Another day, another serious world problem to solve. Today’s issue – interior door color.
After looking at every style door, we finally agreed to go with a three-panel Shaker style door. (Fun side note: This was actually Ryan’s first choice and my second choice, so no one can EVER say I never compromise.)
But now, I’m waffling on colors – should we go black or white?
White door (via Home Depot) or Black door (via Lowes)
I think either color would work fine, but I really don’t want to repaint them so I’m trying to feel confident in our choice.
I originally planned on white. But I think they blend in a little too much with all the white trim work. There aren’t a LOT of doors, so it would be nice if they stood out a bit. Plus, we have had white doors and they do get pretty banged up. On the plus side, I think the matte black hardware would look amazing.
And then there’s the black door. I love the contrast against the white trim and think it provide a nice statement. And I’m pretty sure I’d pay to have them factory painted, which means I don’t have to paint all the doors. (WIN!) The white color would be custom to match the windows, so I will have to paint them myself. But I’m concerned about whether they will feel dated over time.
What would you choose?
If you tell me, there’s a fifty percent chance I’ll listen.
There is a just as much cleaning with black doors. I hate to break that to the internet world. I would still pick black if I had to make the choice again tho, so that’s good. My house is all white, so the black door adds some drama around here while still being a true neutral color. (You’ve probably already painted them because I’m so late to this!!)
Choose white! Black doors, we’ve had. You walk into them at night! Ouch..
I went with a mix of both in our house and love them both so I’m not much help.
Have you selected your hardware yet? Sounds like you’re leaning toward darker hardware (which is gorgeous) so for that reason I’d give white the edge.
No matter what you decide it’s going to look stunning – you know this!
I’m kind of thinking of doing a mix, too. Maybe. I don’t know. I’ll probably waffle until I have to place the order.
I LOVE the idea of black doors. I had big plans to paint the doors at my house black… I may still do it here. It’s hard to get motivated to do anything to update a house I despise. :/
White! You do a lot of decor, so a simple backdrop of white on white will let the attention go to the decor.
I was going to say black all the way! I love my black doors in my bathroom. But then what someone said above about it limiting your paint color choices resonated with me. I love the black doors with the black and white walls in the bathroom, but I don’t know that I’d care for them with a lot of the other colors in our house. Hmm….
Another option is to do both! Perhaps white doors upstairs for bedrooms & bathroom, but perhaps black downstairs for pantry and mudroom. Also, what color is your front door going to be?
I’m planning to paint the interior front and back doors in black at this point.
What about doing white on most but black on like the pantry doors or mudroom or something like that as a statement? Or basement door if you have a door for that?
As for dust, it’s there no matter what. Just dependson how soon you see it 🙂 I had beautiful 6-panel pine doors in my last house and rarely dusted them, but when I did – whoa were they dirty! I now have all white doors in my new house we just built and am still waiting on the final verdict since we just moved in 🙂 But I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE how they contrast with the black hardware. So classic looking 🙂 Good luck with your decision!
You’ve mentioned several times that you’re trying to go classic with the big stuff in this house. I’d go white, simply because you might get tired of the black over time. Plus I can’t remember what your hallway looks like upstairs but black might make it very dark.
Blaaaaack!!! You can do white when your kids are grown and you don’t have so many kiddy prints and doggy paws touching the doors all day.
Another vote for black. I think having them prepainted is a big plus, but (alas) not compelling enough on its own. However, your comment that there aren’t a lot of doors spoke to me – these doors are an accent. Black is so sharp used that way in just about ANY decor scheme – it completely serves to underscore everything else.
I love black doors but I do feel like they are a bit of a trend.
We painted our pantry door as well as the front and back doors black and love it – our walls are a light grey so the contrast is lovely. The rest of the doors (bedrooms, bathrooms, and closets) are white. Either way those shaker doors will be gorgeous!
Black! Add enough neutral colors to balance it all out, and I’m sure they will look perfect.
Love seeing your house progress (found this blog linked to a friend’s!) I love the look of dark doors, but had them in a condo a few years back and felt like they limited the wall color choices I could make down the line (some colors seemed to clash with the dark doors.) Now I’ve got all white trim and doors and it’s so bright and airy. (Of course, if you go black and decide you don’t like it later, you can always repaint.)
I love both options and know you will make the best choice for you! One thing I noticed is that the Shaker panels recede into the black door but make more of a statement in the white–not sure if that makes a difference to you, but I love crisp panels and moulding so probably would be inclined to go white. I do think that painting interior doors black is a trend, but black doors in general are classic. Enjoy the decision making!
That’s a great point. They do seem to show up more with the white. Thanks!
I just did black doors in my house and love it!
