Choosing The Perfect Front Door Color For A Red Brick House

Selecting the ideal front door color for a home with red brick exterior can seem daunting. With so many options, how do you choose a shade that enhances your home's architecture and creates an inviting entryway? We'll walk through the key factors to consider when pairing a front door color with red brick.

How Color Impacts Curb Appeal

The front door is one of the first things people notice when approaching your home. The color makes a strong first impression and influences the curb appeal. An eye-catching front door color that complements the red brick can increase your home's perceived value and beautify the exterior.

Color sets the tone and elicits an emotional response. Softer, neutral front door colors promote feelings of relaxation, while bold and bright colors convey energy and excitement. Consider the ambiance you want to achieve.

Existing Exterior Colors

Evaluate how a prospective front door color will interplay with your home's existing red brick, roof shingles, trim, and other exterior elements. You want the door to stand out while remaining cohesive.

If your brick is a warm, orangey red, cool tones like green, blue, or gray will contrast nicely. For a cool, deeper red brick, warmer neutral tones blend well. Black almost always complements red brick for a classic look.

Trim, Siding, and Roof Color

Pay attention to the color of exterior details like the trim, siding, and roof. Aim for colors that complement each other. For example, avoid selecting a door color close to the siding color.

Green doors pair attractively with gray, white, or brown trim. Blue doors complement white or tan siding. If your home has a gray roof, stick with lighter or brighter door shades.

Landscaping

Take note of your landscaping features. Lush greenery could guide you towards an earthy green door, while red brick paired with stone accents brings a gray door to mind.

Consider how seasonal changes in plants and flowers may interact with a prospective door color.

Personal Color Preferences

While trends come and go, choose a color aligned with your personal tastes. A front door color you'll enjoy seeing each day as you come and go makes for a sound investment.

Draw inspiration from interior design colors you love or have used in previous homes. Or browse photos online to build a mental portfolio of hues that catch your eye.

Current Palette

Does your preferred color already appear elsewhere on your home or within other exterior elements? Choosing the same color for uniformity can provide a soothing, monochromatic look.

Future Plans

Factor in future exterior renovation or remodeling plans. If you'll soon be painting the shutters or repainting the brick, select a versatile front door color that will continue complementing your home through changes.

Architectural Style

A home's architectural features and style should guide your color selection. The door's design also influences which colors and finishes make the most sense.

Period Homes

Play up the era of your Victorian, Tudor revival, or other period home with a historically appropriate door color. Deep red or green on an ornate wooden door suits a Victorian. Black defines Tudor detailing.

Contemporary Homes

Contemporary architecture calls for an unexpected pop of color. Try a vibrant teal, plum, or coral on a sleek, modern door.

Ranch Homes

For ranch-style homes, fade into the background with an earthy, neutral tone like almond, tan, or light brown on a simple door.

Amount of Natural Light

Determine how much direct sunlight your front door receives. North-facing doors in shade can get away with deeper, richer colors. South-facing doors awash in sun may require lighter shades to avoid looking washed out.

Likewise, a covered front porch or overhang creates consistent shade. An exposed front door deals with more intense sun exposure as the day progresses.

Popular Front Door Color Choices

Now that you know what to consider, here are popular front door color options that complement red brick exteriors.

Classic Black

A black front door is a timeless, traditional choice. Black frames and highlights architectural details. It makes an eye-catching statement against red brick. For best results, opt for a true black over charcoal.

Vibrant Red

Painting your door the same red as your brick creates a seamless, monochromatic look. Avoid matching the red exactly. Go a couple shades lighter or darker. Consider brick red, burgundy, or terracotta.

Soft Gray

Subtle and versatile, shades of gray beautifully complement red brick. Go for a light to medium tone. Soft gray draws attention to ornate doors without overpowering the brick.

Deep Green

Deep green doors play off red brick stunningly thanks to bold, complementary contrast. Forest greens and shades like hunter green pop against red. On Craftsman homes, consider sage.

