My newly painted shutters look too bright, should I repaint?

Katie Yeh
by Katie Yeh
We just changed our front door and repainted the old orangy shutters brick red. I think the red came out too bright. I wanted a more traditional look. I wonder if the red color looks too overwhelming and I want to bring attention to the door. We are installing a bronze screen door that will match the wood toned front door.
Any comments or suggestions would be appreciated. We worked so hard on choosing the red color for the shutters but I am not loving it! Help!
  45 answers
  • Jennifer | CrazyDiyMom Jennifer | CrazyDiyMom on Oct 12, 2017

    The color looks great in the picture! I think you did a fantastic job. Is it maybe just how the sun hits it at certain times of the day that it seems brighter? I really like it!

  • Liz Toone Liz Toone on Oct 12, 2017

    I think they look beautiful!

  • The shutters don't match the door exactly but not sure that really matters. The shutters might fade a little with some time and not look as bright. What really matters is whether or not you can live with it. I think your home is lovely.

  • NCbulldoglover NCbulldoglover on Oct 12, 2017

    I actually like the color but in a short time they will dim due to dust. Maybe that will be just enough. I would wait before I took on that job again.

  • Dot Dot on Oct 12, 2017

    looks good to me

  • Jean Jean on Oct 12, 2017

    I love the red....I can't tell if the door is in the shade which makes it look like a different color. But if the door isn't the same red, I'd paint it to match those gorgeous shutters. Celebrate your color boldness!

  • Janet Pizaro Janet Pizaro on Oct 12, 2017

    if you are going to compare the color to the door yes,however take a step back at look at it from the street,if you like it that is all that matters.

  • Emily Emily on Oct 12, 2017

    I like that red. It is robust and self confident and suits the house exactly!

  • Dl.5660408 Dl.5660408 on Oct 12, 2017

    I think the red is perfect, it's just a small pop of color on the big canvas of your house. It gives it interest, but painting the door to match the shutters,( or even white or black) would look nice

    • Monique Sunshine Monique Sunshine on Oct 15, 2017

      Staining the door in a contrasting color for the door/shutters is more appropriate since it’s brand new. Either you love the door & not the color of the shutters. To salvage all the time you spent disassembled & reassembly, just do the door in a constrasting stain color!

  • Katie Yeh Katie Yeh on Oct 12, 2017

    Thanks for your comments. I picked the red paint color, I think it's pretty but it looks so vibrant in the sun. Thank you for the compliments.

    Also the door is dark golden brown and I cannot paint it at this time because it's new.

  • Liz Byrne Liz Byrne on Oct 15, 2017

    Looks great


  • Gracie Gracie on Oct 15, 2017

    i think it looks great as is.

  • Monique Sunshine Monique Sunshine on Oct 15, 2017

    You may consider staining the your brand new door in a complimentary color, there are lots of different stains that’ll help you achieve crub appeal. The shutters are a beautiful color, you’re just having remorse because of the lack of contrast with the door. We’ve all put in our tireless effort into a project & eventually led to this feeling. This is where a decorator or design magazines would’ve helped you achieve the look you intended. But there’s nothing wrong with the way it looks, eventually consider staining the door & you’ll be fine!

  • Laurie Olson Laurie Olson on Oct 15, 2017

    Definitely just paint the door to match or paint it white

  • B. Enne B. Enne on Oct 15, 2017

    Leave the shutters and the door. It looks great!

  • Dina Dina on Oct 15, 2017

    I think you chose a great color- and it doesn’t look overly bright at all. Without going crazy and redoing all those shutters, maybe try painting the front door black. Pin up something black , go across the road and check it out. It will give you an idea of what it could look like. But, leave those shutters brick red!

  • I love it - gives the house a pop of color. Reds mellow with age, give it a chance to grow on you. It still looks formal and traditional.

  • Sandy Sandy on Oct 16, 2017

    Red shutters are beautiful the door is in the shaded part of the house over time the red with fade from the sun. But I'd leave it the way it is.

  • Debbie Kindred Collins Debbie Kindred Collins on Oct 16, 2017

    I love that the door is a little darker and not matchy matchy with the shutters. More sophisticated look. Colors are perfect.

  • Katie Yeh Katie Yeh on Oct 16, 2017

    Thank you for your comments! We love the red too! The white storm door will be changed out to a dark bronze storm door. It will hopefully blend with the brown tone stain on the front door. I think that will bring out the door more.

  • Laura Laura on Oct 16, 2017

    I think it looks great!

  • Suad Edina Kudic Suad Edina Kudic on Oct 16, 2017

    Did the same, I don't know what to do,?

  • Kfc7963750 Kfc7963750 on Oct 16, 2017

    They will fade with time....but I think it is a nice contrast with the color of the house. I love the look. Good job.

  • Ginny Ginny on Oct 17, 2017

    I am a love of most shades of red. Don't touch it...looks great.

