The Front Door Colors Mike Holmes Recommends For A Sleek & Sophisticated Entrance

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You finally did it. You created a stunning, polished interior and now it's time to make your home's entrance match the beauty within. But how do you create that same sophistication on the outside? Try a tip from Mike Holmes, host of HGTV's "Holmes on Homes," who recommends painting your front door a dark color for a sleek and sophisticated look. "Dark colours for your front door make your entrance look sophisticated and elegant," Holmes writes in an Instagram post. "They also work with any type of architecture and can be paired with bright accessories and welcome mats."

Why dark front doors? The darker colors add a quiet, understated elegance, creating a statement look without painting your door a startlingly bright hue. Plus, these tones can easily blend in with your home's current style, especially the more neutral colors, like black or gray. Plus, finding the perfect paint finish for your front door can complete the look by adding the right amount of shine. Semi-gloss exterior paint is a popular choice for not only its durability, but its ability to add an elevated gleam to your dark front door. Using a satin finish offers a shinier look. A matte finish can also create a sophisticated look, but beware — it may be harder to keep clean.

A walk down the paint aisle will quickly reveal that there are tons of colors to choose from. How can you find the right front door paint color to boost resale value and add sophistication to your home? Take cues from your home's existing exterior paint. Cooler-toned homes will likely look best with cooler front door colors, while warmer-toned homes will — you guessed it — complement warmer-toned doors. Your home's trim is also an excellent gauge to determine which color will look best. Once you determine which color tone would look best and complement your trim, head to the hardware store's paint section and look for dark blues, dark greens, charcoals, even blacks in that tone.

There's a couple things to keep in mind while color shopping. First, black front doors will hold more heat in the summer, so it may not be a good fit if you live in a hot climate. Second, if you own a white home, there's one front door paint color you should avoid: gray. Instead, try black for a classic color combo, or a deep, rich navy blue for a bit of softness.

Before you leave the hardware store, make sure to grab a gray exterior primer, like Rust-Oleum Zinsser Bulls Eye 1-2-3 All Surface Primer. Gray will bring a touch of brightness to the front door color — without overpowering it like a white primer would. Then, it's time to paint. Make sure to allow the primer coat to fully dry before layering on two coats of the color.