Match the door to the grey's temperature
Cool greys, the ones that lean blue or green, look best with doors that bring warmth: mustard, ochre, clay, red or stained wood. Warm greys with a beige base can take either warm doors or deeper cool ones like navy and forest green. Very neutral greys accept nearly anything.
Look at the door alongside the trim. If trim is white, almost every color pops. If trim is a darker grey or black, a door that is lighter or more saturated than the trim will stand out better.
Door ideas by shade of grey
- Light grey: navy, forest green, black, clay or a bright mustard.
- Mid grey: red, ochre, stained cedar, or a glossy black for a formal look.
- Dark grey or charcoal: natural wood, mustard, clay or a bright white for strong contrast.
- Blue-grey: red, warm wood or a soft yellow; avoid a blue that is close to the siding.
- Grey with stone: pull a color from the stone, often a warm brown or rust.
Sun, glass and material
Dark doors in direct sun can get very hot. If your door faces south or west and you plan a storm door, check the manufacturer's guidance: a storm door over a dark door can trap heat and may affect the warranty. Fiberglass and steel doors usually come pre-finished or can be painted with exterior door enamel; wood doors need refinishing every few years in strong sun.
Doors with a lot of glass show less color. If you want the color to read from the street, choose a door with a smaller glass area or narrow lites at the top.
Keep the garage door in mind
On many houses the garage door is far larger than the entry door. If you paint the front door a bold color, keep the garage the siding color or a quiet neutral so it does not compete. Bring the door color back in one small place, such as planters or a mailbox, to tie the scheme together.
A door is the cheapest exterior color change to undo. If you are unsure, try the bolder option.
Finish and hardware
A door in semi-gloss or gloss shows its color better and is easier to clean than flat paint. Hardware changes the look too: black handles suit modern doors and bold colors, brass and bronze suit traditional doors and warm colors, and satin nickel suits cool greys.
Look at the door from the street, not the porch. From 30 feet away, subtle colors such as pale sage or light blue can disappear against grey siding. If you want the door to be seen, choose a color with clear contrast in lightness, not just hue.
Render two or three options on your house photo and keep the one that still stands out at thumbnail size, which is roughly how it will read from the sidewalk.
