The Best RED & Burgundy Front Door Paint Colors

Muted, Spicy, Ravishing, & more…

Red has been kickin’ it on heads and front doors for centuries, but that doesn’t mean every home (or man) can handle it.

Sometimes, a more muted burgundy can be good for visual interest without committing to the intensity of a vivacious red. Other times, a rustic red connects better with some brick and stone features. There are also red-pinks, red-purples, and REAL reds (ahem) coming in as the ones with the most vibrant personalities!

But which one is best for YOUR home’s exterior? It depends on what you’ve got. Now, I can’t say for sure without seeing photos of your home via my Online Color Consulting, but these shades should get you on the right path!

A gorgeous home in Vancouver, BC

So, without further ado, let’s find the hue for you…

THE BEST BRIGHT RED DOOR COLORS

Not everyone wants a rustic red or a more passive approach—some of us (including my husband – wink wink) love the real deal.

My next client hired me (and chose the Rendering add-on) to find the perfect color for her front door. Her hubby loves red, so I explored a few variations for her to explore – here’s one of them (Benjamin Moore Caliente)…

However, not every home can handle a punchy red shade, so I’ve included a few slightly more moderate shades in this list. Sample and compare to see which best suits your home.

• Benjamin Moore Caliente (shown above) is a gorgeous, sumptuous red, one of my faves for real personality (read its REVIEW).
• Benjamin Moore Rapture has a slightly cool red-pink edge compared to Caliente – both are STUNNING.
• Sherwin Williams Poinsetta packs a gorgeous punch of red.
• For a bit more warmth compared to Poinsetta but great intensity, check out Sherwin Williams Bolero.
• Sherwin Williams Salute is another beautiful color to explore – slightly muted but still stunning.
• Sherwin Williams Chinese Red has great energy and personality (shown below).
• Benjamin Moore Heritage Red has a cheerful, classic look and is one of my faves!

The intensity of the red on this next front door suits the more subtle, organic look of this home’s palette…

Sherwin Williams Salute

However, my next Online Color client wanted a real kick in her red underpants, so we hit it hard! I gave her several shades to sample and compare, but Sherwin Williams Chinese Red was the winner winner chicken dinner!

Get a set of my FAVORITE RED & BURGUNDY FRONT DOOR COLORS – Sample & compare! 

THE BEST BURGUNDY FRONT DOOR COLORS

Burgundy is a popular front door choice, although it can look a bit dated with the wrong palette.

What IS the wrong palette?

Well, I have to see it to know for sure, but Burgundy isn’t always the most modern choice for palettes with a lot of beige and tan (a home built in the early 2000s).

Burgundy straddles the line between red and purple, giving allegiance to either depending on the shade you choose. It also has a bit more of a neutral base, calming it down. Some burgundies can pick up a slightly pinkish hue or even dip into the plum range if they hit purple hard enough.

Seriously, I could make a greeting card out of this next home—it looks so perfect perched on its green hill! And what makes it even more lovely is its Hodley Red front and garage doors.

While the front door’s hard to see from a distance, here’s Hodley Red in action on the garage doors…

• Benjamin Moore Hodley Red is one of the best red-violet blends with a nice neutral base calming it down.
• Benjamin Moore New London Burgundy grabs a bit more violet and politely nods at the plum-inspired world.
• Sherwin Williams Sommelier winks pretty hard at plum with its red-violet blend. If you want more commitment to purple, check out the LOVELY Carnelian!
• For a more intriguing blend of red and violet, check out Sherwin Williams Fine Wine.
• Sherwin Williams Borscht is another great combo that picks up a bit more color and intensity than some others.

SLIGHTLY RUSTIC RED FRONT DOOR PAINT COLORS

Reds with a touch of orange tend to be the more popular choices. This is because they more often suit the average brick, stone, or exterior finish. Another reason they’re amongst the top shades is that, along with red and orange, they have a bit of brown, taking the edge off what can be a punchier hue (some have a little brown; some have a LOT!).

For example, we looked at this Tudor-style exterior above, with a more vibrant red. While the owners LOVE it, notice how Rustic Red picks up on the red-orange of the brick surrounding the front pathway AND complements the dark teal trim (it’s like I know what I’m doing – wink wink)…

• Benjamin Moore Cottage Red has a classic look that’s neither too rustic nor too traditional.
• Sherwin Williams Rustic Red is awesome for a mild nod at rust with minimal commitment to orange.
• Sherwin Williams Red Barn is another red-orange hue with a gorgeous look (great for barns, too, as shown below).
• Benjamin Moore Tea is an even more rustic, red-orange-brown blend.
• Benjamin Moore Country Redwood is another rich shade to explore with a wink o’ orange.
• Sherwin Williams Roycroft Copper Red has a lovely rusty rue.

While this isn’t a front door, look at how great Red Barn looks on this red barn – how ironic…

This next image is an example of a home that DIDN’T suit a red door (right, before) and was best suited to a purple hue (Sherwin Williams Darkroom).

Remember, not every home can handle red!

READ MORE

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The Best Paint Colors for Your SHUTTERS! 

The Best Teal & Navy Blue Front Door Paint Colors

How to Choose Your Exterior Color In 5 Easy Steps

6 Front Door Paint Colors – HOA FRIENDLY! 

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