Complementary Color Combos for Doors and Shutters
Choosing the perfect exterior paint colors for your home's doors and shutters is an exciting step in the design process. The colors you select for these key features can completely transform the look and feel of your house's facade. Complementary color combinations provide a vibrant, eye-catching pop of contrast that makes your entryway stand out.
Pairing complementary hues for your doors and shutters creates visual interest and depth. The colors play off each other beautifully while adding curb appeal. Read on for tips on selecting dynamic complementary color palettes for your home's exterior doors and shutters.
Factors to Consider
When embarking on selecting complementary paint colors for your home's doors and shutters, there are a few key factors to take into account:
- Existing exterior color scheme. Take a look at your home's siding, trim, roofing, and other existing elements. You'll want your new shutter and door colors to coordinate.
- Architectural style of your house. Some color combinations may look more fitting on a Craftsman bungalow vs. a Colonial.
- Geographic location and local climate. If you live in a rainy climate, darker more saturated colors hold up better.
- Personal preferences. Select hues you'll love looking at day after day.
Most Popular Color Combinations
When deciding on door and shutter color pairings, there are a variety of appealing options. Here are some of the most popular complementary color combinations:
Matching Colors
One easy yet classic approach is to use the same color for both your home's shutters and front door. Having these features match provides a cohesive, pulled-together look. Some popular matching pairings include:
- Black shutters and door
- Navy blue
- Bright white
- Rich red
- Dark green
- Charcoal gray
Contrasting Colors
For more visual drama, go with contrasting complementary colors. Adjacent hues on the color wheel kick things up a notch. Timeless combinations include:
- Red door with green shutters
- Yellow door and blue shutters
- Orange door paired with blue shutters
- Purple door contrasting black shutters
Analogous Colors
Using analogous colors (hues next to each other on the color wheel) is a softer but still eye-catching approach. Pleasant analogous pairings to consider:
- Red door with burgundy shutters
- Pale yellow door and mustard yellow shutters
- Robin's egg blue door and navy blue shutters
- Forest green door and olive green shutters
Neutral Base
For a bold pop of color, opt for a neutral base exterior with brightly painted doors and shutters. Timeless combos include:
- White house with coral red door and light blue shutters
- Gray house with cherry red door and forest green shutters
- Beige exterior with orange door and purple shutters
Tips for Specific Colors
Certain door colors lend themselves better to particular complementary shutter shades. Here are specific tips on pairing common door colors:
Red Doors
For a classic look, match red doors with maroon or burgundy shutters. Green and black shutters also complement red beautifully.
Blue Doors
Cool shades of blue doors pair nicely with contrasting warm colors like yellow, orange, brick red, and olive green.
Green Doors
Green doors stand out against charcoal, navy, black, white, and light blue shutters. For softer contrast, pair sage, moss, or olive doors with brown shutters.
Yellow Doors
Gray, charcoal, black, navy, and chocolate brown all accent sunny yellow doors stylishly. Robin's egg blue also complements yellow nicely.
White Doors
White doors give you freedom to get creative with bold shutter colors like coral, turquoise, purple, and emerald green. Navy blue also looks classic with crisp white.
Black Doors
Red, yellow, green apple, and sky blue shutters pop beautifully against sophisticated black doorways. Crisp white trim also complements black doors.
Achieving a Cohesive Look
When selecting complementary colors for your home's shutters and doors, keep in mind the following tips for a polished, cohesive look:
- Tie in other exterior elements. Repeat your shutter and door colors in outdoor accent details like the front porch trim.
- Echo door and shutter colors in landscaping features. For example, use red shrubbery near a red door.
- Pick a unifying neutral tone for the trim/siding to anchor the bolder door and shutter colors.
Paint Finish Considerations
When painting exterior doors and shutters, opt for an exterior-grade paint with maximum durability. Gloss and satin finishes stand up to the elements best. Use a higher-gloss paint on doors and satin finish for shutters. Factors like your climate and amount of direct sun exposure impact how long the paint job will last. Areas with harsh winters, blazing sun, and humidity require heartier paints.
Order of Operations
Swapping out door and shutter colors involves careful prep work and proper sequencing:
- Paint shutters first. Remove hardware and lightly sand before priming and painting.
- Also remove door hardware and thoroughly wash the door surface before starting.
- Apply a bonding primer to the door before adding topcoat(s). Allow proper drying time between coats.
- Seal, caulk, and touch up paint around the door properly.
- Only after the door paint is fully cured, reinstall door hardware.
Maintenance
To keep your door and shutters looking freshly painted, keep these maintenance tips in mind:
- Allow at least 2-3 weeks for exterior paint to fully cure before washing or frequent use.
- Periodically clean by gently washing with mild soap and water.
- Touch up any nicks or damaged spots promptly to avoid peeling.
- Plan on repainting every 3-5 years or when you notice fading.
Painting doors and shutters can be a time consuming, detail-oriented process. For flawless results, consider hiring professional painters. They have the skills and equipment to prep surfaces completely, use top-grade exterior paints, and finesse the finish details. This ensures your new complementary colors shine for years to come.
Choosing eye-catching complementary colors for your home's front door and shutters gives your house an exciting facelift. With so many pleasing color combinations to pick from, you're sure to find a pairing that enhances your exterior's personality and charm.