or green or red or even yellow
  • Lok12371318 Lok12371318 on Oct 19, 2016
    Forest Green
  • Des9431231 Des9431231 on Oct 19, 2016
    cobalt blue or a rich chocolate brown
  • Pamela J. Ludington-Rice Pamela J. Ludington-Rice on Oct 19, 2016
    How about a lighter shade of grey? If you don't like the other ideas! Almost a silver grey would show much better than the brown and you have the shutters a darker grey so in the same color palette.
  • Sophia,M.,McConnery Sophia,M.,McConnery on Oct 19, 2016
    Try a bright sunshine yellow.
  • Linda kelley Linda kelley on Oct 19, 2016
    I agree with Sophia...a yellow would stand out and add color!! Put a couple of pots painted the same color with plants in them...very pretty
  • Lou Lou on Oct 19, 2016
    Please provide close up photos of your house. What are 5 of your favorite colors?
  • Suzann Suzann on Oct 19, 2016
    I would paint it a lighter orange red color that compliments the house color but is light enough to be seen from afar.
  • Alicesaunders Alicesaunders on Oct 19, 2016
    blue,pick a color chip and see hat color blue will be the most attrative
  • Julie Coates Julie Coates on Oct 19, 2016
    If you want it to really pop I would use a bright orange like this one from Valspar. Island Orange . No affiliation just a pretty orange. http://images.myperfectcolor.com/repositories...
  • Elaine Elaine on Oct 19, 2016
    A surefire way to make something "pop" is to paint the item the opposite (or "complimentary") color. The opposite of orange/yellow is blue, opposite of red is green. Go on Google and type in "Color Wheel" and you will see what I'm referring to. Whatever you choose for your door, don't paint the garage doors the same. Decorators will always tell you that it's best to NOT draw attention to garage doors but put the focus on the front door. I can't see your photo very well but I would have chosen what you already have ... brown! Reason being is that I prefer a muted, monogamous color choice - meaning that I stay in (sort of) the same color range but choose lights and darks of that same color. You want your door to pop (so you said), so a Complimentary choice is best for you. When you pull up a Color Wheel on Google, type in words such as: Complimentary, Monogamous and Analgous and it will help you a lot. Good Luck. PS: even though you don't have a "red" house, a muted Sage Green would be nice too.
  • Cheryl Cheryl on Oct 19, 2016
    Try a bright deep yellow
  • Sylvia Duran Sylvia Duran on Oct 19, 2016
    I would go with yellow...in the picture everything looks kinda dark...yellow would bring out the happiness from your lovely home...
  • Ali Ali on Oct 19, 2016
    Definitely blue, or if you are looking for a funky look, purple! You can order large paint sheets from sherwin Williams online to help you pick the perfect color! Happy painting!
  • Dena Cogan Wagner Dena Cogan Wagner on Oct 19, 2016
    Yellow would look great. You could also paint the rocking chairs.....Have you considered removing that hedge right in front of the door?
  • Linda Keser Linda Keser on Oct 19, 2016
    If you want a more classic look, I would paint the front door white. I also might suggest for a future project, add narrow full length shutters on each side of the door painted the same color as your trim. A path from the road to the door would be nice as well.
  • Johnchip Johnchip on Oct 19, 2016
    I would do a bright gloss enamel robin's egg blue door with satin finish yellow rockers. Leave the trim white and consider a white rail section behind the bush.
  • Lee McAlister Lee McAlister on Oct 19, 2016
    Definitely blue. A bright cobalt, sea or sky blue.
  • Yah4909116 Yah4909116 on Oct 19, 2016
    I did my home with a turqoise accent. Looked very nice had a lot of compliments on it.
  • Marlene Marlene on Oct 19, 2016
    Navy or Dark Blue
  • Sarah Sarah on Oct 19, 2016
    Artistically speaking, blue is the true compliment to orange. I would paint the trim a very bright white and paint the rockers to match the door. Whatever color you choose, be sure to try several shades and tones to see which works best with you home. Good luck. I look forward to seeing your finished product.
  • IFortuna IFortuna on Oct 19, 2016
    Can't really see the door but if you have a screen door in front of it a bright color would look pretty. You may like some of the trendy colors like lime gree or something more classic like dark green which would compliment the brick color. : )
  • Jennifer Muller Jennifer Muller on Oct 19, 2016
    Definitely a blue like cobalt - bright since the door is shaded. Opposite on the color wheel is always a good choice.
  • Blu11356773 Blu11356773 on Oct 19, 2016
    Have to agree with blue. Blue is a calming color and welcomes visitors to a relaxing atmosphere.
  • Patricia Norman Patricia Norman on Oct 19, 2016
    I agree blue
  • Kathy Lovenburg Kathy Lovenburg on Oct 19, 2016
    I would look at a light sage green. It would be a pretty contrast, and light, bright for the shady location.
  • Pjk Pjk on Oct 19, 2016
    light purple
  • Hunee Hunee on Oct 19, 2016
    I think the front door is too dark, a nice cream color would look nice. Repaint all window trim to match
