Guide
How to choose a shopfront colour
Choose a shopfront colour by starting with the building and the street, then picking one main colour and a contrasting colour for the lettering. Strong contrast makes the name easier to read and the door easier to find. If the building is listed or in a conservation area, check with your council first.
Last updated 3 November 2026. General guidance only: confirm anything legal with your council or adviser.
Where should you start?
Look at the whole building, not just the shop. Stone, brick and upper-floor paintwork all limit what will sit comfortably, and the neighbouring fronts set the tone of the street. Bright colours can work on a plain parade, while a period terrace usually suits deeper, quieter shades. Test the colour at full size outdoors, not on a small card.
Which colours are easiest to read?
Dark backgrounds with pale lettering, or the reverse, read clearly from a distance. Two mid-tones of similar brightness do not, however different they look on screen. Black and white give the strongest contrast, and pairs from the same colour family, such as dark green and cream, tend to look deliberate. Keep to two or three colours across the fascia and frame.
How do you specify the exact colour?
RAL is a numbered colour system, widely used for powder-coated aluminium and shutters, so quoting a RAL number avoids guesswork. Ask for the finish as well: gloss, satin or matt changes how a colour looks. Qualicoat is a quality label for the coating process, not a colour. Timber fronts are usually painted, so ask which paint system suits exterior joinery.
Do you need permission to change the colour?
In England, painting a building's exterior is generally permitted development, unless the paint is used for advertising. An Article 4 direction in a conservation area can remove that right, and a listed building may need listed building consent for a change of colour. Other UK nations handle this differently, so confirm with your council before you repaint.
Can colour make an entrance more accessible?
Yes. Access guidance for England treats two surfaces as visually contrasting when their light reflectance values differ by more than 30 points, with lower figures in some conditions. Apply that thinking to the door, the frame, the handles and any ramp edge. A door that stands out is easier to find for people with poor sight.
You rarely need a new front to change the colour. Recoating aluminium frames on site or in a coating shop is £395 to £1,695 ex VAT per frontage, and a repainted fascia can freshen a timber front. Sound frames can usually be kept, which leaves more of the budget for signs and glass.