What Does A Red Front Door Mean? (Facts & Ideas)
If first impressions are lasting impressions, then we may as well be sure to make the entrance of our homes look as beautiful as possible since it’s the first thing people set their eyes on. You may have noticed that red front doors are a thing for ages. There’s the symbolism behind it and in this article, I’m going to talk about what a red front door means.
A red front door means that your home is inviting and welcoming, it perpetuates warmth or vibrancy, it’s eye-catching, it’s indicative of wealth or being mortgage-free, it’s a resting sign for travelers, and it invites luck, goodwill and prosperity as well as being slightly edgy or taboo in certain neighborhoods.
In my book, home decor is an expression of who you are. Some people prefer an understated look to match their personality, whereas others want to be bold and brave with bright colors and unique designs.
It’s your home, and you should have the freedom of painting it and decorating it in any way that you like.
Personally, I love the idea of a red front door because it matches my loud and warm energy. Also, everyone has the same door color on my street, so I wouldn’t mind breaking the mold and being unique.
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Interesting Facts About Red Front Doors
It’s indicative of wealth or being mortgage-free
Prior to discussing this with someone from Scottland and nearing countries, I was accustomed to the idea that the people in these countries were known to paint their front doors red when they finally achieved wealth and a mortgage-free home.
Turns out, that’s not actually true. It’s just an old myth or folk tale that just passed down through the years and isn’t actually a custom in Scottland.
But, at the same time, most affordable doors aren’t necessarily customized in the color red and just sport a natural wood color and finish.
So, in reality, it’s really those who are a little better off who tend to display attractive and custom front doors, specifically, a red front door.
Essentially, a red front door actually does perpetuate good financial standing when paired with a good home.
It invites luck, goodwill and prosperity in ancient Chinese culture
Upon doing further research on red doors, I stumbled on a collection of articles that explained the ancient Chinese thoughts and beliefs on the color red.
It is believed to be the color that invites and attracts good tidings and repels evil from a home.
This is one of the reasons why the color red is a popular choice in temples and shrines within the Asian continent.
At the same time, red is also attributed to strength, fire, power and courage.
It’s such a passionate color and if you are someone who subscribes to the power of energy and attraction, then I see no reason why you would not consider having a front red door as a way of attracting these things.
What Color Walls Match A Red Door?
Classically, it is advisable to use a red front door with a home that is painted either white, black or gray.
The contrast between these colors suit each other, and they’re evenly matched.
Alternatively, you can pair a red door with plain brick walls of either dark stone, white stone or red/brown tones.
Here’s a list of the brick colors that pair well with a red door.
- Buckskin
- Cambridge
- Château
- Dover
- Orleans
- Regency
- Normandy
I tend to prefer dark brick colors against red front doors because they contrast each other perfectly and create a moody but intimate feel to any home or building.
Are Red Doors Out Of Style?
Absolutely, not. In fact, I would argue that red doors are in style given the loud, vibrant and eccentric influence of Gen Z on fashion and decor.
Flying low key still works but if you really want to be unique, stand out and make a bold statement about style, a front red door is a perfect addition.
What you don’t want to do is turn your home into what looks like a rainbow.
In other words, avoid pairing a red door with a bright yellow, blue, pink, green or purple painted home because that can easily look mismatched and dated for 2022.
The current style for red doors is to pair the bright and rich red color with a neutral or earthy tone for the rest of your home.
Final Thoughts
Honestly, if I had the opportunity to change the color of my front door soon, I would opt for red and pair it up with black paint for the exterior.
Sure, it’s a really bold and emo look but it can also be viewed as elegant and seductive.
If you were to take anything away from this article, let it be that a red front door means that you are bold and want to invite strength, good luck and good tidings according to Chinese traditions and beliefs.
With that being said, I hope you found this article on “what does a red front door mean?” to be interesting, enjoyable and helpful. If you have any questions or thoughts that you would like to share with me, please do so by visiting the comment section below.
Here’s a look at some interesting articles on decorating your homes:
What color to paint interior doors? (8 best colors)
