Weekend restyle

Knock, knock!

Change the look of your home in an afternoon with a freshly painted front door

Now that we’re able to welcome people into our homes again, it’s a good time to think about giving your front door a facelift. According to recent research by Dulux, it takes someone 10 seconds to make a judgement on you based on your front door – and if you’re thinking of selling your home, a freshly painted door will add to its kerb appeal.

The shade you choose can also be significant: although whites and browns are still popular, blues are on the up and research suggests this is a colour that could raise the value of your home by up to £4,000.

Paint company Farrow & Ball recently collaborated with the fashion brand Collagerie on a campaign to encourage its customers to think more creatively when it comes to choosing a colour. ‘You can be slightly bolder in your choice of front-door colour as you only view it when either entering or leaving your house,’ points out Farrow & Ball’s colour curator Joa Studholme.

When it comes to choosing and using colour for your door, Studholme advises taking into account the architectural style of your property. This, she says, is more relevant when it comes to painting the exterior than the interior, as are the colours your neighbours have used – if their door is bright white, your choice of a subtly toned white might just appear dirty in comparison.

When choosing the colour, it is vital to look at samples outside, where they will appear lighter than in the house. Consider the paint finish, too. A strong colour in a lowsheen exterior eggshell will be more discreet and contemporary. — Jessica Doyle

This season’s best shades for your front door Inchyra Blue French Rose Hopper

Clockwise from top left: Collagerie’s co-founder Lucinda Chambers at her door in Deep Reddish Brown; a door in Lake Red; designer Anna Mason’s door in Crimson Red, all Farrow & Ball; Teal Façade by Dulux