Asked on Mar 14, 2014

Need some color here, looking for some ideas.

CraftingStuff
by CraftingStuff
I want to add some color to the front door and add some curb appeal. It is hard to tell the colors from this picture, but the siding is gray, the shutters and front door are black. The brick is a brownish/red color when it is clean. I love teal & turquoise, but not sure the color would work here. Trying to stay away from red on the door. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.
  100 answers
  • Z Z on Mar 14, 2014
    Is the coloring on this photo true to life? I appears not to be because of the color of the brick steps.
    • See 1 previous
    • Z Z on Mar 14, 2014
      @CraftingStuff Thanks for the color info. I like color, so this might be a little too much for you, but maybe not. With a gray house and brownish brick stairs, which I love, I'd bring in color with a variety of colored pots placed on the steps planted with colorful flowers depending on how much sun they'd get. Using the door to gauge the size it looks as though you have six feet there so this shouldn't affect the use of the stairs and would certain be an inexpensive way to add loads of color. For the door I'd go with a pretty sunflower yellow.
  • Little Bitz Inc Little Bitz Inc on Mar 14, 2014
    If possible when you post next pic can we see the color of the door too?
  • CraftingStuff CraftingStuff on Mar 14, 2014
    The house is L shaped and the area is shady right now. I will try to get better pics this afternoon when it is sunny on that side. The siding is a gray/stone color with black shutters and black front door. The bricks are not traditional red bricks, they are more brownish/red and really need to be cleaned. I will get them cleaned while I am doing this project. I also have another wood planter to move to the porch to balance the area and would like to re-paint the planters to coordinate with the color chosen for the door.
  • Michaela Michaela on Mar 14, 2014
    How 'bout a bright red on the door. And if you aren't afraid of painting brick, do a lighter gray than your siding on the stairs, it will create a sight line to the door. Then in your flower box add some red blooms. It's going to depend on how daring you are with color.
  • If you love turquoise or teal, then I would go for it! The front door should welcome you (and others) so do it in a color you love. black is not a good idea in an alcove such as yours but a medium turquoise/teal would lighten up the spot and it would go beautifully with the gray stone. You could also paint the box with your house numbers on it in the door color with black lettering (or some fun punch of color?) You definitely need a nice light too and I would leave it on or have it on a sensor so that the area is lit up more. I would use LED bulbs and they use almost no energy and set off a nice glow. You need some nice pots and green and blooms to line the steps on the left side this will dramatically change the feel of the area too. I would think about putting some shrubs in a pot or two as well for winter interest. I use small shrubs in pots for the accent plant so that in the winter my pot is not barren. Just some thoughts...
    • CraftingStuff CraftingStuff on Mar 15, 2014
      @The Garden Frog with C Renee Thank you for your ideas. I was thinking about some solar lanterns and replacing the overhead light. I have a ton of rosemary plants and may put some in pots for the porch/steps. They do well here and stay green all year round plus they have a nice fragrance.
  • Shari Shari on Mar 14, 2014
    The current colors of your house (gray, black shutters and the brick steps) are all neutral so therefore you could easily use some shade of teal/turquoise/aqua on the door. (I have a brick house with black shutters and would have never thought to use aqua on the door until I saw the combo together. I love it so much I will be painting my front door aqua this spring!) However, I do think a lighter shade in the teal/turquoise/aqua family would show up better since your door sits back in a somewhat dark alcove. A dark color is just going to add to the feeling of the entry being a dark hole. I've added a few pictures I gathered from around the web to show you some similar color combinations. I realize your house isn't brick but I added the last 2 pictures just to show you how well the aqua goes with the brick too. Go ahead! I say if you love teal/turquoise/aqua, pick your favorite shade and get busy painting! :)
    • See 5 previous
    • Deb Owens Deb Owens on Mar 14, 2014
      @Shari ALLISON---I LOVE THE MED. TURQUOISE/TEAL IDEA! THIS MIDDLE PIC LOOKS GREAT! AGAINST THE GRAY AND WHITE IT JUST SPARKLES AND LOOKS SO INVITING!
