Today, guest blogger Ronique Gibson is here to share some great tips to boost your home’s curb appeal with great ideas for your front entry.
Think about the last time you greeted guests at your front door.
Did you feel embarrassed by its peeling paint, the rusty metal address numbers, and the pots of long-dead plants?
Your front door reveals more about your home than you may think. It gives both guests and casual passersby that all-important first impression, affecting the way that they view the rest of your home. Even if your interiors are impeccable, the impact of a worn-out entry could stick with them long after they’ve walked through the door.
If your own front entry is in need of a makeover, or you’re just looking for ideas to perk up your home’s curb appeal, take a look at these easy ways to update your front door.
Stand back and observe your entire façade from the sidewalk.
Stand back and study your front entry.
When my home staging clients are working on sprucing up a home, I suggest they start at the sidewalk – not the front door. Buyers, guests and neighbors view your front door as part of the whole façade, and so should you. Ask yourself these simple questions:
- Do I want my door to make a pronounced statement or to blend in with the rest of the house?
- Can you see my front door from the street or does it have an obstructed view due to overgrown landscaping?
- When your guests arrive at the front door, does the entry look welcoming and inviting or intimidating?
Once you’ve answered these questions, it’s time to get to work!
A pop of bold color at your front door can improve your curb appeal.
Make a colorful statement.
Color speaks louder than any other aspect of your home’s exterior, so consider choosing a front door color that contrasts beautifully with the main color of your home and trim.
Start by examining the pre-selected color schemes that paint manufacturers offer in swatches and fan decks at your local paint store. You should find plenty of exterior color schemes, but if you want to try colors that are bolder than the norm, consider one of these options:
- For a predominantly white house, seize the opportunity to embrace unexpected shades like turquoise, lime green, or even pink!
- Brick houses look beautiful with primary shades such as bright red, yellow, or navy blue.
- For a neutral-colored house, colors like plum, pumpkin, and emerald provide a pleasing contrast.
Remember, your front door color can change with a simple coat or two of paint. If you get tired of a bold color this season, next season you could switch to a more subtle hue or even a stained wood, instead.
A stained wood door looks beautiful in rustic and traditional home facades.
Coordinate with decorative house accessories.
Besides your front door’s color, there are several accessories you can replace or add to your entry to make your home stand out.
- Door Hardware: Decide what type of door hardware will best accentuate the color and architectural style of your home. Doorknobs, door handles, toe kick plates, and door knockers come in nickel, bronze, brass and silver tones to coordinate with your door and house colors. Modern homes tend to stick with a nickel or silver tone finish and traditional and historic homes often choose bronze or brass colors.
- Address Numbers, Mailboxes and Doorbells: When updating your front door, don’t forget about the small details that pull your entire front entry together. Address numbers can be replaced inexpensively, and wall-hung mailboxes and a new doorbell can complete the look. Similarly to door hardware, choose accessories that stay close to the same modern, traditional or historic theme of your home.
If you opt to replace your door, consider one that coordinates with your garage façade.
If you’re tired of looking at your front door and wondering how to breathe life back into it, use these tips to revive it! Your front entry is the welcome gate to the world – make sure it shows off your home in its best light.
Ronique Gibson is a home design expert who provides tips on doors and windows for The Home Depot. Ronique is the author of the ebook 111 Simple Tips for your Everyday Home. You can view a selection of entry doors available at Home Depot on the company’s website.
Great tips! A statement entry door can definitely improve the overall look of your home. Thanks for sharing!
That’s true that some bold colors at the front of your house can really stand out. I want my door to be more than just a thing I open every time I want to go inside. It should give a statement to my style. I should check out some color schemes that would work with my house.
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