Interior Design Blog

Well, should your belt match your shoes? I remember growing up, one of my girlfriends always told me to match my belt to my shoes - and if I really wanted to go the extra mile, I should match my purse too! But times have changed. Fashion today allows us to make some pretty dramatic color decisions, break all the old rules (thank goodness!) and push the envelope. Recently, someone asked me what color they should paint their front door, and it dawned on me that the same holds true for interior (or in this case, exterior) design!

Should your front door color match your shutters? What about your garage doors? And other exterior doors?

There once was a time when just like your shoes & your belt, I would have said "Yes! You absolutely should match all of your doors." But not today. My recent response to my client was "Absolutely not! You no longer have to be all matchy-matchy!" In fact, my recommendation is to actually paint your front door a different color than your shutters. Paint it a color that pops! Something that stands out! Choose a paint color that says, "Come on over!" Adding color to your front door adds curb appeal. Why not make a strong first impression?

If you have been following my design work for a bit, this should come as no surprise to you. Are you even surprised that I love an orange front door?...I didn't think so! Orange says to it's visitors, "I'm fun! Don't you want to come in and hang out with me?"

Oh how I love this playful yellow door on a traditional brick façade. It's so fun, fresh and cheerful!

For more photo inspiration, click here to check out my Pinterest board with tons of exterior paint ideas and tips!

So what about your shutters, do they have to match the door? Yes...and No. It depends what you want. If you are looking to draw the eye to your front door area, then I'd definitely advise that you go with a more neutral tone for your shutters. Perhaps pick something from either the brick or stone work on or near your house, or pick a color based on the tones in your siding, like the house in this photo.

However, if you prefer to keep things consistent, go ahead and match them! You still have the option to branch out from the norm, or keep it traditional. I love how the home in this photo fits so well into it's surroundings. The idea of shutters in this shade may have made you cringe, but seeing it here proves it can be lovely!

When it comes to your garage doors, the general rule is to either keep them white, or match them to the color of your siding. They are big, so if you paint them a different color, you will certainly draw attention to them. I bet there are more architecturally interesting things you'd rather draw the eye to on your home.

It might also be helpful to you look around and take some cues from your neighborhood. Drive around and take note of what you like and what you don't like. Look for similar style homes that might offer some inspiration. You should also consider your landscape and natural surroundings. If you have a very wooded lot, a pastel colored door will likely look out of place. A seaside home feels more at home with a bright colored hue, versus a dark color.

This advice from Better Homes & Gardens is spot on! Proportion is key! Depending on the size and proportions of your home, you may want to emphasize or tone down certain features. Lighter tones tend to visually make your home feel bigger, while darker colors shrink them. Bright colors call attention to features while neutrals let them fade away.

Choosing your exterior paint colors is a big job. You should always consider your own personal style and do what feels comfortable to you. Remember, you're the one that has to drive up to your house every day, so you want to make it feel like home.

For more ideas and inspiration, be sure to check out my Pinterest board, Exterior paint color inspriation!