Best Exterior Paint for Doors and Trim

Painting your exterior front door can be a big decision, with several color and finish options to choose from. The aesthetics of the main entryway are so important, in fact, that studies have found when painted the right hue, homes can fetch upward of $6,000 more in resale value. But despite the shade you ultimately select to heighten your home's curb appeal, there's only one real option for the finish.

It has to be semigloss.

The same goes for exterior trim. Semigloss paint gives you a smoother surface than lower-sheen finishes and has a degree of shine, providing a visual contrast.

“Semigloss finishes are usually easy to clean, so they'll continue to look good for years,” says test engineer Rico de Paz, Consumer Reports’ resident paint pro. He also recommends a semigloss finish for porch railings, adding that you should use a porch-and-patio paint for the porch floor and stairs.