painting front door?

[jazzactivist]

Hi all, which colour would you suggest for our front door? At the moment it is a dark mahogany woodstain where last year's external painter overdid it on the window frames and stained the door the same colour! I think that this makes the house look a bit funereal. Considering that the exterior of our house is dove grey with white trim, and we are going to sell the house soon, what colour do you suggest to brighten it up? I favour either deep red or pale blue, whereas Andy thinks white to be on the safe side. The door is just plain wooden planks, but the wood isn't nice enough to strip back and wax. The other doors in the village are all a real mixture of old, new, bright and plain. All suggestions welcome.

[fife]

Hi Jazz

I love to see front doors painted black but recently saw in country homes and interiors a door that had been painted flame red by fired earth and i have to say it looked stunning which i think would go well with the grey and white?

Fife

[Crocus]

Hi Jazz, judging by the exterior colour (which is more or less the colour of our house!) I personally would paint the door a vibrant dark blue - I would like a dark vibrant blue front door, but it is a very old oregan door (was in a "ostrich mansion" in Oudtshoorn) and it will perhaps not be a good idea to paint an old oregan front door!

[Oola]

Yes I think a nice blue would be great, make it look a bit more cheery and welcoming. After all they say that you pretty much make up your mind within the first few moments of arriving at a house. And there's all that 'kerb appeal' too!

[Healing Hands]

I think China White would look nice, it is not quite white nor cream, I think that what it is called I did mine in that colour a few years ago and it looks really nice, saying that though it does need another lick of paint.

[sheddie]

I think choose a colour that can easily be painted over if they don't like what's there, dark reds and blues would make it difficult to repaint and you don't know what anothers taste may be.Kind of neutral I would say. X

[franbee]

I'd just use the most suitable paint in your cupboard!

[Pippa]

Will be interested to know how the paint covers the stain. My house has this ghastly dark stain on doors and windows and I would love to paint it a cream or pale green Farrow and Ball type colour. Good luck.

[Katelb]

I think white too ....if I'm not too late!!.... I think it is very crisp and bright and would blend with the grey of the house.

[jazzactivist]

Thank you all for your suggestions. Good old Easter weekend will be spent in the DIY store. I have narrowed the choice down to 3 colours from the Farrow and Ball chart, with your help, so will be buying some testers to try out on the door.

[sheddie]

My Oh says bear in mind if the wood is dark now the lighter you go towards white you will need to maybe use 2 or even 3 undercoats to cover it. X