Need ideas on color for this door

Glenda B
by Glenda B
Our front door is set in and overall, I don't feel it is very welcoming. I would like to have a door color that would make it pop. I had a red door in our former residence, but also had big porch with porch swing. I am thinking red might overwhelm this area. Also should I paint the entire door one color or paint trim a corresponding color?
  21 answers
  • DF DF on Mar 17, 2015
    I'll be watching for comments on this problem!! I have almost the same issue except my front door is on the left side wall so it doesn't even face out! I was thinking of a brite rug, either potted plants/flowers or something to draw the eye inward and also a lite color on the door? I'm assuming you don't want to paint the brick? My brick is red and I don't want to paint them. Best of Luck to you!
  • Glenda B Glenda B on Mar 17, 2015
    No, I don't want to paint the brick; I think that is WAYYYYY out of my league. LOL I have had little seasonal decorations set in front of the side window, but seriously this area is so tight, it almost makes it just seem worse. Hopefully we will both get some ideas, this site is the best and has so many gifted decorators that are always willing to help out with ideas.
    • Glenda B Glenda B on Apr 11, 2015
      @Glenda B Tah Dah .... Well the painting is finished and I incorporated many of your ideas. The thing that seems to make the biggest difference was painting all the wood around the door white to match the window frames. Completely says "Come See Me!" I think it is a nice welcoming entrance now. I will be looking for the "perfect" deco for the brick wall ... so far all I have seen seems a little hokey ... LOL, I need something classy for my classy entrance. Thanks for all your great ideas .... you truly did inspire me.
  • Funnygirl Funnygirl on Mar 17, 2015
    it may not be a great choice for the Christmas holiday season,but a peachy color would really look pretty with the brick tones and would be a nice bright pop of color.Another choice might be a soft yellow.with either choice I don't think you would have to paint anything other than the door
  • Shari Shari on Mar 17, 2015
    You are probably going to get a lot of suggestions for white or black, which seems to be the most commonly used colors for doors on red brick houses but in my opinion, that's the problem--black and white are so common and a bit "ho-hum." Red is another commonly used color but personally, I'm not crazy about red doors with red brick. I have a red brick house too and I just ordered a new front door this week. I'm planning to paint it aqua. Aqua is a color I had never even considered until I saw several photos and then I fell in love with the combo! It seems so fresh...and unexpected. (If I get REALLY ambitious, I might even paint my shutters aqua too, like the first photo below!) If aqua doesn't appeal to you, other shades of (bright) blue like royal blue would look nice with the red brick. Bright yellow or a bright green would pop too. If it were me, I would chose a light or bright color since a darker color won't stand out as well in this dark alcove area. I would also paint all the trim around the door white to help lighten and brighten the area. White trim will also help showcase your door color and make it stand out. You might also want to consider an indoor/outdoor rug to coordinate with your door color (although it's easier to find a rug first and then match a color from the rug). That would give you some additional color, pattern and visual interest since you mention the entry is not really large enough for any decorative accessories or potted plants. Many indoor/outdoor rugs are quite affordable, they wear like iron, and when they get dirty, you just hose them off. I have purchased a total of 9 indoor/outdoor rugs from Overstock and Ballard Designs to use throughout my house and on my front porch. Home Decorator's Collection (a Home Depot company) also has a great selection of reasonably priced indoor/outdoor rugs and they are currently offering free shipping on them. http://www.homedecorators.com/s/71coutdoorcoordinates/outdoor-rugs/#p=1&rows=150
  • Terri Harris Terri Harris on Mar 18, 2015
    Can we see a wider view? What colors do you inside? What are your interest, flowers, vintage retro? Your front door gives a clue to your personality. Right off the top I am thinking yellow..
    • Terri Harris Terri Harris on Mar 18, 2015
      My plain brown door transformed by painting the sections to match the colors on the shutters. My little brown house has come alive.
  • Debra Grieve Debra Grieve on Mar 18, 2015
    I think you should get a nice colorful rug. Then you could paint the door a nice bright color, to focus attention on it. Any decorations should be simple and yet coordinate. The walls are a good place to hang up items. Maybe some sort of wreath or decoration. Don't overdo it or it will appear crowded. If you want any plants (real or not), I would place them in pots or plastic urns (make them yourself, plenty of great ideas on hometalk), that you can hang on the walls.There is a heavy duty Velcro for rough surfaces (brick, etc.), that works well, or brick clips for hanging things. The idea is to brighten and draw attention to your door. There are window films for the glass areas that come in many different styles and colors and are easy to apply which would brighten up the area without blocking the light. There are some that look like craftsmen style stained glass. I think I got mine from Lowes. You could then take down the blinds on the side light. Maybe paint the grey/green area a lighter color also. The door should be the main focus. I hope this helps some. Have fun!