  • Anita Morgan Anita Morgan on Mar 14, 2014
    our house is a similar color. I have a dark green on the door and dark blue on the shutters. when I had black shutters we had navy blue on the door. very cool and great curb appeal
  • Carolyn Bebb Carolyn Bebb on Mar 14, 2014
    A good shade of yellow would pop!
  • Julie Dunkin Julie Dunkin on Mar 14, 2014
    Honey gold Yellow color or turquoise would look great.
  • Deb Meyers Deb Meyers on Mar 14, 2014
    I love the deep turquoise that Shari recommended - the one in the middle. The contrast is quite unexpected and a great design move.
  • Susan Jordan Susan Jordan on Mar 14, 2014
    Have you considered a purple shade? Aubergine is beautiful with your colors!
  • Fran Fran on Mar 14, 2014
    soft yellow
  • Lorraine Rabalais Lorraine Rabalais on Mar 14, 2014
    You have to be careful with yellows and oranges you don't want it to pull the wrong colors out of the siding or brick. I like the idea of the turquoise or teal. Get some sample pots and try them you want to make sure they have the same undertones as the siding.
  • Wanda Brethorst Wanda Brethorst on Mar 14, 2014
    Love the dark teal above from Shari..Tampa photos Needs to be a sharp bright shade though!! Good luck!!:)
  • Teresa Teresa on Mar 14, 2014
    paint the steps too they are ugly
  • Marleen Patterson Marleen Patterson on Mar 14, 2014
    I was thinking purple, too. Then add a pot with purples, and sticks and lights!!! Love lights to add drama!
  • Sonia T Sonia T on Mar 14, 2014
    I love the idea of a turquoise door. here are 2 more pictures to give you the idea. I think it crucial to do the framework white.
  • Duffy V Duffy V on Mar 14, 2014
    Omg. Only a levittowner would say paint the steps.
  • Grandmaquilts Grandmaquilts on Mar 14, 2014
    A paint sample cost about $4.00.. I recommend auditioning colors with fabric.... Hang a towel or even a tablecloth over your door and look at it. If you have to, take a coupon to the fabric store and buy a yard to try. Worked for us to settle an argument.
  • Paulette Paulette on Mar 14, 2014
    Something to bring out the color of the bricks? I cannot tell what color they are but I would try that!
  • Glenna Glenna on Mar 14, 2014
    I think a dark terra cotta color or the aborigine as Susan Jordan suggested would be beautiful. Terra cotta to contrast or the aborigine to blend with the color. Either would be beautiful.
  • Laura Fenley Laura Fenley on Mar 14, 2014
    Yellow. Perhaps canary or sunflower.
  • Sandra Sandra on Mar 14, 2014
    I painted mine and love it.
  • Deborah Lord Mosley Deborah Lord Mosley on Mar 14, 2014
    Pressure wash the steps don't paint them. If your storm door is white you can put the teal on the door it would show up better. Think about the shutters too, or something on the steps that also has your color teal, like a heavy vase or big pot
  • Sherry R Sherry R on Mar 14, 2014
    instead of the door, why not around the door, like a wall of pop. sunflower would be pretty
  • Max Cady Max Cady on Mar 14, 2014
    Power wash steps..pick out the brightest color of steps for door.
  • Nancy C Nancy C on Mar 14, 2014
    I've always wanted to paint my front door and mailbox periwinkle. Although I really like the color of Sandra's door too!
  • Audrey Bunch Audrey Bunch on Mar 14, 2014
    Good Grief! Do NOT paint the steps!!!! Don't know what that person was thinking when she suggested the steps were ugly, and Painting them! Whoa! Beautiful steps that could use a good cleaning is all!!!! SMH
  • Nicole Nicole on Mar 14, 2014
    I painted my garage door and front door the same color as Provence (Annie Sloan)--
  • Julie Gorniak Julie Gorniak on Mar 14, 2014
    What about golden rod?
  • Sandra T Sandra T on Mar 14, 2014
    I like that color. If you want that door to stand out, A Red color are rust color would be great
  • York Gardener York Gardener on Mar 14, 2014
    Since your entire house appears to already be teal why would you want more?
