You know the classic white house, black shutters, red door? Well, I just painted my little house and so far I've got the white house and black shutters. I really want to go red on the door, but I have this thing about having to paint the entire door slab the same color, inside and out.
The current gray door looks great both inside and out and doesn't overwhelm the home's interior. But I'm a little hesitant about taking the plunge with a red door for fear of the impact of a red door on the inside of my house. So I went in search of examples.
These all look pretty darn good if you ask me, which builds up my confidence and has me that much closer to going red on the front door. Do you agree that it will be great and I should get over my fears? Or are there any naysayers out there with cautionary words of wisdom? What do you think of being forced into a red door on the interior because of a red door on the exterior?
(Images: 1. My Ideal Home, 2. Design*Sponge, 3. This Old House, 4. Elle Decor, 5. Style at Home)
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I think it's a great way to introduce a bold pop of color, as long as the door color is your accent color on the interior (or at least compliments the shades in your room). BUT, if you are hesitant, you can always paint the exterior of the door one color, and the interior of the door a different one. I did it on my kitchen door that leads to the porch and love it! And, if you do hate it, it is just paint after all :)
- Kimber
Oh, and that last picture is GORGEOUS!
go for it!!!! I recently painted my front door a rich orange inside and out and I'm loving it, especially since our place is tiny and we don't have a defined entryway
http://tangerinefreckles.blogspot.com/
Ooh... I was just planning on painting my front door red on the outside, but seeing as the accent color in my living room is already red, I might just go ahead and do the whole thing!
Can you paint the front of the door something else and keep the inside red? Or vice versa?
On our last house, the exterior was turquoise the interior white. On our current house, the exterior is black, the interior white again. Why would you think they need to be the same?? Go red outside and whatever color your basic woodwork is on the inside. Or whatever else you like!
I'm definitely for painting it all red- doors with two different colors or finishes just look accidental to me- in a bad way. Although, I'm all for the trend I've seen where you paint the outside edges a different color. But perhaps that would be strange on a front door.
I have a red door inside and out, and I love it! Beyond the pop of colour, I also like that it reminds me of the outside of my house when I'm inside.
I tried that look but the lighting in my apartment just isn't quite right. I have light gray walls (Behr silver fox) and cream trim. There are no windows in my entry way and hallway. It just doesn't look right. Could you guys do a segment on getting the right kind of lighting? I don't mean the lamps, but the quality of lights.
That "thing" about having to paint both sides the same color? Get over it. Paint the inside whatever color you like. That's one of the features of flat objects with two sides: Nobody can see both sides at the same time, and even if you could, they don't have to match.
It had not occurred to me to paint the inside. haha! I'm so going to do that at my new place how, I think. The door and the frame on the inside, and a small little stairwell the same color. I think I will do blue...
I love a bright red door!
I love the red door - but who says you have to paint the same color on each side? I have a bright green front door (outside) but the inside is bright white to match the other interior doors and trim. My pretty standard front door is made of steel and had a lip on the narrow sides that are hidden in the door frame when shut. I painted the green on the front and around the lip and then put white up to the green. It doesn't look strange - no one has commented on it and each side coordinates with the decor near it
I love it! You should definitely take the plunge and paint it red!
How fabulous to all of those entrances look? I am adding this to my dream house list right now.
As someone who has a red door, it still makes me happy walking through it, both in and out, every day. And isn't that the best thing a door can do for you?
The traditional rule on doors that are two different colors is to paint the edge the same color as the side that opens inwards. In other words, if it's your exterior door and it's red on that side but white on the interior side, then the edge should be white (because you'll see both the side and the edge at the same time as it opens inward. That said, I really love the suggestion above to paint the edge a completely contrasting color - how fun! And unexpected! It's like colorful lining on a piece of clothing or unexpected color when you open a cupboard or closet, like a little giftwrapped present every time you see it. I'm thinking a persimmon front door with a fresh leaf green edge, opening into a white entry. Like ANNBNNA said, it will make you happy walking through it!