Ten Ways to Add Appeal to Your Home’s Front Entry

Your front entryway is like your house’s face. It’s the first thing people see when they come to your home. So ask yourself, is your house smiling and welcoming guests or is it frowning and turning them away? Consider these ten front entry decorating tips to add appeal and an inviting atmosphere.

The biggest improvement you can make is to paint the front door with a fresh coat of paint. Doors take a beating from the sun and weather, so paint your front door every five years for an instant boost.

If you really want to give your front door a makeover, try replacing the hardware. Invest in some new locksets and handles in brass, satin nickel, or pewter. Most door locksets come in standard sizes, so you shouldn’t have to drill any new holes.

Add or replace your front door’s kick plate or door knocker. Kick plates protect the door from scuffs and scratches and door knockers are a great alternative to door bells. These accessories can really add a feeling of class to your front door.

Wreaths are a great way to add interest and infuse color to your front door. Change them out with the seasons or holidays. Use a wreath holder that hangs over the top of the door instead of nails. Some holders are double-sided so you can hang wreaths on both sides.

Put up some fancy new light fixtures in updated designs. Many people use those same, inexpensive porch lights that have been on their homes for decades. Replacing them with modern, decorative fixtures can really add a boost to your front entry.

Adding large, decorative house numbers can also give your home a classy look. You can get large metal numbers that screw into the wall or ceramic tiles that fit in a wooden frame that can be attached to the entry wall.

Upgrade your mailbox in front of your house by replacing that rotting old wooden post with an ornate metal or polymer post that resists rot and rust. Add an interesting and decorative mailbox on top of that to really let your neighbors know you care about your home’s curb appeal.

Solar lighting is a great way to have the front of your home look just as good at night as it does in the day. Solar lighting systems come in a wide variety of styles and finishes and really make your house light up all day and all night long.

Adding some beautiful flowers to your front yard and front entry will give your home much needed color and character. Place some flower pots or boxes on each side of your front door, hang baskets from the rafters, and surround your mailbox with blooming annuals.

You can also add some interesting yard art to your landscaping or on the porch to give it some added charm. Metal baskets, wooden benches, birdhouses, and wind chimes look great with any landscaping style and will make your house look like a home.

©2007, Kathy Burns-Millyard