Why A Red Front Door?

Have you ever wondered why some homes have a red front door? Do those owners just love the color red? What is the meaning behind it? I was curious and so I did some research and wanted to share with you my very interesting findings.

The red door tradition has many connotations and claims to invention. I find each reason interesting and appealing.

Red doors are more commonly associated with Feng Shui, which claims a home’s entrance is the “mouth of Chi”, where all good energy enters a space. Good fortune and welcome are the Feng Shui terms popularly linked with red front doors.

A red door provides protection. In Biblical times, the Hebrew slaves were instructed to smear blood of a lamb on their front doors to protect their first born from the angel of death. In old Catholicism churches painted the doors of the church red to represent the blood of Christ. Passing through the door would mean that you were on holy ground. Some believe a red door protects the occupants from evil.

In Scotland, homeowners paint their front door red when they pay off their mortgage!

During slavery red doors were used by the Underground Railroad to symbolize that a particular home was a safe haven.

In early America when people traveled long distances by horse and buggy, private homes with red doors alerted weary travelers that a meal and a bed were available for a small fee.

One odd red door rumor stems from the Fuller Brush salesmen days. It was believed that if you painted your door red, travelling salesmen would read it as a sign that “no sale” was possible and would pass you by.

Many Chinese paint a fresh coat of bright red on their front doors annually before the New Year to attract good luck and fortune.

Do you have a red door? What's your reason?




Images taken from here and here. Information gathered from several sites including this site.