  • Cheryl g Cheryl g on Mar 18, 2015
    I have the same color brick on either side with a white wall about 2 feet wide. beside my door. I painted the door Morton Red From Sherwin Williams. Looks real good with the brick and white trim. I get the "Morton Red" by name from my local store as I have a Morton Building on my property.
  • Glenda B Glenda B on Mar 18, 2015
    Thanks to all of you for the great ideas, I just ordered this rug and am going to pick one of those colors when it arrives. Open for your votes on color ...I LIKE THEM ALL!
    • Shari Shari on Mar 18, 2015
      @Glenda B I saw that rug when I looked up the link for Home Decorators! Love it! If the colors are as vivid as they appear, it should look awesome! I vote for the turquoise, green or yellow since they will contrast most against the brick, rather than blend in. Be sure and post an updated picture when you get it done!
  • D & K D & K on Mar 18, 2015
    What about a deep olive green, something that has some grey in it? It might go well with the brick and the trim color. Just my .02 worth
  • Nicole Nelson Luciano Nicole Nelson Luciano on Mar 19, 2015
    Paint the door a light buttery yellow!
  • Country Design Home Country Design Home on Mar 20, 2015
    Hi Glenda! Love that rug you purchased- so many colors to choose from! I think the issue is that the horizontal brick creates a long, dark tunnel effect leading up to the doorway. Then the doorway is broken up into vertical blocks in three colors: the trim, the green wall panels and the brown wood door- which is pretty much hidden. I would paint the entire door wall one neutral color like a cream to create a cohesive, more unbroken look, then add the pop of color to the door itself- whether its that pretty blue or bright red in the rug to contrast with the brick. That will show off the oval cut glass inset in the door as well.
  • Marion Nesbitt Marion Nesbitt on Mar 20, 2015
    Like the idea of blue or blue-green for the door itself to highlight the oval glass, and the rug idea. You can also add wall art. I have a red brick house and hung 3 green/yellow metal frogs on the wall by my side deck, and rather large black lizzards on the back wall for whimsy. Bit too kinky for a front entrance but you can get classy metal ornamental deco things in whatever shape appeals. You could also use the smaller windows to the left of the door for something decorative. I also got artificial ivy and attached it to unsightly wires and a metal box to hide them.
  • Lee Cunningham Green Lee Cunningham Green on Mar 20, 2015
    The yellow tones in that rug are nice, and the bricks make that space look dark, so I would go bright with the door.
  • Wendy roberts Wendy roberts on Mar 21, 2015
    I have seen lots of great ideas for mirrors in spaces like this.
  • Drprof Drprof on Mar 22, 2015
    I agree that a yellow color would open up this area. What about adding some interest in the brick walls? Get some of the metal letters that Michaels has and paint them one of the bright colors that are in your rug. You could choose "hello" or "welcome" , etc.
  • Jill Drake Jill Drake on Mar 22, 2015
    I would, if my house, paint the walls cream, and have a nice sage colour door, that would, in my humble opinion look great ...
    • See 2 previous
    • Glenda B Glenda B on Apr 15, 2015
      @Sue@CountryDesignHome
  • Jill Drake Jill Drake on Apr 15, 2015
    Your so very welcome, I bet having a blue door looks amazing with the cream walls, only thing is Glenda, I can't seem to find your After pic....😥
  • Jill Drake Jill Drake on Apr 15, 2015
    You are so welcome Glenda,but I can't find your After pic 😔 would love to see the difference, I love Royal blue, both colours compliment each other, I'm rather chuffed with myself that you liked my idea for the walls..thank you 😀
  • Leslie Leslie on Apr 15, 2015
    I would paint all trim white, so your new door color will pop.
    • Glenda B Glenda B on Apr 15, 2015
      @Leslie Good suggestion, look at the comment above where I show a picture of finished project .... I did exactly as you suggest. Love it!
  • Leslie Leslie on Apr 17, 2015
    Looks really good Glenda!
  • Wjb327367 Wjb327367 on Aug 11, 2015
    One GIANT STEP for your home.....Wicked Awesome !