What Red Doors Mean & Why You Should Paint Yours

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Find out the fascinating origins behind red front doors

Co-authored by Raven Minyard, BA

Last Updated: August 26, 2024 Fact Checked

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Common Red Door Meanings

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Red Door Historical Meanings

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Should you paint your door red?

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Other Door Color Meanings

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You’ve probably seen houses, businesses, and even churches with red doors, but did you know red doors offer more than just curb appeal? Red doors have many positive associations, including protection, hospitality, and being debt-free. In this article, we’ll teach you everything you need to know about red doors, including their common and historical meanings and whether you should paint your door red. Plus, learn what other popular door colors mean.

What Do Red Doors Symbolize?

Red doors often mean the residents are welcoming and hospitable and are often a sign of protection and sanctuary. They’re also commonly a sign of good luck and positive energy, and having a red front door often means the resident has paid off their mortgage and is “out of the red.”

Section 1 of 4:

Common Red Door Meanings

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In the United States, red doors have traditionally been a sign that a home was a safe place for travelers to stop and let their horses rest. In more modern times, red front doors often mean that the residents are neighborly and show that they want to be involved with their local community. ^{[1]
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Many churches paint their doors red to symbolize God’s protection. The red paint is often a symbol for Jesus Christ’s blood and the sacrifices he made for Christians. Traditionally, the red doors of a church showed that it was a place of refuge and that those who entered could not be captured or harmed. ^{[2]
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In Chinese culture, red is believed to bring good luck and health and to keep away evil spirits. Those who believe in feng shui see the front door as a gateway, so painting the front door red is said to attract good energy into the house or building. ^{[3]
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Originating in Scotland, one urban legend says that people paint their front doors red when they finish paying off their mortgage to show the world that they’re debt-free and “out of the red.” While not many people participate in this tradition, it is still one of the most common meanings associated with red doors. ^{[4]
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Section 2 of 4:

Red Door Historical Meanings

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In the United States, the Underground Railroad was a network of people who helped slaves escape to freedom. Because this was illegal, safehouses needed a way to indicate their existence without being too obvious. They often painted their doors red to let the escaped slaves know they were safe there. ^{[5]
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In Exodus 12, Israelites made an agreement with God for the first Passover, in which they would sacrifice a lamb in order to receive protection for their household. To prove that the sacrifice had been made, they would then smear the lamb’s blood over their front doors. ^{[6]
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In Victorian-era Ireland, they were a sign of rebellion. Ireland was colonized by the English and suffered many hardships as a result. Legend has it that when England’s Queen Victoria’s (known by the Irish as the “Famine Queen”) husband Albert died, she instructed the Irish to paint their doors black in mourning. Instead, they painted them red as a sign of rebellion against the English. ^{[7]
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- According to Irish folklore, red doors may also have been used to ward off ghosts and evil spirits, or to make homes easily identifiable to the drunk.

Section 3 of 4:

Should you paint your door red?

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Paint your door red if it appeals to you. Red doors do not have any negative associations, so there’s no reason not to paint your front door red, unless it isn’t permitted in your area or by your HOA. Brightly-colored doors can add curb appeal to your property in addition to all the positive associations of the color red.
- If you participate in feng shui, however, a front or main door that faces west or northwest should not be painted red. These directions represent the element of metal, while red represents the element of fire. Painting a door that faces these directions red could create an elemental conflict. ^{[8]
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- The shade of red you choose does not affect the associations with the color, so choose whatever shade you like best. If you think a bright red would make you feel stressed, go with something darker or more muted, for example.

Section 4 of 4:

Other Door Color Meanings

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Blue symbolizes calmness, relaxation, and imagination. Blue doors have traditionally represented safety, peace, and faith and are believed to bless the residents of the home with good luck. Blue doors are also popular options for white homes and houses near the seaside. ^{[9]
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Black doors often symbolize that the residents of the home are sophisticated or wealthy. They also signify power, prosperity, and mystery. Those with black doors may prefer to keep their lives private. ^{[10]
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White doors symbolize purity and calmness, and because they’re so difficult to keep clean, they often indicate that the interior of the house is spotless. Because of these associations, some believe having a white door will help clear and calm the mind. ^{[11]
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Gray is often associated with reservedness and sophistication. It invokes beauty, elegance, and precision and is often connected with the element of metal. Many believe having a gray door also invites helpful people into the lives of the house’s residents. ^{[12]
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Green doors are believed to indicate that the resident of the home is peaceful, cooperative, and loves nature. Historically, green doors were believed to bring fertility, wealth, and good fortune. Green is also a symbol of growth, transformation, and renewal. ^{[13]
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Because yellow is a bright and bold color, having a yellow door often indicates that the resident is an energetic, positive person. Yellow also symbolizes creativity, intellect, and clarity, and some believe having a yellow door will bring positive change. ^{[14]
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Orange doors Orange symbolizes creativity, expression, and fun, and an orange door often means the resident is warm-hearted. In ancient Rome, the color was also associated with the god Mercury and therefore also symbolizes communication, commerce, and flexibility. For this reason, it’s often a good color to paint the front door of a business. ^{[15]
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- Mercury was the god of travel, trade, and merchants.
Historically, purple represented royalty, and sometimes a purple door meant the resident practiced witchcraft. In modern times, purple is associated with creativity, inspiration, and elegance. A purple door is often believed to bring peaceful energy to the resident. ^{[16]
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Brown is a common color for doors, and it represents the element of earth. It is associated with stability, warmth, grounding, and structure. Some believe having a brown door promotes self-care and well-being. ^{[17]
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