Painting your front door can give big boost to curb appeal

Your front door is like your calling card to the world. Its color reflects your personality and gives a hint of your style.

So the quickest and most economical way to make over the front of your house is to paint that door a glossy new color.

Sure, you could go with traditional but boring black or white. But why not choose something that will make your place stand out from the crowd?

"Painting your front door is a fast and easy way to upgrade and freshen up curb appeal. All you need is a quart of paint and a brush," says Jill Waage, executive editor of the Better Homes and Gardens brand. She says many consumers are choosing colors for their doors that are different from the walls, trim or shutters. "This speaks to the personalization that people are doing all over their homes right now," she says.

In a recent survey, about 48 percent of Better Homes and Gardens readers said that their front door is painted a color other than white, black or a wood finish.

We asked some designers and bloggers which front door color they love. Many suggested choosing a high-gloss finish. Here are edited excerpts of their responses.

Designer Stuart Nordin of Alexandria, Virginia: Magenta by Benjamin Moore

"I don't usually care for a crazy color because I think you can get sick of it quickly, but recently a client and I decided to go for a deep magenta, and it turned out beautifully. It's close to red but more fun and playful without being too trendy."

Designer Shazalynn Cavin-Winfrey of Alexandria, Virginia: Basil Green by Benjamin Moore

"This is the color of my office front door and goes with virtually every exterior color. Green identifies with harmony and growth. I like to think every entry should invite both of those things to those who enter."

Boston designer Erin Gates, blogger at Elements of Style: Wasabi by Benjamin Moore

"This is a wonderful chartreuse that looks incredible on my white house with black shutters. It also makes brass hardware absolutely sing."

New York designer Alexa Hampton: Chase Green from Darryl Carter Colors for Benjamin Moore

"It's traditional and not cocky, but it has more personality than just a black door and certainly more softness."

This story was originally published March 23, 2016 at 10:09 PM with the headline "Painting your front door can give big boost to curb appeal ."