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The Best Front Door Colours Inspired By Mid Century Homes

By 01/31/2017April 20th, 202045 Comments

Trying to choose a front door colour? Here are the best front door colours inspired by mid century homes with ideas for gathering colour inspiration from inside your front entrance. 

There are many ways to choose the colour of your front door.

If you have a white or cream house (or another pretty neutral shade) without any fixed elements, then technically, your options seem endless.

But are they?

The way to create flow from the outside to the inside is to look inside your front door. What are the colours in your entry or your adjoining rooms? That’s where you’ll find inspiration for the best front door colour.

Here are my favorite front door colours for mid century homes. If you haven’t really committed to a colour inside your house, then you can simply choose any of the ones shown below.

And these front door colours would work on other home architectural styles as well.

Terreeia and I have been in Palm Desert for the month of January with my Mom, and this weekend we took a drive around the Palm Canyon neighborhood where all the prettiest and most famous front doors live. My Mom drove the car and I jumped out to take photos.

Here’s “that pink door” aka the most famous one on the door tour. There is constantly someone out front taking a picture. It’s a good thing the design of many of these mid-century homes are focused around the pool in the back, so the owners aren’t bothered by the constant stream of photographers.

All front door pics taken by yours truly 🙂

And I’ve even matched the colours for you in Benjamin Moore AND Sherwin Williams. And I’ve also included photos of what a room inside the house would look like if it flowed with the front door colour.

Front Door Colours Inspired by Mid Century Homes

pink-door-close-copy-1
Benjamin Moore Luscious 1369

cacti-modern

No door here, just come amazing desert landscaping! So pretty.

15 Best Front Door Colours in Palm Springs | Maria Killam

Benjamin Moore HC 138 Covington Blue | Sherwin-Williams 6479 Drizzle

15 Best Front Door Colours in Palm Springs | Maria Killam

Benjamin Moore Bryce Canyon 098 | Sherwin Williams 6634 Copper Harbor

 

 

15 Best Front Door Colours in Palm Springs | Maria Killam

BM Meridian Blue 761 | SW 6781 Jamaica Bay

Front Door Colours Inspired by Inside Your Front Entrance

15 Best Front Door Colours in Palm Springs | Maria Killam

Benjamin Moore Golden Vista 308 | Sherwin Williams 6678 Sunflower

If you had this art in your entry (below), it would be the perfect inspiration piece to coordinate with your front door colour.

15 Best Front Door Colours in Palm Springs | Maria Killam

via D Magazine

 

15 Best Front Door Colours in Palm Springs | Maria Killam

Benjamin Moore Athens Blue 797 | Sherwin Williams 6803 Danube

If your living room looked like this (below) it would be a no-brainer to choose a sky blue colour like the one above for the front door.

15 Best Front Door Colours in Palm Springs | Maria Killam

image via Rue Magazine

15 Best Front Door Colours in Palm Springs | Maria Killam

Benjamin Moore Un-teal We Meet Again 739 | Sherwin Williams 6766 Mariner

How about two modern accent chairs in the same colour as your front door? This cool aqua colour has a fun retro vibe.

15 Best Front Door Colours in Palm Springs | Maria Killam

image via Jonathan Adler

15 Best Front Door Colours in Palm Springs | Maria Killam

Benjamin Moore Coat of Arms 763 | Sherwin Williams 9059 Silken Peacock

Or maybe, your sofa colour provides inspiration for your front door colour? This pale colour looks so chic and pretty with lots of fresh white – both inside and out.

15 Best Front Door Colours in Palm Springs | Maria Killam

via Apartment Therapy

sunfloewr-yellow-door

Benjamin Moore Glen Ridge Gold 301 | Sherwin Williams 6685 Trinket

15 Best Front Door Colours in Palm Springs | Maria Killam

Benjamin Moore Waterbury Green HC-136 | Sherwin Williams Composed 6472

15 Best Front Door Colours in Palm Springs | Maria Killam

No front door here! 🙂 Just an interesting, curved driveway with the car that matches the house.

15 Best Front Door Colours in Palm Springs | Maria Killam

Benjamin Moore Pomegranate AF-295 | Sherwin Williams 6321 Red Bay

15 Best Front Door Colours in Palm Springs | Maria Killam

Benjamin Moore Rhubarb 2007-30 | Sherwin Williams 6607 Red Tomato

Dramatic reds are a classic front door colour choice. Just repeat this colour in your art and accessories just inside your front entrance like this pretty vignette below.