  • Sunshine Sunshine on Oct 17, 2017

    I think the shutters look fantastic. I wouldn't change a thing. Nice job.😁

  • Nola Connors Nola Connors on Oct 19, 2017

    I think that it looks great too!

  • Mary Boger Mary Boger on Oct 19, 2017

    Looks very nice. I wouldn't change a thing. You did a good job selecting the colors.

  • L. Creative L. Creative on Oct 19, 2017

    Hate to be that guy who chimes in but it IS very attractive. The sun may fade the color so you may want to wait a bit and see!

  • Con28777901 Con28777901 on Oct 19, 2017

    I think the color is perfect. I would paint the upstair's facia wood over the windows to tie in with the rest of the house, also paint the rounded trim over the front door red also to tie it in with the rest. I think it would really look great ! I noticed that the garage needs to be tied in too. Garage door trim needs to be red too.

  • Barb Barb on Oct 20, 2017

    I love it! Need to do my shutters. What kind of paint and color name? Thank you

    • Katie Yeh Katie Yeh on Oct 20, 2017

      Hi Barb, I used home depot Marque exterior paint and it is a one coat paint so it was fairly easy to paint 18 shutters . The color is called " dress to impress". I first tried a color called "spiced berry" but found it to be too orangey. The color I picked I put it next to the chimney bricks to see if it matched ok. Its brick with a hint of red.

  • Sue25278845 Sue25278845 on Oct 20, 2017

    Your home is beautiful. If you wanted a "traditional look, you've got it! So many people believe that in the authentic "traditional" era colors were duller, but that's not true. The were bright when new and faded with age and weather.

  • Katie Yeh Katie Yeh on Oct 20, 2017

    Thank you ! That is the look I was going for, traditional colonial but not too "different " from the neighbors.

  • Fiddledd224 Fiddledd224 on Oct 20, 2017

    It looks great! You just have to get used to it.

  • Jos29793800 Jos29793800 on Oct 21, 2017

    I'm a Realtor and a rehabber and your home looks great! Wait a while before repainting those shutters as color will dull in the elements and may end up just the shade you'll like!

    • Katie Yeh Katie Yeh on Oct 22, 2017

      Thank you! Yes they already are much duller and now I am loving the look.

      Thanks for your comments!

  • Leah Leah on Oct 22, 2017

    I would paont the trim black and the door extention above black as well

  • Sheri Horbachewski Sheri Horbachewski on Oct 24, 2017

    Hows this, I hate red but your house just suits the red and looks awesome! I can see where it would make you second guess your choice....why because I think the door would be if it was painted white to match the garage door then it would tie everything together.

    • Katie Yeh Katie Yeh on Oct 24, 2017

      Yes I agree with painting the door white, that would tie it in and look nice. But the door is brand new and painting it isn't an option at this time. Maybe someday in the future we could!

  • Pat Pat on Oct 24, 2017

    I agree with those garage doors chiming in with color! As is right now, terrific..do those garage doors and it will be fantastic...I would caution on three colors because sometimes, three just does not work...ponder upon it and look at magazines, also mentioned, for colors that work with those you have used. Superior work!!!!! Yay!

  • Lynn Lynn on Oct 24, 2017

    As with any drastic change our brains tell us something is wrong even though it’s all good. Take a step back, let yourself view your house for a couple weeks of coming and going. It looks like the front of the house gets alot of sun so fading will occur. Keep that in mind before taking the shutters down to repaint. Dust will also accumulate, diminishing the “pop” of the brick red paint. Good luck in whichever way you go. (My 2 cents: it looks awesome, let it fade naturally)

  • Ellis Ellis on Oct 24, 2017

    Beautiful house! I think I would wait a while, then reconsider. Paint fades with time, and you might also get more accustomed to the bright shutters. It really does look nice now.

  • KOKO LOKO TOKO KOKO LOKO TOKO on Oct 25, 2017

    Good luck !

  • DebM DebM on Oct 25, 2017

    I love it just as it is!

  • Linda Sikut Linda Sikut on Oct 25, 2017

    Like the others, I LOVE the color of the shutters. You're just not used to it, that's all. It's new and probably brighter than what you had before so it still comes as a shock every time you come down the street and see the color. That will fade away as you get used to it. :)

    • Bbunny42 Bbunny42 on Oct 29, 2017

      Totally agree! Barn red apparently is one of my favorite colors since it appears in each room of my house (unplanned, I might add) except for one bathroom. Love the house.

  • Linda Linda on Oct 26, 2017

    Red is my favorite color-I love them! I'd paint the door the same color too!


  • Barbara Barbara on Oct 28, 2017

    GREAT CURB APPEAL. DON'T FIX WHAT IS NOT BROKE


  • Cindy Hagemann Cindy Hagemann on Oct 29, 2017

    It will fade - I like it but would change to color of your door to teal.