I love the contrast of dark doors with white trim. Plus it helps hide grimy handprints! I’ve been painting all mine SW Iron Ore and it’s perfect! Not a black black, but a dark charcoal! BTW…I’m all sorts of heart eyes for the doors you chose!
Thanks, Amber. I was wondering if charcoal would be an option but I have a lot of tan stuff. Seems like the gray may not work.
White door, matte black hardware for the win! Bonus, it will always “go” with whatever paint color you choose in the next 40 years, you know except for cream 😉
i feel like the white is classic and the black is trendy. We’ve only really started seeing black interior doors in the last ten years (ok, so since I’ve noticed at least). Black will also get scuffed the same as the white, just part of the deal with living with little people. I wonder if looking inside your house right now, everything is white, white, white so the idea of white doors seems unapealing? I think yourhome will be an intimate space and you’ll have lots of decorator touches and accessories to “make a statement” and you won’t need your doors to make a statement or fight for attention from the rest of the room. I just feel you’ll love the black now, and before Henry’s graduation you’ll be painting all the doors again back to white, and then you won’t be able to match trim so you’ll be painting all the trim and it will turn into a big hullabaloo 🙂
Okay. if you choose white you will have to paint them. if you choose black someone else would paint them. I would choose black. I think the contrast is beautiful. And when and if you tire of them paint them white which is what you would have to do in the first place if you chose white. I think if you got tired of them it would be a very long time from now.
Glad to hear it! Thanks!
I have both in my house and I definitely prefer the black – I think it makes more of a statement. I am working my way through the whole house repainting mine 🙂
Ugh. That’s a lot of painting!
i think the black will end up just as dusty and scuffed and the white is more traditional/classic. I LOVE the idea of a black door but i have a feeling i’d get tired of it later on and wish i’d done white… my two cents. I’m loving watching your home come together, its going to be gorgeous!
Black! We have an old farm house with original doors that are stained very very dark, almost black and everyone loves them. We have a few white doors from renos that we’ve done and added in the mix and I’m not a fan. I find it looks too “builder” and doesn’t feel right with the older yet modern style of our home. We also have the old original dark and tarnished hardware on the doors and love it. Would be comparable to the oil rubbed bronze of today. Good luck! Can’t wait to see what you choose!
My very first choice would be stained wood but it doesn’t fit in the budget. Love that look!
I already replied, but any chance you have a home improvement seconds store near you? We have one in Denver that sells unfinished wood doors for $75 each.
White for sure. Black does NOT hide dust at all. I know whatever you pick. It’ll be perfect.
I love the black! Contrast is amazing.
Not saying that your house is dirty, but black would hide lots of natural dirt and dust.
Oh. My house definitely gets dirty.
Go with white! I have dark doors the exact same style you’ve chosen and I regret my choice all the time. Dark shows dirt and dust so easily that I’m constantly wiping them down- I even have to use a damp q-tip to get the corners of the 3 panels good or else the dust sticks out like a sore thumb. I’m talking about a good wipe down for sure every month. Us moms have better things to do! Love watching the progress of your home!
Interesting!! I have black doors and actually notice the dirt less. But it’s a different style door so I wonder if that’s why.
black! i love the contrast!
I was thinking about doing mine charcoal but I chickened out. I know our current home isn’t going to be our forever home, so I decided white was better for resale and would keep things lighter and brighter.
I totally understand! I am hoping to be in this house forever, but it’s still a tough choice.
That is a big decision. Glad I don’t have to make it (really I’m very jealous). My first thought is if you will have to paint the white, go with black. Give it a chance and if you end up not liking after a couple years, paint them white. Sounds like you’d be paiting either way, this just gives you time to enjoy the black. This is assuming the black would not be insanely difficult to paint over 🙂
Personally I like the color of them equally. The black does pop but the white looks classic too.
One additional consideration to ponder… I painted my kitchen cabinets dark and a year later they are showing a lot of dust on the panels. I’m not a clean freak but it is annoying and now I have to find time to dust my cabinets more regularly. I suspect you’ll have a little bit more country dust so you’ll want to consider that aspect to the color choice as well. Honestly, you are golden either way because they are beautiful!! Good luck!!
I definitely this dust would show up more on black but dirt and such on white. It’s a rock and a hard place.
I like the black – YOU don’t have to paint ’em and it’s Ryan’s first choice – win/win!! Love the Shaker style door, too…
I seriously don’t want to paint all the doors. gah.
We had outdated builder grade wood doors and trim. I painted our trim white and the doors black. I still love the black doors. I knew I would be constantly cleaning or repainting white doors, so black was a good choice for me.
I’m so happy to hear that you like them!
I would pick white but based on your style preferences I think you will be happier in the long run with black!
I want them both!!!! 😉