15 Best Front Door Colours in Palm Springs | Maria Killam

via My Domaine

15 Best Front Door Colours in Palm Springs | Maria Killam

Benjamin Moore Buttered Yam AF-230 | Sherwin Williams 6643 Yam

Or, why not grab a bright hue from your accent wallpaper indoors.

15 Best Front Door Colours in Palm Springs | Maria Killam

via Homegirl London

15 Best Front Door Colours in Palm Springs | Maria Killam

Benjamin Moore Buckingham Gardens 545 | Sherwin Williams 9038 Cucuzza Verde

Green always connects easily both inside and out. This neutral vignette below is flanked by a bright green cactus. Don’t be afraid to find inspiration in natural elements as well.

15 Best Front Door Colours in Palm Springs | Maria Killam

Image via My Domaine

So, which door is your favorite?

My Mom and I climbed the Bump & Grind trail in Palm Desert many times, because it was only a 10 minute walk from the house we rented (Terreeia has a bad knee so she couldn’t come with us).

Today, we went the highest we’d been the entire month, and here we are (below):

15 Best Front Door Colours in Palm Springs | Maria Killam

I’m wearing the pocket plus which is this magnetic pouch you can put your phone in when you’re running in your work-out gear. We bought it at the market in Palm Desert one weekend.

I feel so blessed to have a young Mom (she’s only 20 years older than me).  If I didn’t live just a 2 minutes drive away from her, I’d be REALLY missing her now that we’re going home. It’s been so nice living with her for the past five weeks.

Have a wonderful week everyone!

If you need help choosing a colour for your front door, I have the perfect eDesign package for you here.

Related posts:

10 Best Front Door Colours For Your House

Exterior Accents Change Everything: Before & After

Don’t Make These 5 Common Mistakes with Your Exterior Colour

45 Comments

  • Cheryl says:

    I had a bright yellow door in Montreal. When we first bought the house, I intended to repaint it immediately upon occupancy. But, you know, it grew on me. It suited the house, bright coloured doors were popular in Quebec, and it was cheerful.
    My current door is red and I love it! It is definite a window into my interior.
    You are so lucky to have a healthy, vibrant, fun loving mom close by. Enjoy every moment you have with her.

  • laurie says:

    Maria,
    Palm Desert was made for you. All the color is amazing, especially on
    the doors. I love how they make you expect an interior to match. Sorry fantasize about it.

    With all the white/neutral exteriors they really need those colorful doors. Thanks for sharing!

  • joyce says:

    Such gorgeous doors!!!
    So perfect to have that white background so most any color will work and…of course, you have that sapphire blue sky.
    But what do you do if you live in the midwest and have pink brick?

  • Mid America Mom says:

    Love the orange as that speaks to me as mcm. Bryce Canyon was my fav as felt more saturated. If it was me I would do some flowers in orange, put out some large colorful pots with some succulents etc. The pink is cute but not saturated enough for my taste… maybe salmon for more mcm vibe.

  • sandyc says:

    Fun post, Maria, although I live in a duplex HOA of 23 homes (46 units) surrounding a greenbelt. Individual door colors are not allowed – your door color needs to match your house or trim color (although decorative wood/glass doors are permitted). However, all is not lost for me. My small front courtyard pony wall has two waist-high pillars just begging for colorful pots. I have two yellow green pots up there now (can’t say much for what’s in them) and our Landscape Chairman tells me I’m the only resident he knows whose garden hose (which connects in front of the courtyard) matches her pots. The pots and hose were chosen specifically because they continued the shade of green used inside my house. And happily there are no restrictions to color choices in furniture or plants in either the front courtyard or the back patio.

    I feel for Joyce and hwe pink brick home. We have a lot of homes here in Sun City West with light multicolor tile roofs combining creamy white, peachy pink and pale blue. Trying to pick an exterior wall color that works and doesn’t look dreadfully dated is near impossible. Good luck, Joyce.

  • Lisa Henderson says:

    Hi Maria,
    Those are great color doors! Thank you!

    Do you have any classes during the summer?

    Thanks,
    Lisa

    • Maria Killam says:

      I haven’t had any during the summer yet but it could happen 🙂
      Maria

      • Lorri says:

        Maria, it’s so cute the way your picture comes up in the replies.

