17 Different Styles of The Colonial Front Door to Create Classic Lines and Proportions

Colonial front doors are usually simple, painted in traditional colors with paneled wood. They are also heavy and large, completed with sidelights and transom above.

Glass panels are unusual for colonial front doors. Instead, they typically have multiple pales laid in a grid.

However, glass panels are frequently used in a more modern colonial front door. Glass is a timeless element that never fails to enhance a modern look in any style.

In a more traditional colonial front door, they are usually simple with trimmed and carved with elaborate millwork.

Red, deep blue, white, and black is common colors for traditional colonial front doors. Even though deep blue and red are bold colors often associated with a modern look, in the case of colonial front doors, they bring out a traditional sense.

Other colors like green and yellow, on the contrary, are quite uncommon for conventional colonial front doors. That is why they are useful to add a touch of a contemporary look as well as deliver a pop of color, a center point in the entrance.

There are several types of the colonial front door. If you still have no idea about what kind of door has a colonial style, here are 17 different styles of them that can create classic lines and proportions in your exterior:

1. Sherwin Williams – Keystone Gray Colonial Front Door with Sidelight and Transom

This house has one of the key elements of colonial style: bricks exterior. It looks exquisite, especially with the pillars on the porch.

The front door is simple, a single hinged door with a grid of several panels.

This door is painted in Sherwin Williams – Keystone Gray, which perfectly matches the shutters. Both the door and the shutters create a consistent look to the exterior.

Like a usual conventional colonial house, white was picked as the main color. The columns and the stucco walls are painted in Sherwin Williams – Pearly White.

It somehow creates a consistent look with the sidelights and the transom around the front door, whose trim is painted in a similar paint.

A combination of white color and glass elements will create a modern look, which is quite in contrast to the traditional colonial front door.

2. Dark Panel Colonial Front Door with a Glossy Finish

This front door is considered transitional because it has both modern and traditional elements all at once.

Basically, a single swing door painted in a dark color pulls off a traditional look perfectly. However, this one also has glass panels, which is uncommon for traditional colonial doors. Glass panels are only used in a more modern colonial front door.

However, since the front door is painted or stained in dark color with a glossy finish, it is hard to clearly see the glass panels from this angle.

Maybe that is intentional to conceal the modern element of this door. So it is safe to say that basically, this front door is functional rather than decorative.

The glass panels can fill the room with natural lights, but the homeowners, at the same time, wanted to maintain the classic look of the colonial house exterior.

This door is completed with two narrow sidelights and white trim instead of the transom at the top. It is because the entrance opening is not that wide to have a larger door with bigger sidelights and transom. However, it is enough to highlight the traditional style.

3. Benjamin Moore – Universal Black Colonial Front Door with Glass Panels

This two-story traditional house looks majestic with its transitional colonial front door. This one is installed with sidelights and transom.

The arched transom follows the shape of the gamble roof above, which is a great way to add visual interest to an exterior.

The front door is painted in Benjamin Moore – Universal Black. It matches the shutters in the first and second stories of this house.

Even though the door is painted in a traditional colonial shade, it also features glass panels. The half-circular glass panels are installed at the top of the door, a great way to incorporate a small window on the door.

With sidelights and transom, this front door is completed with a glass element that brings a modern style.

Unlike the previous picture, the homeowners don’t try to conceal it. It shows that this front door is both functional and decorative at the same time.

4. Single Hinged Colonial Front Door Painted in Red

Even though in most decoration styles, red is considered a vibrant color that fits a contemporary or modern style, in a colonial house, red is known as a classic color. It is part of the traditional shades in a colonial style.

In this entrance, the red front door will only highlight the traditional design of this colonial house. Plus, it is a single hinged door, a conventional colonial type of front door.

Being traditional aside, we can’t deny that red is a bold color. It will look bold against any neutral color perfectly. This entrance is no exception. The red front door looks pop with white exterior walls around, accentuating the white walls flawlessly.

Moreover, unlike previous pictures, the shade of this front door is different from the shade of the shutters. The shutters are seemingly painted in gray, another neutral color that creates a contrast to the main exterior’s color.

Even though basically gray and white contrast each other, they both have become a good backdrop for this red front door.

5. Orange Colonial Front Door to Contrast the Black and White Exterior

According to the designer, this colonial front door is painted in red.

However, under the sunlight, it looks more orange than red. It doesn’t matter what shade the designer decided to paint the door; it still gives a bold statement to the black and white exterior.

The white walls around the front door make it look pop and more prominent. The shutters are also painted in white, creating a classic combo of black and white in this colonial house.

Despite the fact that the front door is painted in a vibrant shade, this one is basically a traditional door. It is a single hinged type with no glass panels. Instead, it is surrounded by sidelights and transom, even though they are not that huge due to the lack of wall space. Those are enough to add a glass element to a traditional front door.

6. Sherwin Williams – Glitzy Gold Colonial Front Door for a Vibrant Look

This one is different. Now, we see the modern type of colonial front door with a fun and cheerful shade.