Using Color Theory

Understanding color relationships helps explain why some shades complement red brick better than others. Refer to a color wheel for guidance.

Complementary Colors

Colors opposite each other on the color wheel are complementary. Red and green, for example, powerfully accent each other because they lie opposite one another. Yellow also complements red brick nicely.

Analogous Colors

Analogous colors sit next to each other on the wheel, like red, burgundy, and orange. Choosing an analogous door hue close to your brick maintains color harmony.

Monochromatic Colors

Monochromatic looks utilize different tones, tints, and shades of the same base color like red brick and terracotta. It creates a cohesive, sophisticated style.

Choosing an Accent Color

Prefer your door color to contrast boldly with the red brick? These options grab attention:

Bright White

A clean, bright white door dazzles against rich red brick. White also enlarges doors and illuminates shady entryways.

Navy Blue

From light powder blue to deep navy, blue creates striking contrast. It brings a nautical Cape Cod vibe to coastal homes.

Vibrant Yellow

Cheerful shades like lemon, mustard, or sunflower yellow play beautifully off red brick. Yellow welcomes guests inside.

Bold Purple

Regal purple doors make a unique style statement. Lavender, plum, and eggplant purple offer distinctive pops of color.

What to Avoid

On the flip side, these front door colors tend to clash with red brick exteriors:

• Overly bright, neon shades
• Drab, lifeless tones like brown or beige
• Colors far away on the wheel like pink or orange
• Multiple competing colors

Stick to 2-3 colors for a cohesive look. Too many colors compete and feel disjointed.

Prepping and Painting Your Front Door

Follow these best practices for an eye-catching paint job:

Clean and Repair

Address any damage. Use filler on holes or dents. Sand glossy areas. Remove rust. Clean with soap and water.

Prime

Priming ensures better color accuracy and adhesion. Use oil-based primer for new wooden doors. Latex works for repainting.

Use Exterior Paint

Exterior paints withstand weathering. Use high-quality latex or oil-based paint.

Consider Sheen

Flat or matte finishes hide imperfections. Eggshell and satin offer subtle sheen and durability. Semi-gloss resists moisture.

Enhancing Curb Appeal

A fresh front door paint job massively upgrades curb appeal. But don't stop there! Incorporate these other improvements:

• Update door hardware like knobs, knockers, and handles
• Add exterior lighting like lanterns or sconces
• Paint or replace trim and shutters
• Power wash exterior surfaces
• Add potted plants, trees, and garden beds

Costs and Budget

If you're on a tight budget, painting the front door yourself saves significant cost. Factors influencing price include:

Paint Amount

One quart of quality exterior paint covers most standard doors. Prefinished doors need less paint. Measure your door to determine how much paint you need.

Labor Cost

Hiring a professional painter costs $200-800 depending on location and door size. DIY painting cuts costs.

Prep Work

Priming, scraping, sanding, and repairs influences cost. The more prep needed, the higher your bill may go.

Quality Paint

Opt for top-tier paint over cheap brands. Better quality paint lasts longer, saving you money down the road.

Maintaining Your Front Door

Keep your door color looking freshly painted with these maintenance tips:

• Let paint cure fully before regular use, about 2-4 weeks
• Seal exterior paint once fully cured
• Routinely clean door to prevent grime buildup
• Watch for peeling and promptly touch up paint chips

When to Repaint

Expect to repaint your front door every 3-5 years. Signs it's time for a refresh include:

• Obvious fading and worn, weathered paint
• Chips, cracks, and peels
• Preparing home for sale
• Repainting home exterior
• Desire to update color

Choosing a front door color to match your red brick home gets easier when you know what to consider. Evaluate existing exterior colors, your home's architecture, natural lighting, and your personal taste. Popular pairings like black, red, gray, and green beautifully complement red brick. For contrast, try white, blue, yellow or purple. Follow prep and application best practices for enduring color. A fresh coat of paint on your front door can entirely transform your home's curb appeal.