Had me at hello

Let your door do the talking and say hello in a cheerful yellow, making a stylish statement here against its white weatherboard setting.

Feeling a bit bored with your home’s entrance and not sure where to start? Let your front door be your first step. It doesn’t take long to paint a door, nor does it require much paint. It provides a chance to be bold, unexpected and brave, where you may not feel comfortable doing so elsewhere in the house.

First impressions last, and that includes the impact of your home.

A statement front door sets the tone for the rest of the house, whether the aesthetic is bright and cheerful, pretty and pastel or soft and dusky – the ideas for a unique style are endless.

Painting your front door in a colour you love is a way of adding your personality to your home’s exterior. Not only will you be stamping your style, but you’re also enhancing the curb appeal and making a pleasant impression on those who visit your house. Boosting your curb appeal can apply whether you’re looking to sell or not. After all, what’s better than coming home to your dream colour on your front door each day?

For a dose of sunshine, an upbeat ray of happiness, look to colours such as bold yellows. This implies your home is warm and welcoming, and you’re always happy to invite friends in, even if it’s unexpected.

If you have an affinity for coastal-inspired interiors, evoke the azure blue-greens of the beach, or go for more turquoise tones to throw a more resounding punch. These blues speak of someone who is drawn to a calm setting, and who appreciates

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order and serenity.

For a fun-filled feeling that will elevate your every day, celebrate colours that pop, such as orange or rose. They indicate that you like a bit of fun and will pop out from a home’s exterior in a pale hue as well as walls in darker shades of indigo or grey.

Gentle pretty hues such as periwinkle blue, soft lavender or dusky pink nod towards more romantic souls.

White will evoke a sense of serenity and peace, and a similar impact is found in green, which conjures up a sense of someone who likes to feel grounded and at peace.

Resene colour expert Brenda Ngatai says a painted front door helps to anchor the front of the home.

‘‘Painted front entrance doors are a great idea if the layout and design of the exterior allows,’’ she says. ‘‘It signals the direction and can formalise ‘the front entrance door’. Some exteriors can be confusing as to where or which one is the front door.’’

The main aspect to remember, Brenda says, is that the door colour has to harmonise with the hue in the rest of the home.

‘‘I’m often asked by homeowners what’s an excellent front entrance door colour? An essential key to it all is that it needs to work with the overall exterior colour scheme. It could be a bold or subtle colour, but it needs to show individuality and personality.

‘‘For a playful approach to your home’s exterior, bring a bold colour onto your door, coating your exterior window trims in the same colour. This works particularly well if your exterior walls are in an understated hue or dark, needing something to offset them.’’

Consider the finish of your paint too, and play around with different gloss levels to attract the eye, Brenda says. It can impact the look of your chosen colour, enhancing its appearance. ‘‘Using a gloss like Resene Enamacryl really elevates and brings a colour to life,’’ she says.

Stay true to yourself, not just the current trends, when choosing your colour. That way you will have a door to adore. This article was commissioned in response to a commercial partnership. We have produced it independently, to the same standards applied to the rest of our journalism.