  • Bea305296 Bea305296 on Mar 14, 2014
    Can't tell what color the house is but I vote yellow too.
  • Virginia Spruill Virginia Spruill on Mar 14, 2014
    I would power wash the porch and brick, then add colorful flower pots with just greenery. If your bricks are not red, paint them brick color. There are a lot of things you could do with this. Hang cute paintings or metal shapes on the walls near the door.
  • Terri Brodfuehrer Terri Brodfuehrer on Mar 14, 2014
    go with what YOU want, it's your house. I like the post by Sandra, that's a good color! spray wash your steps (don't paint), and buy flower pots for each step, with assorted colors of flowers (petunias, etc). I have mine done that way, along with landscape lights I put in, and get a LOT of compliments on it all.
  • Lee Adair Lee Adair on Mar 14, 2014
    I LOVE a yellow door on a gray house. Plant some Daisies next to the steps, viola! -Much brighter entrance.
  • Gretta Sisson Gretta Sisson on Mar 14, 2014
    Deep purple with some sort of yellow pots around
  • Sandy Eck Sandy Eck on Mar 14, 2014
    I say a bright yellow would be the POP your looking for
  • Pat Croley Pat Croley on Mar 14, 2014
    Instead of painting the steps....just clean them well and paint the risers. That would add color without compromising safety.
  • Glade Interiors Glade Interiors on Mar 14, 2014
    I would ask you allison: first, take a better shot (farther away)or tell us the colors of the walls, shutters. 2nd, what are your favorite color combos, what is used inside? 3rd, do you want to stay true to the period of the house (ie.are you in a historic district?). Teal would be a popper, trendy, but you have I assume rusty red brick, (warm), cool walls (grey? Blue?), what color is roof?. I'd say go for what makes you happy, but keep a coordinated theme. And if you go for bright color, pick it up elsewhere (plants, window boxes, etc.). Hope that helps :) I like the yellow and purple combo too. But that's ME...this is about YOU...(and your guest, neighbors...if that matters) :)
  • Juanell Hollingsworth Juanell Hollingsworth on Mar 14, 2014
    Add a board on the right side to frame in the porch and then paint whole alcove a lovely color and door either a different color or a deeper shade of alcove color. I think this would be very pretty.
  • Eleanor M Eleanor M on Mar 14, 2014
    I noticed the bare steps before even seeing the door!! Some colorful flower pots and flowers on the edges of the steps would make a world of difference.
  • Sandra Sandra on Mar 14, 2014
    Patricia Runkle... I'm not sure of the color, but I still have the paint. I'll look tomorrow and let ya know.
  • Joe Abbet Joe Abbet on Mar 14, 2014
    I agree. Do not paint the steps. The brick is one of the only redeeming architectural elements on your house. I'd beef up the molding around the door to give more interest. The whole porch is blah. If you are leaving the storm door, whatever color you paint the door will only be seen up close. If you want impact from curb, remove the storm door. An aqua-turq color could be nice. Plum would add vibrancy to the color of your siding. Replace the light fixture with something with more style. Take the planter to the bottom of the steps and paint it the same color as the door,
  • Diana Ward Diana Ward on Mar 14, 2014
    You need a pop of color and I'm going with yellow as well! I would also paint the mailbox yellow so it doesn't look so small hanging there. Lose the house number cube and put a large planter there as well as planters down the steps. Always a quick and easy fix to powerwash bricks...they clean up nicely. A shelf or small table to the left of your door could be used for your house numbers or seasonal displays that you want protected from the elements.
  • Janet Fetting Janet Fetting on Mar 14, 2014
    I think a valance across the top with open work made out of wood would look awesome and you could incorporate the color of the door of the house or both.
  • Linda Anthony Linda Anthony on Mar 14, 2014
    when you clean your brick steps, pick the brightest color from them and paint the door. You should also put some heavy trim around the door - across the top and down the sides and paint it the same as the trim on your windows, which looks white.
  • CraftingStuff CraftingStuff on Mar 14, 2014
    Thank you all for the great ideas and suggestions! There really are so many more options that I hadn't considered. I have a lot of work to do on this area and will start working out the details and will post a picture after this project is complete.
