For most front doors, go for an exterior eggshell or satin. It strikes the right balance: durable enough to cope with rain, UV and the odd kick from a parcel delivery, but with a soft sheen that hides the inevitable dings and brushmarks far better than gloss. A modern door painted in a flat eggshell looks expensive; the same door in high gloss can look like a 1980s council job.
The products I'd reach for:
- Little Greene Intelligent Exterior Eggshell — genuinely excellent, self-priming on most surfaces, and rated for 8 years' protection. Comes in the full Little Greene palette.
- Farrow & Ball Exterior Eggshell — lovely low sheen, and it carries the F&B colours you actually want, like Hague Blue, Studio Green, Off-Black or Down Pipe — all front-door classics.
- Dulux Weathershield if you want a satin with serious weatherproofing and a budget that stretches further.
The "but what about gloss?" question: gloss absolutely has its place. On an original Georgian six-panel or a Victorian door with proper mouldings, a high-gloss finish in something like Eating Room Red or Off-Black is part of the heritage look and catches the light beautifully. But gloss is unforgiving — it needs immaculate prep, multiple thin coats and a steady hand, or it'll show every run and bristle mark.
Prep matters more than the topcoat. Sand back, fill any cracks, and spot-prime bare wood or knots with a stain-blocking primer — Zinsser Cover Stain is my go-to for exterior timber. A south-facing door takes a brutal beating from the sun, so don't skimp on coats.
Last thing: paint a door off its hinges and flat if you possibly can — you'll get a far better finish with no drips, and it dries dust-free. If that's not practical, do it on a dry, mild day, not in full midday sun.