Why I'm In Love with My Painted Black Front Doors

Give me a can of black paint and I’m a happy woman. Black paint is pretty much my answer for any space that just needs something. It makes almost anything that feels outdated or tired instantly more modern and interesting. It instantly makes everything feel more modern, fresh, and offers some bold contrast. That’s why I grabbed my favorite black paint to tackle my front doors. The front porch was nice, but maybe a little drab. So, with just a weekend of prepping and painting, I transformed these beauties into a grand entryway. I’m absolutely obsessed with the results of these painted black front doors!

Below, you can see the front porch when I first bought this house. It was cute and cottagey. The soft sage green doors painted by the previous owner was pretty in its own right. It just didn’t quite fit my style and didn’t offer the contrast I love. It also felt a little flat to me. It wasn’t bad, but I thought I could create more drama and curb appeal.

Because I wanted more of a bold look, in addition to the black paint, I used outdoor accessories to add height and texture. I’ll share all the decor details below, but layering rugs and planters makes for a bolder front entrance.

Prepping the Front Doors

To tackle this project, I started with cleaning, prepping, and taping these entry doors (which always takes wayyy longer than I think it will). Painting is the easy part compared to this but such a crucial step.

All in all it took a few hours but if I’ve learned nothing else from all my painting projects, cleaning really goes a long way for a successful project. Getting the surfaces really clean and sanding rough spots make for a more professional finish. Here’s what I did:

Lightly sanded wood doors – just enough to scruff them up a bit so new paint wills stick
Wiped off the doors from top to bottom with a soft rag and gentle, non-residue cleaner
Taped around each window pane and door fixture (Even though a razor blade scrapes off dried paint on glass, I still like to tape it off just in case)

Best Black Paint for Front Doors

For these doors, I used Sherwin Williams Exterior Paint in in Tricorn Black- Matte Finish. I had regular latex paint from another project but opted for the exterior formula for extra durability. It went on really smoothly and needed two coats for a deep true black. Once it dried, I could tell it hardened into a durable, resistant coat.

As for the paint color, Tricorn Black is one of my go to black paint colors for many projects. Considered a true black, I’ve used it on a couple different front door projects and it never disappoints. It has a lot of depth and doesn’t have undertones – meaning it won’t look purple or green as the sun changes throughout the day. Nothing like being surprised by a paint color later in the day!

While I love a good, deep, dark black, if you’re looking for a charcoal black, Iron Ore from Sherwin Williams is a good option. It’s one of my favorite charcoal gray and is an almost black. Check out my side by side black paint comparison to see how these two colors match up. Peppercorn by Sherwin Williams is also a popular blackish exterior paint colors – I’d just caution it can have a bit of a purple undertone.

If you like to see colors first hand, peel and stick samples are always a good option. Samplize has a great Top 10 Best-Selling Black Paint Colors Collection which makes it easy to try out different options.

Front Porch Styling

After I finished painting, it was time to style! The dramatic black doors created a bold backdrop for outdoor decor. It was tempting to splurge on styling, but to be honest, I really prefer to make do with what I have.

Planters with Stand – these initially came with a brass base, but I loved the shape, height, & outdoor container so I just spray painted the stand!
Black Jute Rug – I had this in the entryway way at my previous home but because it had seen better days, I moved it out here to the porch!
It’s almost time to upgrade the welcome mat and when I do, I might opt for a longer and plain version but until then, this doormat does the job!
While I often go for black on black hardware (check out my kitchen), I really liked the look of the existing Brushed Silver Door Handle Set so I’m keeping it!

The black front doors not only contrast well with the white house but also make greenery look extra amazing! In addition to some potted shrubs, I added some herbs including rosemary (one of my go to outdoor plants), thyme, and oregano.

How to Choose a Front Door?

After all this, you might be wondering how to choose a good front door. These double doors came with our home but in my last house, I completed replaced the existing doors. It was such a great investment!

There are a lot of variables to consider so I recommend using a front door guide to help with the process! We went with solid Douglas Fir with a mix of panels and windows for a modern but classic look.

Final Thoughts

I hope this diy project for my painted black front doors gives you some inspiration. It definitely goes down as one of my Favorite DIY Projects. If you’re looking to add some drama and contrast – a good dark paint colors is the way to go. And, if you’re on the black paint team with me, check out my post with 3 Simple Ways to Use Black Paint in Your Home for other easy projects.