Page 138 - South Mississippi Living - October, 2025

story by Holly Harrison and Shannon Stage
Mama always said, “You have one chance to make a first impression.” Well, when it comes to your home, your front door is the first thing most guests will see. It is the focal point that your home’s facade, landscaping and overall curb appeal wrap around.
The style of the front door matters. It needs to complement the home’s architecture or challenge the architecture in such a way it creates an unexpected twist and interest. But the color of the front door is the attention-getter in this picture. The color of the front door is the first hint into the story of the family living beyond the threshold.
According to design experts around the country, red and black continue to be the most popular colors for front doors. But here in South Mississippi, the diverse influences of Caribbean and French cultures are reflected in the colors of small cottages, bungalows and historic mansions. You will find a myriad of hues along the Coast, but what colors speak to you? Whether we are conscious of it or not, color speaks to all of us. It makes us feel something.
Red affects us mentally. It is a call to action. Red is considered the color of hospitality and good luck. Many cultures agree it is the color of celebration, generating positive energy wherever it is used. Most folks relate red with yellow. Yellow affects our emotions. It symbolizes optimism and makes us feel happy. A yellow front door says a cheerful person lives here. Mustard yellow is gaining popularity, and it feels the same way, just toned down a bit.
Orange is the gregarious sister to red and yellow. An orange door suggests the homeowner is adventurous and creative—the life of the party, perhaps. Intensity matters with this color, so look at several versions before deciding.
The blue palette is a large, diverse, extremely popular color family in our neck of the woods. Blue affects our intellect.
It makes us feel calm and tranquil, particularly on the faint end of the spectrum. It naturally draws our thoughts to the sky and water, the latter being a core element of our being.
Holly Harrison has been a licensed interior designer for over 35 years. Shannon Stage
has spent nearly 20 years in the giftware industry. Together they own Sassy Bird Interiors in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi.
138 | October 2025
www.smliving.net | SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living
HOME