A red front door is quite the statement and while you may be considering painting your door red for a bunch of reasons – perhaps it’s your favourite colour, you fancy a change, you want your home to stand out on the street, or you just want to decorate the exterior of your home, the colour red has some connotations you may want to discover before buying the paint. Our latest blog post looks at the history, tradition and symbolism associated with the red front door.

The History, Tradition & Symbolism Of The Red Door

The red door has different meanings, and origins, to a whole host of cultures.

Dating back to Biblical times a red door was symbolic of protection against death. In Exodus 12, Israelite’s were said to have made a pact with God for the first Passover. They should sacrifice a lamb in order to receive protection for their household. To show they had made the sacrifice they should smear the lamb’s blood over the front door of their homes. Many churches have red doors to signify this religious event. Some churches also have red doors as symbolism for Christ’s blood and the sacrifice he made. The religious connotations of a red front door are associated with safety and sanctuary.

A red door has alternative meanings based on location also:

• In America a red front door holds the historical significance of meaning people are welcome at the homes that host a painted door. Travellers were welcome to rest and have a meal, and during the Civil War in the Underground Railroad, runaway slaves would also see a red door as a sign of a safe house. The colour more recently is also said to indicate lack of interest to cold callers.
• Red is a colour of significance to Chinese culture as it symbolises luck.
• In Feng Shui, the colour red is associated with positive energy.
• In Scotland, homeowners paint their doors red to show they have paid off their mortgage. It’s a beacon of red to show they are out of the red with their loans.
• Irish culture has many known associations with the red front door. When Queen Victoria ordered them to paint their doors black, red doors were a sign of rebellion. There is also folklore symbolism with some choosing to believe a red front door warns off evil spirits and ghosts. There is also a joke that red front doors make homes easily identifiable for people when drunk.

Why Paint Your Front Door Red?

A red front door has a long history in different cultures of positive connotations. A red front door indicates:

• Protection
• Safety
• Welcomeness
• Refuge
• Energy
• Pride
• Luck
• Warmth
• Love

Whether you realised when painting your door at the time or you are yet to paint, there’s not many colours associated with so many positive factors. What better colour to choose for your front door. If some of the superstitions also turn out to be true, then you may end up very fortunate.

There are also stylistic reasons why you might choose to paint your front door red. Red is a dramatic standout colour which will allow your house to pop, especially if you have red brick work.

If you’re looking for a front door colour, red is a favourable option but we’ve also looked at a few other popular front door colours below in case red just isn’t your colour.

Other Popular Front Door Colours & Their Meanings

Blue is an indication of serenity and calm. It’s also a popular door option for white coloured homes and seaside properties.

Black indicates seriousness but also sophistication and wealth. Black is a versatile colour that works well with many different property types.

White, like black, is a versatile colour that works well with many buildings. It symbolises purity and calm but it is probably the most difficult choice to keep clean.

Grey is currently on trend for a front door colour. It is associated with reservedness and sophistication.

Green is a calm colour that shows you are conscious about the environment. Lime green is a brave colour to behold and quite the style statement.

Yellow is a happy and welcoming colour but for those not brave enough to go bold and bright but are still interested in the yellow colour, mustard is a more subtle hue to opt for.

Orange is a bold, warm and inviting front door colour but its not for the faint-hearted. It can also be difficult to maintain the warm hue as time goes on.

When it comes to front door colours, you have many options but knowing some of the meanings associated with your colour choice can help you make the right decision for your home.