Your entryway and front door don’t just make the first impression, they often leave the most lasting impression. So you should probably make it count. People will decide in the first few minutes whether they want to buy a home, so how it looks from the outside is very important – especially the entry. Whether you’re trying to sell your home or captivate your guests and passers-by on the street, spring for these five relatively easy projects to enhance your home’s entry points.
Make your door a delight
A punch of bright, bold paint that contrasts with your siding and trim is an easy way to revamp a tired entry. Against a white façade, a spring-green or lemon yellow door cheerfully leads visitors inside. Consider the style of your home and choose colors accordingly. If you really want to make an impact, go with red. Red represents strength, energy, and happiness, so it’s a good choice for a home’s front door.
Light the way
Good lighting is a must for both convenience and safety. Consider motion-sensing lights near the front door. Use low-voltage lights to illuminate pathways and put lanterns on posts for general yard lighting. Consider using solar-powered lights so you do not have run wires in the yard and it’s more eco-friendly, of course.
Play the match game
According to Better Homes and Gardens Magazine, you can create a polished and sophisticated entry by choosing the same color or metal finish for exterior elements such as entrance hardware, door knockers, house numbers, mailboxes and porch lights. However, make sure the color or finish contrasts with the door color itself.
Pump up the personality
An entryway is a prime location to splurge on gorgeous features, such as wooden front door handcrafted by an artisan or colorful step tiles. With these elements, you don’t need much to achieve a polished look and they will impress potential buyers in the future.
Create comfort
Give your front porch a sense of warmth by placing a piece or two of weather-resistant furniture near the entry. Now, don’t spring for the cheap plastic furniture found at big box stores. A rustic metal bistro set is an easy and elegant addition to any porch size. And it offers a perfect spot to relax outdoors with warm cup of hot chocolate this fall.