This door is painted in Sherwin Williams – Glitzy Gold to create a vibrant look against the gray siding. Yellow is not one of the traditional shades in a colonial house. So, it is safe to say that this house is quite modern when it comes to shade.

Yet, it features a traditional style. It has a grid of four panels with no glass, and it is bracketed by sidelights in white trim.

The black accent is added to this bright yellow door to counterbalance its boldness. It is also decorated with a wreath to add an organic look.

Basically, this is the kind of door you can pick if you want a traditional design, but you don’t want to settle with just another neutral or traditional shade in your entrance.

7. Dark Tone Wood Colonial Front Door Surrounded by a White Portico

This elegant colonial house is incredibly stunning. It may be the portico that enhances its elegance.

The front door is definitely suitable for a colonial house. Instead of being painted in colors, this one is made of wood and stained instead of painted.

The stain in this colonial front door only enhances the natural glory of wood. It looks stunning and timeless.

The door has no glass panels to emphasize its traditional look. Instead, it is bracketed by sidelights, which is actually a typical design for a traditional colonial front door.

The sidelights are also made of wood, with only 3/4 of it that is filled with glass, while the bottom part features a raised panel, similar to the front door.

What makes this wood front door more majestic is the white portico around. The two pillars, along with the roof extension above the door, create a traditionally dramatic entrance. Plus, white and wood is such a perfect pairing in a classic look.

8. Dark Blue Colonial Front Door Surrounded by Brick Walls

This kind of front door says “welcome” due to its inviting style and shade.

The deep dark blue pulls off a traditional look, offering a cozy ambiance. The designer doesn’t provide any information about the paint used, but it seems that this door is painted in Benjamin Moore – Dark Royal Blue 2065-20.

This door is accentuated with gold hardware and a wreath to add elegance.

However, despite its traditional shade, this door features a glass panel too. It has a small half-circular glass panel at the top, which is basically not enough to let a lot of natural light in, but it is sufficient as a peephole to know who’s in the door.

Instead of sidelights and transom, this blue front door is framed with thick white trim that follows the door’s shape. It even has an arched part to follow the shape of a half-circular glass panel at the top of the door.

The black and white entrance is surrounded by brick walls, which is another character in a traditional element. What a balanced look this entrance has.

9. Gray French Colonial Front Door in a Bright White Exterior

Unlike the previous colonial front doors, this one is a double french door, which is a suitable choice for a French colonial house.

This front door doesn’t have sidelights. It is only completed with an arched transom. The clear glass panels that usually come in classic french doors make it look more modern and traditional at the same time.

This french colonial door is painted in soft gray, which complements the roof if you see it from this angle. To create a subtle contrast, the designer painted the exterior wall white, similar to the six pillars in front of it.

The combination of white and soft gray creates a subtle contrast and cohesion at the same time.

This is the look you can copy if you want to add a touch of modern style to your traditional French colonial house.

10. Crisp White Front Door in a Modern Colonial House

It doesn’t take any bright or bold shade to draw attention to this entrance.

Basically, this door is painted in a traditional color with a simple and classic design, with no glass panel. But every single thing in this front door, moreover in this house has perfect modern detail. The white siding, white pillars, and white trim pull off a modern vibe.

The shade is actually a simple crisp white. Yet, it creates brightness in this entrance.

Moreover, its minimalist look and simplicity pull off a contemporary style. It looks sleek and polished with no visible panel. It is only accentuated by small black hardware. This is what you call “less is more”.

Now, let’s talk about the incredible sidelights. The sidelights and the transom are ornamented with this beautiful design.

You can create them out of wrought iron if you want to copy this look. However, it is recommended to use faux iron; instead, that can perfectly mimic the look and feel of wrought iron but is way easier and lighter to install than the real iron.

11. Black Colonial Front Door Surrounded by Stone Wall Exterior

There are no sidelights and transom surrounding this front door, but somehow we can still feel the elegance of the classic look.

It may be because this colonial front door is painted in black, which, even though it is a simple and neutral shade, never fails to create an elegant and sophisticated look.

Moreover, this front door is also complete with metal hardware. Metal and black is a perfect pairing to create a timeless look.

Such combination doesn’t offer a notice-me look, but it looks flawless and polished, drawing attention in its own way.

Surrounded by a stone wall exterior, this black front door creates an accent. It also matches the window right next to it. Both pop and deliver a bold look against the beige color exterior.

12. Douglas Fir Colonial Front Door Painted in Benjamin Moore – Regent Green in a Classic Entryway

This classic entryway is basically not that large. However, that didn’t stop the designer from installing sidelights and transom to embrace the traditional style.

On the other hand, the front door features modern details that look contrast the traditional design around it.

It features glass panels that fill half of it. Moreover, it is also painted green, a contemporary color for a colonial style. The front door is painted in Benjamin Moore – Regent Green and finished high gloss.

The glossy finish makes it look like a blue-green color instead of real green. However, that’s part of the beauty.