  • Andre Gouin Andre Gouin on Oct 19, 2016
    I stained French doors cherry red once and painted the frame a navy blue I hesitated because it made no sense to me but that is what a interior decorated suggested It turned out amazing Remember you could always paint over it if you don't like it LOL
  • Lorri R Lorri R on Oct 19, 2016
    I'm thinking lime/bright green. The colors of spring leaves. That would pop your door to the surrounding landscape. Then paint the trim white instead of tan. :D
  • Rose Rose on Oct 19, 2016
    I would say navy blue.its what you see when you are in front of the door,not necessarily from the road.navy blue compliments the orange and Browns.
  • Angela Anderson Angela Anderson on Oct 20, 2016
    I would go with a hunter green
  • Eileen B. Eileen B. on Oct 20, 2016
    Cobalt Blue
  • Freckles Freckles on Oct 20, 2016
    I'd go with the cobalt blue we used this color on our front door and basically have the same brick coloring. We did the trim Very Navy and the Pale Honey under the eaves and the Cobalt Blue makes the front door pop
  • JoLeen Bolton JoLeen Bolton on Oct 20, 2016
    To me, dark colors can remind me of a cave. With such wonderful color already there, I'd go with white. And all white trim. I'd add any other colors in flowers and outdoor furniture.
  • Alicia Crawford Alicia Crawford on Oct 20, 2016
    Get your camera and take an upclose picture of your house, print it off and cut out the door. Then go to your local paint store. find a color swatch you like and place it behind the cut out door to see how it looks. youll have an idea of what you like in a matter of minutes.
  • Gay Gay on Oct 20, 2016
    Grass Green or School Bus Yellow/Gold
  • Nancy Jensen Ivan Nancy Jensen Ivan on Oct 20, 2016
    I recently painted my door and then saw a photo of a door colour that I wish I had seen before! It was a metallic copper and it was gorgeous! A safe choice would be a sea or moss green and a fun options would be a light turqouise.
  • Jackie Jackie on Oct 20, 2016
    using the color opposite of the burnt orange on the color wheel will pop both colors, I'd suggest teal.
  • Janice Kucinskas Janice Kucinskas on Oct 20, 2016
    I would do a beautiful Hunter Green.
  • Ruby Ruby on Oct 21, 2016
    I would try an awesome aqua color. It would be a bright pop of color and a good contrast to the orange.
  • Lizzy L Lizzy L on Oct 21, 2016
    I'd paint the whole house instead of finding a color that compliments burnt orange.
  • Sharon Marie Doughty Sharon Marie Doughty on Oct 22, 2016
    I tend to go towards a light taupe colour , very difficult colour to work with !
  • Sharon Bernardo Sharon Bernardo on Oct 22, 2016
    Because it is so shaded by trees & overhang, you don't even spot the front door as it is now. This needs light cream, pastel aqua, or lightest spring green.
  • Joanne Jodoin Joanne Jodoin on Oct 22, 2016
    Why don`t you try some very bright yelow like citrus or very pale lime color? Just make a try with some frames or add some flowers pots around with those colors; No need to do all the big job. Just let`s add some items and you`ll get a good idea about ... Good luck!
  • Bethr1 Bethr1 on Oct 23, 2016
    Turquoise!!!
  • Kathy Murray Kathy Murray on Oct 23, 2016
    If it were my home I'd paint it white like the rest of the trim. I couldn't even see your front door I had to lighten it up to see where it was. I would also transplant the bush in front of the door somewhere else. If you paint the entire home, a medium sage green with black trim would make it look new like something out of a architecture magazine. Good luck
  • Pat Croley Pat Croley on Oct 23, 2016
    We painted our front door in a cranberry color with our orangish brick. We love, love it. Keep everything around it light and it makes a great big statement.
    • Jackie Byrd Jackie Byrd on Oct 29, 2016
      How about posting a picture, Pat? It sounds interesting but you know the power of a single picture.
  • Imh12056900 Imh12056900 on Oct 26, 2016
    Try painting it off white
  • Sandra Webster Sandra Webster on Oct 26, 2016
    We just painted my dad's home a sage green with a copper/pumpkin front door. His construction is similar to yours and it looks amazing!
  • Adele Kurtz Adele Kurtz on Oct 27, 2016
    Okay! Taking all the suggestions I put together another set of color studies. I brightened up the trim color to near white too. It'll help all to pop. What are your faves? Please comment
  • Pat Croley Pat Croley on Oct 27, 2016
    I don't care for any of them with the house. I still think that cranberry would look great and put a nice bright wreath on the door to welcome guests.
  • Kathy Kathy on Oct 29, 2016
    Bright coral, light green, or pale yellow
  • Jill Jill on Oct 30, 2016
    Lemon yellow
  • Mary Mary on Nov 11, 2016
    There is an app called "door paint" that will allow you to show your door and change colors, try it
  • Sheri Sheri on Nov 12, 2016
    If the trim on the house was the same color as the house then a lighter color door would really pop. Now to me the trim is distracting, that is what my eye is drawn to first and any color door is lost.
    • Melissa V Melissa V on Dec 20, 2016

