How to Choose Paint Colors for an Entryway

Note the size of the entryway. White or light colors on the walls and ceiling will make the entryway appear larger. If the entryway feels too big and cold, darker colors can make it appear warmer and more welcoming.

Decide what feeling you want the entryway to convey. If you want a strong visual presentation, choose warm colors in the range of red to yellow-green. Complementary (or contrasting) colors can also make a dramatic statement. For a calming effect, use cool colors ranging from green to red-violet. Monochromatic colors (different hues of one color) and related colors (colors side by side on the color wheel) will also provide an understated look.

Look to your garden's plant life for color ideas. For example, choose a color that complements the landscaping immediately outside your front door. To make your entryway an extension of the outdoors, paint the ceiling light blue, which gives the illusion of the sky.

Observe what type of lighting your entryway has. Incandescent bulbs make colors appear warmer, while fluorescents and natural light make colors look brighter and colder.

Check the colors in rooms or hallways visible from the entryway. You'll want to choose an entryway color that's consistent with the rest of the house, or at least with the adjacent walls.

Once you've decided on a few color choices, pick up some paint chips from the paint store. Better yet, buy small paint samples. At home, paint a sample board or a small area on one of the walls. This gives you a better idea of how the paint looks in the entryway.

Look at the chips, sample board or painted patch of wall at different times of day and night. You'll notice that depending on the lighting, natural or electric, the color will change.

If you're having trouble deciding on a color, use a neutral color. There are many shades of white, gray and brown to choose from, and neutrals will work with any color scheme you have in the rest of the house.