Curb appeal starts at the front door—just not with these hues.

It might seem like a small detail, but the color of your front door does a lot of heavy lifting aesthetically. It's the first thing people see when they visit your home, leaving a lasting impression on guests—and potential buyers—before they even step inside.

So while an elegant shade can make your entry feel warm and welcoming, the wrong one can come off as dated or harsh. Ultimately, it's a decision that can boost or reduce your curb appeal—so it's important to know what hues are the best (and worst) for your front door. Here, we asked designers about the ones that are better left alone, and what you can try instead.

Meet Our Expert

Ian Parker, owner and principal designer of Parker + Co
Liad Schwartz, founder of Interiors by Liad
Julia Newman, founder of Julia Adele Design

Soft Colors

Light, soft colors may feel like a low-risk choice for your front door, but they can actually have a negative effect. Shades like blush pink or beige, for instance, can often come across as dated. "They end up looking corny, or worse—faded and cheap,” says Ian Parker, owner and principal designer of Parker + Co.

Instead, he suggests embracing deeper, more saturated shades that bring a sense of contrast and polish. “I gravitate towards bolder, more classic colors like a forest green or navy blue, or even a crimson or cherry red,” he says. “These stronger statements can really make your home’s entrance more dynamic and appealing.”

Orange

Orange doors might work well in certain locales, like Portugal, but for Parker, the color is a hard no. “[It’s] simply too jarring to be used somewhere as important as a front door," he says.

It's also tough to coordinate orange with other exterior colors and materials. For example, it often clashes with common siding tones like brick, stone, or neutral paints, leaving the whole façade feeling unbalanced and chaotic.

Yellow

In theory, yellow brings warmth and energy to a home’s entrance. In practice? It can be tough to pull off.

"It will definitely make your home’s front door stand out, but probably not in the way you want,” says Liad Schwartz, founder of Interiors by Liad. “It can be a fun and lively color, but, especially on a front door, it’s one of those shades that people either love ... or really don’t.”

Beyond personal taste, it can also affect the overall impression of your home, making it "feel a little less polished," Schwartz adds. However, if you’re drawn to yellow for its warmth and personality, then there are a few more-refined ways to get the look.

“Try a buttery beige," he says. "It still brings charm, but feels a lot more neutral. Or, if you really want that punch of color, go for a muted mustard or ochre. These deeper, earthier tones feel richer, a little moodier, and way more sophisticated.”

White and Black

Neutral tones might be everywhere right now, but on a front door, they can make your home’s exterior look flat. Instead, it may be worth trying something a bit bolder than just black and white. “I believe a front door should stand out—it’s the first impression your home makes,” says Julia Newman, founder of Julia Adele Design.

Beige doesn’t do much to help either. “[It] tends to blend in and make the whole façade feel lackluster,” she adds.

So if you want your entry to feel intentional and inviting, contrast is key. Newman suggests a warm wood stain, a moody hue like charcoal or forest green, or even a rich navy. “These shades break up a neutral palette and bring more personality to your home’s exterior.”

Turquoise

When it comes to curb appeal, turquoise can be a gamble. While it’s undeniably bold, it’s often too intense for a front entrance. Like orange, it rarely complements common exterior materials like brick, stone, or neutral siding; because it’s tied to specific design trends, it can start to feel dated fast.

If you want to make a statement, Newman suggests going for red instead. “It’s timeless, but still allows for an expression of personality,” she says. She also recommends playing with the finish. “Whether it’s gloss or matte, the sheen can dramatically change the overall look.”