Your front door is the first thing people see when they come to your house. It's very important to leave a good first impression, and what's a better way than with the front door? If this part of the house is already old and needs some change, there are simple and easy ways to spruce it up and revive it to its former glory. Even small updates can make a big difference. Besides being a functional part of the house, it can also be an eye-catcher for the unknown passerby on the street.
Say “Welcome” with a Nice Doormat
Creating a good first impression is very important when new guests arrive at your home. The doormat is one of the first things they’ll notice, so it’s important to make it pretty and functional. It's not just a piece of fabric that prevents dirt and debris from getting inside the house. It's an accessory that can complement the entire exterior design and give it a boost.
The mat takes up a lot of foot traffic and if you don’t choose a high-quality one, you’ll soon need to replace it with a new one. There's a big variety of outside door mats that can suit everybody’s needs and serve multiple functions. There are a few things to consider. The first one is size. Keep the mat as big as the space allows. This will create a larger surface for catching dirt and debris.
When it comes to shape, people mostly buy rectangular ones that cover the whole entrance. Some homeowners even place it vertically and create a sort of “red carpet” path to get to the house. The second thing is durability. Your mat will take a lot of walking, stomping, mud, dirt and water, so it has to be very durable. It'll also be exposed to the natural elements so make sure it’s UV resistant.
Next is material. There are so many options. Polyester and acrylic are resistant to mould and mildew, coir is great for scraping away dirt, rubber coir has a good grip on the underside and rubber is non-slip and traps dirt perfectly. There are also memory foam mats that you can also use on the inside. These mats vary in thickness. The thicker the mat, the more dirt it can trap.
And last, but not least, is the mat’s style. You don’t want to choose the first mat you see at the store. It's important for it to look good in front of the door. It's best to choose something that matches the exterior and the door itself. Get it in a darker colour so the dirt doesn’t show easily. You can even have a custom-made mat, something personalised with a theme or a quote that represents your family.
Add Some Greenery
Adding greenery is one of the best ways to improve the front door look. You can never get enough of it. It's a simple, yet very effective way to make it prettier and make a good first impression. It doesn’t necessarily have to be complicated and too much. Sometimes adding a simple vase or a wreath can change the whole setting.
The whole arrangement depends on the size of the front porch, the colour of the door and the walls and how invested you are in maintaining the plants. If you have posts and railing, you can plant a climbing or vine plant that will grow and decorate the railing and posts. This will create a symmetrical look and make everything prettier.
You can add colourful flower pots on each side of the door or the stairs. If you don’t want anything to take up space on the ground, you can hang them over the porch and create a nice entryway to the house. Spiral topiaries are also an option, although they require more care are trimming. You can pretty much do and plant anything you want. Let your imagination wild and create a unique front door look.
Choose Good Lighting
Changing the lighting around your front door can make a huge difference. Just like the outside door mats they can create a warm welcome and make people feel comfortable and relaxed when coming to your house. It's not just buying any light that comes in your hand. It's about illuminating the area, making the path visible, and complementing the aesthetics.
Adding a statement pendant can elevate the space. If you think that one pendant would be enough to light up the whole space, go for it. If you need more illumination but you want one light, a ceiling flus-mount will also work. You can combine a functional front door light and a couple of hanging pendants at the front.
You can also light up the stairs for more safety. Plus, it looks pretty awesome walking on illuminated stairs. Spotlights are also an option if you have a nice outdoor feature you want to accentuate. Using string lights attached to the ceiling or around the door frame allows you to create a magical and inviting entrance.
Change up the Seasonal Decoration
Seasons come and go and the overall aesthetics of the outdoor surroundings change. You can enhance the front door look by simply changing the seasonal decoration and swapping the front door mats. For example, October is the spooky month when every home that celebrates Halloween is decorated with pumpkins, skeletons and witches. Incorporate these decorations in your front door as well.
Christmas is reserved for Santa Claus and Snow Man, so swap the pumpkin with a Christmas wreath or some bells. Depending on the season, you can make a flower wreath with bright colours and a few bows. Plus, these decorations can easily become family DIY projects where each family member creates something unique and personalised.
How About a Paint Job?
Have you ever considered re-painting the front door? If not, this is the right time to do it. Changing the colour can make a big difference in how people characterise your house. Stay away from the classic black-or-white choices if you want to make a change. If you want to stay on the dark spectrum, try deep blue for a change. It's not a bold colour but it still looks amazing.
If your house is white, give your door a red makeover. Painting the front door ruby red will make a statement. Sage is for someone who wants to make a change but not go wild with the colour. A creamy light-grey green will also have that effect. Yellow will give a charming vibe to the space and will complement the front yard perfectly. Consider the exterior design and see which shade will match it best. You can brighten it up with orange, red, blue, or purple, or tone it down with neutrals and pastels.