  • Jackie I Jackie I on Mar 14, 2014
    I agree with Linda. Enlarge the trim around the door to make it stand out more. I would go a good 6 inches wide. Look for something with some character.
  • Vickie G Vickie G on Mar 14, 2014
    Is this correct 58 people, have gave you advise on what color to paint your front door, not knowing for sure what color your house is, I can't find where you mentioned the color of the house. I can't tell the house color by the picture, I have got to be missing the color somewhere of that house. lol
    • See 1 previous
    • Reta Lane Reta Lane on Mar 15, 2014
      @CraftingStuff A brick red door with some planters going down the stairs
  • Wendy Wendy on Mar 14, 2014
    The house/siding is grey, shutters are black - stated above.
  • Lena Grasso Lena Grasso on Mar 15, 2014
    I say Red!
  • Jan Jan on Mar 15, 2014
    To make the house look more inviting, some bright planters with flowers that are bright and cheerful on the steps. A tall green plant in one corner near the door. The house numbers could be moved closer to the street on the house. the planters and flowers could be chosen to accent the door when you decide the color.
  • Terry Marsters Terry Marsters on Mar 15, 2014
    Go Yellow on the door
  • Marline L Marline L on Mar 15, 2014
    Tangerine Orange!!
  • JuJu Dolly JuJu Dolly on Mar 15, 2014
    Allison, I took some puzzle pieces and gave you a rough draft of how your front door could look with the yellow door and some flowers down the steps, a hanging basket, a topiary tree and some tinting to your brick steps (white with a touch of pink to soften color and tie in with florals). It's rough but might help give you more of a visual. Good luck!
    • See 1 previous
    • Z Z on Mar 15, 2014
      @JuJu Dolly Thank you for taking my colors and idea and bringing them to life, plus adding some great ideas of your own! Or maybe you didn't read my comment and had the same idea. Either way you did a great job! What program did you use? I usually use Window's Paint. I just don't have the time right now for virturals.
  • Barbara V Barbara V on Mar 15, 2014
    Go a nice golden yellow
  • Brenda Long Brenda Long on Mar 15, 2014
    I'd use white for the door. It would make the house stand out more.
  • Paint the front door whatever color you want. Buy ceramic planters the same color and line BOTH sides of your steps to the front door.
  • @Michael WHAT????????
  • Nancy Jane Nancy Jane on Mar 15, 2014
    several yrs ago, in a gray house, I wanted color as well for the doors. Took some blue flax flowers to the paint store. They put them in their computer color scanner and I thought I had a beautiful color, not blue, more purple. It looks wonderful and cheerful.
  • Cate Murphy Cate Murphy on Mar 15, 2014
    My vote is for a nice purple
  • Judy Martin Judy Martin on Mar 15, 2014
    Love the steps! so I would plant a little tree like plant next to steps ,not a root runner thro /or a hedge plant wth flower & do the door trim larger & go white or Yellow door, gray blue door either your porch looks to small to put anything much on it /except maybe put number to left of door on wall Painted/to see from street remove block numbers
  • Vicki Maharaj Vicki Maharaj on Mar 15, 2014
    since shutters are black go with black door trim around door in white it will also make your gray siding stand out as not so drab, some greenery , real simple but will give a classic look
  • Cherie Calletta Cherie Calletta on Mar 15, 2014
    Pink. Pink and gray are pretty together.
  • Tracie Allen Tracie Allen on Mar 15, 2014
    I also had a black door with a small covered porch. Seemed so dark and shadowy. A light, cream colored door is a big improvement.
  • Gloria Duy Gloria Duy on Mar 15, 2014
    I always think about what color flowers I want to have. Go shopping at a nursery and then pick a door color that will coordinate with the flowers. Personally I would go with a light color for the door, pale aqua, cream or yellow.
  • Doug Warner Doug Warner on Mar 15, 2014
    Go with your gut - turquoise would look great, esp. with a little white trim!