If you are wondering, this door is made of Douglas Fir wood, which seems similar to the sidelights. The white-trimmed sidelights and transom give this modern front door a classic look, creating a flawless transitional design.

13. Arched Wood Colonial Front Door with a Tiny Grid of Glass Panels

No sidelight and transom are surrounding this front door, but that doesn’t make it any less traditional.

Even there is a tiny grid of glass panels at the upper part of the door, it also doesn’t make it look modern.

It is because the details of this front door are classic. The tiny glass panel won’t matter. It is not that huge to create a modern look.

In fact, it is more functional than decorative. Such a tiny grid of glass panels is only enough as a peephole, not as a window on the door.

This front door is made of wood in a vertical panel. The stain of the wood looks excellent when paired with metal hardware to create a conventional look.

Moreover, this door is also framed by stone in a similarly arched design and surrounded by a brick exterior wall.

Which part of this exterior doesn’t pull off a traditional look?

14. Combination of The Dark Colonial Front Door and Bright Sidelight

Creating contrast in an entrance is basically not a new idea. However, we’ll never get bored of seeing this classic combo because, basically, this is a timeless pairing, perfect for adding some extra elegance to your exterior.

The colonial front door is painted in a dark shade. It is also accentuated with minimalist gold hardware, which can enhance the sophistication of dark shade. Gold never fails to add a luxurious look, especially when it is combined with dark shade.

On the contrary, the sidelights are finished in white shade, delivering a contrasting look to the front door. At the top of it, instead of the transom, you’ll find a white crown molding.

The white sidelight and transom blend seamlessly to the portico, the treads, and the window trim, making the front door a bold focal point.

15. Benjamin Moore – Mountain Laurel Colonial Front Door as an Accent in the Entrance

This front door has a simple modern style.

Basically, in a modern style, this kind of front door is just a minimalist one, with only glass panels to accentuate it.

However, in a traditional colonial house, that detail plays a big part in turning a traditional door into a modern one.

Moreover, this one is also painted in a contemporary shade, which is Benjamin Moore – Mountain Laurel, a soft green shade that adds a pop of color to this white exterior.

The exterior wall is painted in Benjamin Moore – Super White. It delivers a polished and crisp look to this colonial house.

The shutters are made of wrought iron. The designer decided not to paint the shutters with similar paint to the front door to create a consistent look. Instead, the shutters and the exterior work together to provide a neutral backdrop for the front door to be a bold statement.

16. Grey Recessed Panel Colonial Front Door that Matches the Pillars and the Trim

Instead of being similar to the shutters, this traditional colonial front door matches the pillars and the trim. They are painted in deep gray color.

It seems that the designer intended to distinguish the entrance area from the entire spot on this exterior. He painted the entrance in a darker shade than the entire exterior, but not that dark to create a dramatic contrast.

Somehow, this gray entrance still complements the white exterior because, basically, gray has a streak of white in it.

The front door has no glass panels. Instead, it features recessed panels, which enhance its traditional design.

There are sidelights on both sides of the door, whose frame is also painted in gray shade. No transom here. The Gray frame is just enough to complete the whole look of this front door.

17. Double Glass Panels in a Colonial Front Door with White Trim

There’s something balancing in this colonial front door.

It has a traditional design, completed with sidelights and transom. Plus, it is also pained in white, a neutral color that offers a timeless look in most designs but delivers a conventional look in a colonial house.

However, this front door has glass panels, not just in the upper part of the door but also in the upper and lower parts. This is basically the kind of door you’ll want to complete your contemporary exterior.

There are a lot of glass panels in this entrance, brightening up the space and ensuring there’s a sufficient amount of natural light for the room inside.

In a more traditional colonial door, privacy never becomes an issue because the doors are usually made of solid wood.

On the contrary, this double glass panel door has to deal with privacy problems. That is why the homeowners added a door treatment inside to cover it.

If you want to copy this look, make sure you add a treatment to the door with a color that can accentuate the whole element in both interior and exterior. This yellow treatment, for instance, accentuates the white door and transom.

Closing

In modern colonial houses, the front doors still maintain the characteristic of classic design. Yet, they are usually equipped with glass panels.

Even some doors have glass panels from top to bottom, not only in the upper parts. The glass used is usually clear glass that matches the sidelights and transom.

In a wider space, sidelights should be added to accentuate the colonial front door, along with the transom. Even the doors are double instead of single.

Double glass panel doors with sidelights and transom will surely fill the room with a lot of natural light. Sidelights are never out of style, while double doors deliver an elegant opening to a large foyer.

Depending on the entire exterior of your house, color may vary from brighter shades of yellow, green, or tan to traditional hues. Stained wood doors are also lovely on a modern colonial house.

On the other hand, traditional colonial houses usually feature a single hinged door framed by trim and surrounded by bricks or stones.

They are also painted in conventional shades. The shade you opt for should be chosen based on your exterior, which is commonly in a neutral color scheme.