      That is the first thing I thought too. Especially the garage doors, and I wish they didn't have their red truck parked in front-kind of distracting color-wise.

  • Freckles Freckles on Nov 13, 2016
    Our house is an orangey/tan brick and we painted the front door Dr. Who Tardis Blue and the surrounding walls a Pale Honey Yellow to Pop our front entry, it too was a dark color and looked like the entrance to a cave. Now its so light and bright and Welcoming - Even the mailman commented so this is where I've been delivering the mail all these years (we moved in a short time ago)
  • Lonnie Lonnie on Nov 23, 2016

    Have you painted your door yet? I just ran across this. It's a month old so maybe you've made that decision already, so ignore if you have. I chose the red and here's why. Your garage just pops out from the rest of the house. I believe your door would, too. Plus, anything else (IMHO) will throw off the inviting appearance it has.

  • Darla Darla on Dec 07, 2016

    Red

  • Bbunny42 Bbunny42 on Dec 11, 2016

    Love your house! If you haven't painted the door yet, I vote for a cornflower blue.

  • Tova Pearl Tova Pearl on Dec 12, 2016

    berry colors or teal for contrast. good luck!

  • Johnchip Johnchip on Dec 12, 2016

    Keep "garage dark to make it not bark, door bright to make it invite".

  • Catherine Bridges Catherine Bridges on Dec 13, 2016

    Olive green

  • Louise Louise on Dec 13, 2016

    Deep teal.


  • Mireille Primi Mireille Primi on Dec 15, 2016

    Beige garage door, beige front door, beige surounding windows and cornice.

  • Pat11183342 Pat11183342 on Dec 15, 2016

    On the color wheel, I believe blue is the compliment of orange. I attached part of the rusolium door paint color chart.

    With out seeing a close up of the house color, it's hard to guess, but maybe consider the silent indigo or other blues that look aged. I would avoid a navy or midnight blue unless you really like high , high contrast. Another option would be a toned down yellow or golden rod. Not a bright dayglow yellow.

    Good luck.

    • Connie Connie on Dec 20, 2016

      Blue Pearl on this color wheel would work with the orange. The burnt orange is the pop color already so I think you just want to compliment it. Jade would be nice too!

  • Suellen Hintz Suellen Hintz on Dec 16, 2016

    Yellow!

  • Sheila Crighton Sheila Crighton on Dec 18, 2016

    Dark Grey

  • Zot364936 Zot364936 on Dec 20, 2016

    a green going to the olive side with yellow trim

  • Eroque022810 Eroque022810 on Dec 23, 2016

    Tan to match rest of house. I really wish picture was larger. But you made it clear that you can't see the door from the road.

  • Char Green Char Green on Dec 24, 2016

    After watching what they do on HGTV, I'd go with the blue pearl or indigo. Second choice would be a non bright blue green I.e. The jade.

  • Sal10822870 Sal10822870 on Dec 25, 2016

    i would love to see the orange. beige to me is boring boring. vibrant orange. hope this helps. good luck on your door. sallie newman

  • Cj Cj on Dec 25, 2016

    I just watch the "brothers take on New orleans" and the house they did was an orange exterior and they did the door and trims an shutters all in a dark blue (not sure of exact shade) but it looked great.

  • Cj Cj on Dec 25, 2016

    on the above colour wheel between bold navy and silent indigo cant make out the name, thats the blue!( land blue?)

  • Janice Janice on Apr 20, 2021

    I'd suggest a very creamy white learning towards tan but keep it VERY light.

  • Marion Nesbitt Marion Nesbitt on Apr 26, 2021

    These are warm colours. You could go cream. Or switch to a contrast - a shade of blue.

  • Libbie B Libbie B on Jun 23, 2021

    I think that Urbane Bronze from Sherwin Williams would be beautiful!

  • Holly Lengner - Lost Mom Holly Lengner - Lost Mom on Oct 23, 2021

    Tan to match the windows would like nice and pop.

  • Johnavallance82 Johnavallance82 on Mar 10, 2022

    The Teal or the Red with either Black or Brass or Chrome Accessories!