Property News

What colour front door best sells a house? Annunciata Walton quizzes the country’s most experienced agents

Rupert Lawson Johnston, head of Strutt & Parker Chichester

‘First impressions count and you want to look smarter, cleaner and more inviting than your neighbours. If your house is of Cotswold yellow stone, duck-egg blue can be appealing. For country cottages, soft blues and greens are charming. A darker royal blue can look smart against red brick. For a white façade, a deeper shade of green. If it’s by the sea, however, it’s a mellow, chalky, duck-egg blue.

My personal choice is a matte from Little Greene’s Lead Colour range or Elephant’s Breath from Farrow & Ball, but greys only work if the door is dressed with a freshly painted crisp-white door frame, green trees either side and chrome door furniture.’

Lindsay Cuthill, head of Savills country department

‘Pink! No, I’m joking. There probably isn’t a standout winner. Smart black in a Georgian terrace in Spitalfields looks just right, likewise white on the Royal Crescent in Bath. The Farrow & Ball Stone collection works well in the Cotswolds, although I confess to preferring the Paint Library or Papers and Paints and, although not for me, red works with brick houses.

Extreme colours only work for the few; orange, lime green and pink are all out there, but are not likely to have broad appeal. The door to my own house in the country is a dark aubergine.’

Paul Cadge, partner, and Sarah Cull, associate at Myddelton & Major

Paul and Sarah, who have worked together for 18 years, have completely differing views. Sarah suggests that black or a heritage shade of sage green can install a sense of confidence about what lies behind the door. Paul believes the colour doesn’t matter a jot, as long as it’s maintained and clean. Patrick Paton, managing partner at Rettie & Co

‘Particularly in the chilly North, a cheerful entrance is key, so even on the most horrid rainy day, you want to go in. Although black looks smart and elegant, it’s quite cold. Red makes a property stand out, but is aggressive; dark blue is also cold. I’d paint my front door royal green, light blue or, my favourite, yellow.’

Nigel Colebrook, director at Bright & Bright

‘Don’t use a pastel. Dark colours, such as green, maroon and blue (my personal favourite), look more welcoming. Light or bright colours can jar and they show the dirt.’ Jane Summers, senior sales negotiator at Marchand Petit

‘A fit-for-purpose door is always a good selling point. For instance, if you live in the Highlands, a Swedish door that opens outwards will stop snow from entering the hallway, so Nordic colours or wood are good.

In the South Hams, many coastal properties sell because of the amazing water views that become apparent when either walking through front doors or when leaving properties overlooking the sea. Currently popular is a front door with a porthole in it, usually blue, which adds humour and a coastal feel.’ Nick Churton, chairman and managing director, Mayfair Office

‘A front door is the opening statement to any property and colour is as crucial as design, but depends on the architecture and vernacular tradition. A Cotswold cottage may suit an olive green, but the oak of a neighbouring manor house may be better left unpainted. A London town house may be beautifully set off with a door in teal blue or eau de nil against a red-brick or cream-stucco surround. But where would 10, Downing Street be without its famous gloss-black portal? It’s so subjective. Get it right and the front elevation can be transformed. Get it wrong and the whole building and those around it will suffer.’ Jeremy Campbell-harris, head of London country houses at Humberts

‘Each year, new colours come to the market. Green has always been popular as it’s very welcoming. I see more red doors in built-up areas and black is still a firm favourite on the majority of houses across the country.’

Charlie Wells, managing director at Prime Purchase

‘In London, grey. In the country, cream. For my ultimate choice, dark blue, as it’s less obvious than black. However, good-quality period brass door furniture is the winner.’

David King, Winkworth

‘It depends on the area and what kind of statement you want to make, but a front door should always be welcoming and clean, with

good paintwork or wood stain. At a push, go with French grey.’

Rory O’neil, Carter Jonas

‘Optimum door colour depends on where you are. Town is often a soft grey; country is more blue, reds and greens. Regardless, the paint does have to be Farrow & Ball.’

Michael Donnelly, director, Cheffins

‘In Cambridge, we have rows and rows of recently refurbished Victorian terraces; these usually sport a grey or sage-green door. Heritage blues are popular, too. These need to be shiny, midnight blues with golden door pulls and letterboxes. Brighter blues are good for smaller properties, but grander homes tend to go for a strong navy or midnight. Too bright a blue can look cheap, so we recommend sticking to a dark tone or a duck egg and keep the finish glossy, which gives an impression of luxury. Blues can look particularly striking on redbrick Victorian properties, which often have elegant skylights or stained-glass windows.’ Ed Heaton, founder and managing partner at Heaton & Partners buying agents

‘Black is the only colour to paint your front door. It’s classic, smart, timeless and elegant.’

Saul Empson, director of buying agency Haringtons

‘If you live on one of the big estates in London, such as the Grosvenor, your door will be black—that’s the rule. It’s a different story in Kensington, where there’s a distinguished palette of Farrow & Ball. Move over to Notting Hill and it’s all vibrancy: flamingo-pinks, yellows and azure-blues are commonplace, which help to set this London village alight. My ultimate choice is Little Greene’s Mister Yellow.’

Jonathan Harington, founder of Haringtons

‘Front-door colours are not so relevant in the countryside—it’s very rare to use your front door these days. The large eat-in kitchen/ living areas so commonplace now are usually accessed through the back door. Sellers should therefore consider sprucing up a back door to set the tone for a successful viewing. I’m a fan of organic shades, such as Lichen, a muted green from Farrow & Ball.’

Ian Westerling, managing director at Humberts

‘I’m a traditionalist. Down Pipe from Farrow & Ball.’ Rupert Sweeting, head of country-house sales at Knight Frank

‘In town, black or dark-blue doors lend gravitas and stay clean. In the country, a natural wood is the best choice as it reflects the quality of the property.’

Nicholas Leeming, Chairman Jackson-stops & Staff

‘Assuming it’s a period property, dark blue or dark green, as I think they add class and value—but you could annoy the neighbours by going for Day-glo orange!’