  • Punkie0001 Punkie0001 on Mar 15, 2014
    Paint the door a dark turquoise! It's your favorite color right? Then add pots painted in bright colors with contrasting flowers in each pot!
  • Judy C Judy C on Mar 15, 2014
    if you like teal go with teal for your door add pops of color on your steps by finding a pot that matches the teal you like add a smaller pot with accent colors of maybe red or bright yellow hang an airy fern in your corner going up the steps and plant in the larger pot year-round plants and in the smaller one plant annuals I think this would really give your house and uplift and you would be very happy
  • Carol G Carol G on Mar 15, 2014
    I've read that grey is really "in" and I've recently seen grey/aqua or turquoise together. Try it...if you don't like it all you've lost is a few dollars for paint and a little time.
  • Lujuanna H Lujuanna H on Mar 15, 2014
    Well, spruce (blue-green) would look nice, or even forest green. But what if you got "crafty" and, after painting the door a solid color, paint some flowers on it. (On the web, type in Zalipie, Poland and you'll get links to an example.)
    • Nora Q Nora Q on Mar 15, 2014
      @Lujuanna H I did and I love those. So festive and cheerful! Thank-you!
  • Jim L Jim L on Mar 15, 2014
    What ever you do, a "bright" color would be best. If you use a dark color, it feels like you are looking into a dark cave. The yellow would be nice and repeat it in flowers...
  • I personally love a red door - it represents welcome. BUT I also love the combination of gray with yellow. It would certainly brighten up your entry. That blue door above is also adorable and clean looking in what would be a previously dark spot. Have fun!
  • Toe Toe on Mar 15, 2014
    All I have to say is, be careful because the color looks REALLY nice at the paint store, but when you get it on your door, it looks fluorescent. So, use a paint color designed for outside home trim. That being said, they have paint cards for outdoor paint with color combinations, so you can see what they look like together. Rule of thumb is, only use 3 colors on the outside of your home. You might want to paint your shutters to match? Blue, teal would look great with gray. If you get purple, you have to get the right shade to go with gray...not plum. Hope this helps.
  • Ora Benor Ora Benor on Mar 15, 2014
    I would take a big piece of card board and paint it "a maybe" color, hang it on the door and see if you like it, then do the door it self...
  • Kimberly Brockschink Kimberly Brockschink on Mar 15, 2014
    Paint the door terra cotta - great contrast with the siding, compliments the bricks. Then use your teal with some terra cotta pots for a fun accent =D
  • Jean Marie Jean Marie on Mar 15, 2014
    I did my door in a soft turquoise....every time I drive up to the house ... I love it.
  • Nancy T Nancy T on Mar 15, 2014
    add your bright aqua or teal in some big pots going down the edge of the steps--and do the door a lighter teal!
  • Margaret Zibura Margaret Zibura on Mar 15, 2014
    A nice dark maroon works well with grey, get some sample color charts to see what works for you...
  • Nora Q Nora Q on Mar 15, 2014
    Go with what you love! If you ever need to sell just paint it a blah color for those with no color appreciation.
  • Shelley Shelley on Mar 15, 2014
    Find different colors you like re; fabric, craft paper, clothes ect.....clean a brick area and put the different colors on/next to them and see which one compliments the brick? I believe the term is POP! Then you accent with the favorite colors....
  • Luz Ramos-Galarza Luz Ramos-Galarza on Mar 15, 2014
    Clean the stairs to expose, hopefully red brick. Bright color plants in the space to the left of the door, paint door red but flat color to match stairs, lots of plants in pots with color.
  • Vicki K Vicki K on Mar 15, 2014
    I suggest a soft medium turquoise or aqua, NOT bright and garish, but def some color to un-cave ur entry. Pick a color on exterior paint card and get the lighter color above it - it will look like the color u want when painted - an old interior decorators' trick! Sand door thoroughly, apply primer, bonder, paint, then sealer- I like Minwax Polycrylic gloss for protection, 2 coats. Yellow is hard to select in paint, it's always too bright. Solution: get yellow pots! (at least 3 big - w/flowers or green shrubs, whatever u can take care of. Then everything's perfect w the gray! I was a decorator for Ethan Allen and Ashley.
