Dressed Up Doors
Quick – what element on your home says “come in”
or “go away” first? If you answered the front
door, you’re exactly right. More to the point, the
front door unites the exterior design of your home.
It’s also the point of entry for everyone to come
in to the house and it’s the exterior focal point
for the house. In fact, pulling your home together
design-wise often starts at the front door.
More than an entry
A front door is not just a barrier between the
inside and outside of your home. A front door
says a lot about your home. In terms of design,
a front door either offers the zing akin to that
sprig of parsley you see on restaurant meals or
it offers up a disinterested yawn. The front door
is an opportunity to unify the design of your
home – and create a visual welcome.
Start with the design
In order for a door to really work for a home, it
needs to complement the home’s design. Some
homeowners think that having a pretty door with
leaded glass inserts will do the design trick. But,
if the design of the door is very formal and the home
design is country, the door will seem out of place and
won’t work. So the starting point should always be your home.
For instance, craftsman doors look best on craftsman-style houses. Formal, six panel doors with shiny brass hardware look best on red brick colonials. A rustic Tuscan home should have a front door with iron accents or a rough-hewn feel. Matching the design of the door to the style of the house harmonizes both -- and enhances both. Better still, a well-matched door adds instant curb appeal (especially important if you’re trying to sell your home).
Door dress-ups
Fortunately, many door manufacturers have websites where you can search for the door style best for your home. Even if a new door isn’t in your budget, then simple changes to your door can make a big difference. Where to start? Try the color. If possible, take a picture of the front of your house and take paint colors to a paint store. Show the paint store employee your picture and paint chips. They can help you select an attractive paint color based on the style of your home and the existing colors. Rather than a home center where paint department employees simply mix colors, try going to your local paint store. Paint professionals are accustomed to selecting historically accurate and stylistically correct paint colors. Other inexpensive changes include changing the door handle hardware, and accents like kick plates can also be changed or added inexpensively.
A warm welcome for the holidays
A beautiful door dresses up your home and creates a warmer welcome than a ho-hum entry any day. Yes, a beautiful door and entry way makes a guest want to enter your home and a blah doorway leaves guests less than enthused about entering. Think about the kind of welcome you’d like your home to make. It’s especially key during the holiday season which is fast approaching. A beautiful door and entryway will put guests in a warm and cozy frame of mind from the moment they’re on your doorstep.
If you’re thinking about sprucing up the exterior of your home, you may only need to make a change at the front door. That’s because the whole house looks better with a beautiful entryway. Paying attention to your front door can make all the difference in the design and welcome of your living space.
Style Resources
Quick change ideas for front door
•
Use an accent color
•Change hardware
•Add new doormat
•Place a bench close to door
•Add new planters
•Hang a pretty seasonal wreath
•Add fountain
•Trim or remove overgrown shrubs
•Change light fixtures
© 2007 Kathryn Weber, all rights reserved
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Kathryn Weber is the publisher of the Everydayclean.com Cleaning Calender, that calender that puts you in control of your home by ending the power struggle. For more information log on to http://tinyurl.com/d9rh5.
You have permission to publish this article as long as the tagline above is included and as long as the article remains complete and unaltered. A courtesy copy of your publication or link would be appreciated.
©2001-2007 Kathryn Weber
All rights reserved.
