What Your Front Door Color Means and Says About You
There’s a lot more to color than simply beautifying interiors and exteriors. Did you know that there’s actually an entire area of study called color psychology that examines how different colors affect human behavior and emotions? That means that any paint color you choose for your home can directly impact your mood and the overall vibe of your spaces.
Take your front door, for instance. There are even front door color meanings that you can explore to find out how your home is communicating to others and how it might influence your frame of mind, too.
In addition to gussying up your entryway with front door plants and other pieces of decor, your front door can add major curb appeal if you happen to be selling your home. Also, as soon as any guests walk through your door, they’ll know what kind of atmosphere they might find inside based on the hue you’ve chosen.
“A front door carries much more meaning than the official entrance of our home,” says Michelle Lewis, Color Psychology expert and author of Color Secrets. She explains that in various global cultures, brightly-colored doors are said to attract good fortune or even offer protection to the home.
“Instead of just ‘picking a color,’ we have an opportunity to first decide what we want our front door to symbolize to us,” Lewis says. “Color psychology is all about how colors make us feel, so we have to attach a desired emotion to the color of our door.”
For example, when you or others enter your home, do you want to feel welcomed, joyful, serene, or even a bit posh? “Each of these emotions could potentially mean a completely different color choice,” Lewis notes.
Besides learning what different colors symbolize in the world of color psychology (more on that from our expert ahead!), Lewis recommends spending time with some front door color options, asking others in your home how certain color swatches make them feel, and digging into your cultural background, personal color history, and even physical reactivity to narrow down your choices.
“Bottom line? Color should be fun!” Lewis says. “Make this a shared, fun experience where you can explore color choices.”
Red: Energetic
If you want a big dose of energy when you view the front of your home, look no further than a red front door. Lewis says that the color red is a “passionate, amped up” and even “prosperous” hue.
Orange: Youthful
Nothing says “youthful fun,” according to Lewis, like a bright-orange front door. She also thinks of it as a family-oriented color, one that your kiddos might enjoy.
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Yellow: Joyful
For an instant feeling of joy, consider painting your front door yellow. This cheerful color, which has so many shades to choose from, is optimistic and can make people feel “excited,” as Lewis says.
Green: Grounded
Since green is a color that’s directly derived from nature, it’s often thought of by color psychologists to be grounding. Lewis says that a green front door will communicate a “stable” and “healthy” feeling to anyone who visits.
Blue: Relaxed
You know how being at the ocean can make you feel oh-so tranquil and soothed? Blue has a way of making people feel mellow, and a blue front door can produce those feelings as well. Lewis calls blue “calm” and “thought-provoking,” which means that your home’s exterior will look a bit on the dreamy side.
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Purple: Connected
Purple is a very royal color, as Lewis points out. Within color psychology, it’s considered to be a color that facilitates connection, a vibe you no doubt want to create with friends and other guests who visit, and it can even have a spiritual feel to it.
Pink: Feminine
At its core, pink is naturally a feminine color. In addition, it’s also a “youthful” and “comforting” color, Lewis says, and bringing a little extra comfort to your home is never a bad thing.
Magenta: Bold
A magenta front door isn’t for the faint of heart, since it’s considered such a bold color choice. As Lewis describes it, it’s a “revolutionary” and “different” color—so if you want your home to stand out on the block, this color is ideal for you.
Black: Serious
Black has a “serious” feel to it, Lewis says, and it’s always a good choice if you’re going for classic and traditional. She also thinks that it has a way of looking “professional” and “neutral,” perfect for those who shy away from bold, bright colors.
White: Pure
You can’t go wrong with a white front door in most instances. Lewis describes a white front door as “light, clean, and pure,” which can help your home look streamlined and polished.
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