  • Jasmin Jasmin on Mar 15, 2014
    My house has the same colors & I have been thinking about painting my door yellow. I may try it & if I don't like it I will paint it again. Pick whatever color you like, it doesn't always have to match. Remember, it's only paint : ) ......I also think you should pressure wash your steps & put big bright potted flowers on them. Maybe even paint the address box the same color as the door & put metal numbers. Hope this helps....happy painting :)
  • Kathy hodges Kathy hodges on Mar 15, 2014
    A pretty hand painted Welcome sign over the door in matching colors would look nice. I would also do painted pots down one side of the steps with plants.
  • Chris Gordon Brown Chris Gordon Brown on Mar 15, 2014
    How about a real light spring green color on the door and then paint the brick steps & floor white????
  • Sandra Sandra on Mar 15, 2014
    @Patricia Runkle... I used turquoise tint in valspar #5006-10B.
  • Janet Fetting Janet Fetting on Mar 15, 2014
    Hang some sheets on your door, one color at a time and then step back and check it out. You'll find what you love.
  • Karen M Karen M on Mar 15, 2014
    lime green or bright yellow
  • Gra202278 Gra202278 on Mar 16, 2014
    I think teal/turqoise goes with a lot of colors. Just decide muted or bright. I have chocolate rasberry siding and gonna do the trim,door and fascia in bright teal.
  • Jeanette S Jeanette S on Mar 16, 2014
    When you need another color, look across the color wheel. Gray siding is great because you can use so many colors with it. Terra Cotta is a great one as is Cranberry. But a bright pretty yellow would be pretty too! For curb appeal, you are going to have to plant something in the flower beds. Look at miniature shrubs for dark green, some variegated border grass in clumps along with some dark green. One of the prettiest landscapes I have ever seen was all green along the front of a long ranch house. It was stunning. Water to get it started and then very little upkeep or watering. You can plant in groups...a small shrub, some lighter border grass, leave a space for a pot to plant flowers in and move over and repeat. If you have a blank wall....say between 2 windows, plant a sculptured tree...they can be expensive but you only need one. (Keep it pruned by looking it over and clipping once a month in growing season)
  • Linda Witt Linda Witt on Mar 16, 2014
    I think the door definitely needs to be a lighter color. Then accent with your favorite colors, pots, plants, whatever you like. Make it personal. :)
  • Little Bitz Inc Little Bitz Inc on Mar 18, 2014
    A few ideas just to visualize different colors
  • Vicki K Vicki K on Mar 20, 2014
    A shade or two darker teal/turquoise, like #1, is my choice! Really hip, lightens the porch a LOT. (That particular color is good, but not 'quite' as vibrant as you need, IMHO). Red is really too "out" I think, but it looks good!, black doesn't do anything (kinda blah) even tho it contrasts with the white (but you have gray, so would look much darker), and that other dark color (?) doesn't do much for me either. I still think bright yellow pots down the steps would look good with any of the door colors you choose, b/c of your house color also. Good luck!
  • LeeAnn Gerleman LeeAnn Gerleman on May 20, 2015
    I'd think a pretty teal would go well. I have the brick on the basement of my house that is an orangey red, and I sided my house in a dark barn red. I had worried that it wouldn't match with the brick, but there is a bit of dark red in every brick, and it looks planned. If your bricks have that orangey look with a hint of red, you could do a red door. That'd be nice. I am painting my front deck and my front door dark dark green. that oughta match. Your colors are so neutral, I bet any pop of color would be pretty.
  • Chris Chris on Oct 16, 2016
    pick the paint color of your choice and paint the front door the short planter and get another planter but taller and paint them both this same color. Put the same plant in both, adding white and maybe the color that is the same color but a different shade than the door. Teal would be difficult to find in a flower color. A painted door mat and maybe a white bench could complete the scheme.
  • Johnavallance82 Johnavallance82 on Mar 10, 2022

    Hi, Window boxes in white with lots of bright coloured flowers in them and a Door wreath to match. You could ofcourse use pots in the boxes and change them with the seasons.