HGTV's Mike Holmes Swears By These Front Door Colors For A Polished, Elegant Look

The entrance to your home is one of the first things guests see and interact with, so you should choose a front door that reflects how you view your home. In addition to shape and style, color is an easy way to customize the door. Different colors can influence the way people perceive your home as well. If you want your home to feel elegant and polished, HGTV's Mike Holmes has a suggestion for the best shades to choose: stick to dark colors.

According to an Instagram post from Mike Holmes, "Dark colours for your front door make your entrance look sophisticated and elegant. They also work with any type of architecture." Since dark colors highlight architectural features (such as an elaborate front door) and help ground a design, they're often considered more sophisticated than lighter alternatives. Dark front doors are an easy way to add contrast to your home as well. If your home is overall lighter in color, the darker entrance will automatically draw people's attention. Dark neutrals such as brown and black have the added benefit of matching almost any color scheme. If you have kids or pets, darker colors also tend to hide stains and everyday wear and tear better. 

There are many dark colors you could choose for your front door, but which one is right for you? Start by considering your existing home's color scheme to determine what colors might look elegant. The important thing is that you like the way your home looks, but there are a few design principles you can keep in mind if you want it to look particularly striking. Two or three colors is generally ideal for the exteriors of homes — one for the house, one for the trim work, and one colorful pop for accents if you want more oomph. It's varied enough to be interesting but isn't overwhelming. If your home already has three colors, use your designated accent color for the door, just in a darker shade. For a two-toned house, you could instead use a third complementary color for the door. 

Next, consider what your goals are for your door. Black is a classic option for dark doors, and it has a few benefits. It is a sleek front door color that's a great choice for curb appeal, and it goes with everything. If you want your home to keep up with the trends, dark earth tones are among the 2026 trending front door colors. A warm dark brown can make your home feel inviting, while a deep green has a soothing forest vibe. If you'd rather stand out, consider a more colorful option. Darker shades of blue, red, purple, orange, yellow, and pink can add a pop of color to your home without becoming overbearing.