        It’s like you’re just sitting there shooting the breeze. 😉

  • Jill says:

    The pink one is my favorite but I have to ask about that .. it looks like a reflecting pool right in from of the door. From the photo it looks like I would fall in, a lot. What is that (what’s it’s purpose) and how far in front of the door is it actually . . and how deep is it? It is very pretty! The color of the door seems perfect for the color of the agave plants on either side and the color of the stucco. Very harmonious!

    2
  • Lucy HAINES says:

    Thanks for the house “door” tour! The desert is magical to begin with and the white homes look so clean with the pop of color on the front door. The one that stands out the most to me is the bright yellow double doors. It just seems to get your attention. Also I wonder what the wall is in the Jonathon Adler image? I am doing a contemporary home and need a feature wall with texture.

    You and your mom look so cute and I like the way you have shown that you have concurred the heights. Also look at the snow behind you on the mountains!

  • Brenda says:

    Like Jill, above, I too am wondering about what is in front of the pink door — is it a transparent step up? Is it a pool? It looks too close to the door to be a pool, but maybe the photo is tricking my eye. Our house, unfortunately, is a pink-beige stucco (which I dislike immensely!!). I have varied the colours of my front door over the years — black cherry, bittersweet chocolate, etc… Could I change things up and go with a cooler colour, like teal? Or would Kelly Green (which I use in small doses throughout my home) work? I love your posts on pink-beige — but have trouble applying the lessons to our exterior.

    • Maria Killam says:

      Hi Brenda,
      Most shades of blue, even cleaner ones, work with pink beige, and if it’s not too dark you could introduce a kelly green. My house is a pale taupy pink and looks good with the kelly green door 🙂
      Hope that helps,
      Maria

  • Lynne says:

    Love this post! I want to move to Palm Springs stat! So much loveliness … white houses, colorful doors, mountains, desert landscape. Just beautiful! Glad you are having a wonderful time with your family and that you shared this eye candy with us. 🙂

  • jenny sullins says:

    Hello Maria,
    When would a black door be appropriate? Thanks!

    • Maria Killam says:

      To tie in with shutters or a roof. . . or if you have an earthier house where a bright coloured door would simply make the house look dirty. Hope that helps! Maria

  • Sandy says:

    What a great idea for a post (great light and framing on your exterior shots), and I love the match-up with interiors. You’re so lucky to have your mom – I miss mine every day.

  • Elaine Haber says:

    I love the color orange and how it energizes me. I painted our front door and side gate in BM’s Fireball Orange and have never grown tired of it.

  • Beth Batke says:

    I’m going to be in Palm Springs for a week in April. Plan to take a home tour and cannot wait to take some fun photos like yours!

  • laura says:

    Are all the houses white? Or are they the only ones you took pictures of?

    • Maria Killam says:

      I specifically did a ‘door tour’ it’s the same one people do during Modernism Week in February every year. All the houses with the bright coloured doors seemed to be. But no there are lots of other colours and lots of earth tones here too! Maria

  • Diana says:

    What would the color of the pink be in Sherwin Williams, that one wasn’t listed and is my favorite!

  • Hi Maria,
    LOVE this post. I am a big fan of a colorful front door. I understand your recommendation to consider the interior foyer when selecting the front door color. It makes sense as most front doors open into the room. Living in Florida now for 10 years, almost all front doors open out. It’s a hurricane thing. Anyway, is it as important to consider the interior foyer in this case? Love your thoughts. After completing your fabulous Color course, I’ve done an number of Exterior Color consultations. Love that part of my career! Thanks so much for giving me the confidence! Kathy

    • Maria Killam says:

      Hi Kathleen, thanks for your comment! I don’t think it would make a difference. . i would treat it the same! Maria

  • Andrea says:

    Brilliant post and now I want to visit Palm Springs! I have been dawdling about which color to choose for my front door but reading your post I now know what it should be. THANK YOU!!!
    Love your pictures!

  • Gwendolyn Hemer says:

    OMG Maria!!! what fun to have Mom with you and those times are so special… my mother is 29 years older than I and we have so much fun together!!! AND having Tereeia there.. how perfect for you all!!! anyway, thanks for the beautiful photographs of front doors! I was thinking of black initially but am venturing out and I have a large photograph of Elfreth’s Alley (the oldest street/alley in the United States… its very colorful and here in Philly… so charismatic. If you visit “The City of Brotherly Love”, don’t miss it!! I may place it in the entryway along with my plants I’m anticipating for the entry room! So many colors!!!

