Outdated doors, crumbling stoops, and uninspired landscaping can detract from your home’s beauty and make it less appealing to visitors and potential buyers. A welcoming front entry can significantly boost your home’s curb appeal, and all you may need to do is transform a few simple elements to make a lasting first impression. Let’s explore how to create a stunning entryway without wasting too much time or money.
Front Entry Fix-Up: Before
This 1925 Colonial Revival home had an aging front door with barely noticeable hardware. The crumbling concrete stoop both took away from the aesthetic and carried some long-term safety risks.
Front Entry Fix-Up: After
To complement the new cream-yellow paint job, the homeowner installed a new wood door featuring brass hardware. The concrete stoop was capped with elegant bluestone, and the steps were framed with attractive containers filled with flowering shrubs. Most of the changes were subtle, but they proved to be transformative and bring out the home’s stylistic beauty.
Welcoming Exterior Lighting Options
Brass and Opal Glass Shade
Exterior lighting illuminates your house number, guides visitors to your door, and makes for a warm nighttime ambiance.
Choose a fixture that complements your home’s architecture. Some traditional homes, for example, might be a great place to install this brass light with an opal glass shade.
Rustic Bronze
Bronze lanterns have a cozy, charming glow to give your entryway a casual, rustic feel. They’re perfect for craftsman, farmhouse, or corrage-style homes that are full of character. They’re also highly versatile, able to blend seamlessly into both the original and restored elements of a facade.
Bronze Flush-Mount
This polished flush-mount fixture offers the classic feel of bronze with a clean, contemporary look, perfect for modern, minimalist, and transitional architectural styles. It may seem small and subtle, but it can provide ample light without hanging low to the ground.
Updated Door Designs
Traditional Scroll Grill
Your front door serves as an introduction to your home’s style and personality. There are dozens of designs and a few good material choices, and many models are install-ready and prehung. You can replace your old door in just a day.
This fir door with an elegant scrolling metal grill offers a traditional look that complements many architectural styles. While it looks beautiful, it also needs periodic refinishing to keep its appearance.
Paneled Steel
Steel doors with raised paneling are affordable and durable, and despite their sometimes imposing appearance, they’ve become more versatile on the design front. However, they can get hot in direct sunlight, which might be a concern for certain climates or home layouts.
Leaded Glass Window
For a custom look, consider a fiberglass door with a leaded glass insert. Fiberglass doors offer excellent durability and low maintenance, though they can be more expensive than other options. The leaded glass insert gives the door a bespoke appearance, perfect for older homes.
Add a Fresh Coat of Paint
A fresh coat of paint can dramatically transform your front entry. When choosing colors, consider your home’s architectural style, the surrounding landscape, and your personal preferences.
Replace a drab putty-and-cream palette with a cheerful, welcoming pale yellow accented by bright white trim. Green hues help a home blend with its surroundings and pair beautifully with a vibrant red door. Shades of blue complement earth tones like sandy beige and terra-cotta.
Remember that direct sunlight can wash out pastels, so opt for more saturated hues if your home receives ample sun exposure.
Increase Curb Appeal With a New Walkway
Turn a dull concrete stoop into a showpiece by capping the treads and risers with stone. The pathway leading to your door should feel like a seamless progression that beckons guests forward.
In this example, New York bluestone was used for both the stoop treads and the mortared front walkway. The risers were clad in gray natural granite veneers, to add durable texture. Other DIY-friendly options include clay Saltillo, split-brick, and limestone pavers.
Transform Your Landscaping With New Planters
Antique Box Replica Planter
Large potted plants can visually anchor your entry and provide a burst of color. Just make sure the containers you put them in are weatherproof.
This lightweight, molded-fiberglass box replicates the look of a lead antique planter, for classic style without the weight or maintenance concerns of a genuine antique.
Steel and Copper Planters
Planters made from steel or copper can complement a more contemporary front stoop. This planter combines both metals, with steel arches cradling a copper vessel. It works well for designs with sleek lines, though it also has a subtle traditional charm.
Richly Colored Ceramic Planters
Brightly colored ceramic planters can inject personality and vibrancy into your home’s exterior, especially if your home otherwise has a monochromatic paint scheme. Choose a color that makes your home’s entrance pop, like this rich blue shade for a white or yellow exterior. Seasonal flowers are the final touch on this bright focal point.
