To paint a front door that lasts, use a paint made for exterior woodwork, prepare the door properly, then apply one coat of the right primer and two topcoats on a dry, mild day. Each of the three brands we stock makes a finish for the job, from the soft sheen of an exterior eggshell to the mirror shine of a full gloss.
A front door takes more weather than almost anything else in the house. Rain, frost and full sun all work on the paint, and it is handled every single day. That is why the choice of finish matters as much as the colour, and why a little patience with preparation pays off for years.
The good news is that this is a very achievable job. Start early, take the door furniture off, and work through it in a sensible order.
Photo Credit: Farrow & Ball; Colour Used: Railings (31)
Choosing the right exterior finish
The main decision is how much shine you want. A low sheen looks soft and traditional, while gloss gives a crisp, lacquered look that suits a smart town house.
- Farrow & Ball Exterior Eggshell (20% sheen). A durable, low-sheen finish for outdoor wood and metal, which Farrow & Ball describe as protecting against weather and UV.
- Farrow & Ball Full Gloss (95% sheen). Their highest shine, water-based and suitable inside and out. Farrow & Ball suggest a popular pairing: Full Gloss on the door, with Exterior Eggshell in the same colour on the frame.
- Little Greene Intelligent Exterior Eggshell (15% sheen). Self-priming and made for all exterior woodwork and joinery. Little Greene describe it as really robust and durable, and recommend it for wooden and uPVC doors.
- Little Greene Intelligent Gloss. A water-based high gloss that Little Greene say looks particularly smart on a front door in darker shades. For a traditional oil finish, they also make Traditional Oil Gloss.
- Paint & Paper Library Architects' Satin (30 to 35% sheen) or Architects' Gloss. Both are listed by Paint & Paper Library for front doors.
Whichever you choose, the method below is broadly the same. Always check the guidance for your chosen product, as primers and recoat times differ from brand to brand.
Preparing the door
Most of a good finish happens before the paint tin is opened.
- Remove the door furniture. Take off the knocker, letterbox, handles and numbers, and keep the screws together.
- Scrape and fill. Remove any loose or flaking paint, then fill holes and damaged areas and let the filler dry.
- Sand. Lightly sand the whole door to give a smooth surface with a key for the new paint. Wipe away the dust.
- Clean and dry. The door must be clean and completely dry before you start. Mask the edges of any glass.
Bare and new timber needs more care. Little Greene's data sheet for Intelligent Exterior Eggshell advises two coats of aluminium wood primer over resinous wood and knots, and treating new softwood with a wood preserver first.
Photo Credit: Little Greene; Colour Used: Boringdon Green (295)
Painting it, step by step
A panelled door looks best painted in a set order, so that each section is finished before the paint on its neighbour starts to dry. Farrow & Ball suggest this sequence for every coat:
- The panels, working from the mouldings out.
- The central upright between the panels.
- The rails: top, then middle, then bottom.
- The outer uprights on each side, finishing with long, straight strokes.
With Farrow & Ball, apply one coat of Wood Primer & Undercoat in the tone recommended for your colour, then two topcoats, letting each dry thoroughly. With Little Greene's Intelligent Exterior Eggshell, two coats are recommended, and on a sound, previously painted door the first coat can act as the primer. A 2 inch angled brush gives good control in the mouldings.
Weather and timing
Exterior paint is more particular about conditions than interior paint. Little Greene's data sheet for Intelligent Exterior Eggshell asks for a temperature of 10°C or above while it is applied and cures, at least 3°C above the dew point, and no higher than 25°C. It also gives a minimum of 16 hours before recoating.
- Pick a settled spell. Choose a run of dry, mild days, with no rain due while the paint dries.
- Start early. Farrow & Ball recommend beginning early in the day, so each coat has time to dry before the evening damp.
- Avoid full sun. Paint dries too quickly on a hot door and shows brush marks.
Photo Credit: Little Greene; Colour Used: Air Force Blue (260)
Front door colours that last
Deep, characterful colours are the classic choice, and they hide everyday marks well.
- Railings (31) is a blue-based black that reads more blue or more black depending on the light, as the door above shows.
- Hague Blue (30) is a deep, inky blue that Farrow & Ball describe as a favourite for walls, woodwork and front doors alike.
- Studio Green (93) is the darkest green in the Farrow & Ball palette. Outdoors it takes on a much greener hue than it shows inside.
- Obsidian Green (216) is a near-black green that Little Greene suggest for front doors and railings.
- French Gray (18) is softer, a grey that leans towards green, which Farrow & Ball single out as sympathetic on front doors.
For something brighter, Air Force Blue (260) is a deep, full-bodied blue and Boringdon Green (295) a beautifully balanced deep green. Try a sample pot on a board held against the door and the brickwork before deciding, as outdoor light changes colour more than you might expect.
Questions we are often asked
Can I paint a uPVC front door?
Yes. Little Greene recommend two coats of Intelligent ASP, tinted to your colour, followed by Intelligent Exterior Eggshell.
Eggshell or gloss?
It is a matter of look rather than toughness. Eggshell gives a soft, understated finish; gloss gives a crisp, traditional shine and shows any imperfections underneath, so the preparation needs to be thorough.
Can I paint the inside of the door to match?
Yes, and many people choose a different colour inside. Little Greene's Intelligent range is self-priming on most interior surfaces, as our guide to painting IKEA furniture explains.
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Farrow & Ball Exterior Eggshell · Intelligent Exterior Eggshell · Sample pots