    As always, thank you so very much, Maria!!!

  • Anne says:

    Awww Maria-Its a joy to see you and your beautiful mother-I also loved the ‘house tour’ It is winter where I live–complete with snow flurries today!! I just wanted to let you know how much you are appreciated by all your long-distance fans!!

  • Mary-Illinois says:

    I was wondering the same thing about the first house with the pink door. Is it a pool? Maybe it’s a foot bath so you don’t track in dirt. Lol.
    I also noticed most of the homes don’t have door mats.
    I would give anything to paint my door. But my HOA won’t allow it.
    I think it’s sweet that you & your mom are so close. I love seeing pics of you together. I hope Terreeia is feeling better.

    • Maria Killam says:

      Hi Mary,
      It is some kind of fountain I think. . . and there’s room to get around it, but I’m guessing by the way those Agave cacti lean over the door, it’s not used much 🙂
      Thanks for your comment!
      x
      Maria

  • Fran W. says:

    What a fun post! Glad you enjoyed your time in the Palm Springs. Interesting architecture. So different from most of the East Coast.

  • I love this post! So great to see all the colorful doors…and all that blue sky and desert landscape. Can I come along next year?? 😉

    Love that you added photos of interiors that would coordinate too.

    Jill

  • cheryl says:

    Thank you! I have a “no curb appeal” 80’s stuccoed white “small block ranch” with a new white metal roof (don’t ask…) in a coastal Fl town. I’ve been stumped on a color for house and trim that works with a white roof.. You have just shown me that it might be ok to leave it white if I remove the shutters (only trim). New front porch maybe sealed naturally to match the wooden privacy fence that is next. And a bright blue/aqua door and “accessories”. But I can’t “see” it, so will still need help to know… Thank you!

  • MD Kawsar says:

    Thanks for sharing a nice post. Really it’s a excellent post.

  • Hi Maria! Love the new site (though as a designer, there’s a part of me that wants a bit more flair in your header on the desktop site — looks fab on mobile, but I think it should have a photograph or pattern in it on desktop)!

    I wish I could apply this principle to my own house: https://www.instagram.com/p/BKT6t9NgJUd/

    I think we’ll be repainting (what looks like cedar is actually peach on the porch) and accenting with black, but our door area has two colours — a permanent antique screen door (has glass in the winter) that is currently painted yellow, with a wooden door behind that is a plum purple. Neither “does it” for me and I’m not sure which should be the “ta-da!” moment.

  • Susijo says:

    https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/85/a6/03/85a60352e0a694241eee06ced3d882b7.jpg

    This link gives another photo image of that famed pink door. (If not, just do a search for ‘Palm Springs pink door with fountain pool’) This angle shows it is a longer element than what you can tell from Maria’s pic. I’ll bet Maria knew her readers would ask about this one! Aesthetically interesting, but yeah, between that and the cacti, not a practical everyday entry. Might deter an unsuspecting burglar though!

  • Karen says:

    This was the best post you have ever done.

  • Rochelle says:

    Wow — you sure picked something fabulous in pairing that yellow door with the large artwork with the exact same yellow! What a wonderful post. You helped me select a lovely blue for my front door (which, humbly, I have in the can and have not yet put on the door), but this makes me want to get the brush out right now!

  • Kimberly says:

    I know this neighborhood all too well because this was mine! Missing Palm Springs and lived there for 15 years. I was probably the youngest person living there full time. Did you see Liberace’s house or the Elvis hide away? Glad you had so much fun.

    By the way, just found your blog a week ago and LOVING IT!!!

  • Ange says:

    That was a fun post. Loved all the different door colors and entries. BTW-❤️ the new blog format. I just realized I have spent over an hour looking at all the fun links. Crazy how time flies when your having fun. Thanks for all you do.

  • Roberta says:

    Look at you two in your Power Poses…awesome!! Maria..did you notice the different lanterns in the pink door picture? I love it!! I’ve probably read every single one of your posts for years..since the beginning. So inspiring and I hope to take your course this year.

  • Roberta says:

    Just looked at another version of the pink door…nope, they’re the same!

  • Sofia says:

    It helps a lot!! Thank you so much

  • Marji says:

    Maria,
    Your blog and contents just keeps getting better and better! This was a fun run though Palm Springs – very inspiring !

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