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First Impressions: Is your entryway doing its job?

September 2,2021

Your front door has some important jobs to do beyond simply letting people in and keeping others out. The design and function of your home’s front entrance significantly impact the overall look and feel of your home and how neighbors, visitors, potential buyers, and you…perceive it.

Your front entrance has four primary functions, and the choices you make when redesigning it affects how it performs those functions. Let’s look at those jobs and how you can transform your front door into a front entrance.

It should complement your home’s design
Your home has a unique style, whether it’s colonial, craftsman, contemporary, or any other type of design. Your front entrance is an integral part of that style and should complement the overall look of your home.

For example, if you have a traditional, colonial home, a sleek, contemporary entryway won’t look right. You’ll want to design your entrance to reflect the style of your home’s exterior.

However, that doesn’t mean your hands are tied. Your front entrance doesn’t have to match your home’s current design, but it should complement it. So, if you want to do something a little different or unexpected, a good designer can help you come up with an entrance that reflects your style and works well with your house

It should stand out…or blend in
The front entrance provides an opportunity for you to make a bold statement or a subtle one – depending on what you prefer.

If you opt for a bold statement, one of the best ways to do this is with color. Think of an all-white colonial home with a bright red door. Or a weathered, grey Cape Cod with a canary yellow entrance. That pop of color draws the eye and gives your home a distinctive look.

But if making a bold statement isn’t your style, you can make a statement of another kind. Front doors with elegant sidelights, beveled glass, or an arched frame look stunning and refined.

It should welcome your guests
Above all, your front entrance should be welcoming. This may have more to do with the area surrounding the door than it does with the door itself.

A covered porch over the door allows your guests to get out of the weather while they wait for you to let them in. If you have steps leading up to your entrance, they should be well-maintained and wide enough to ascend easily to your home’s entrance.

And having extra space on either side of your door lets you decorate for the seasons and show visitors that they’ve arrived at a friendly, welcoming place.

It should stand the test of time
A well-designed front entrance is a relatively significant investment, so you’ll want to make sure that it will serve your home for the long term.

First, that means choosing suitable materials for your front door. If your door is somewhat protected, nothing beats the look and feel of natural wood. However, If your door is exposed to sun and weather, you want to look for doors made of steel or fiberglass. These doors look great – they can even look like real wood – but will stand up to the elements for decades without having to be refinished.

It is also vital to choose door hardware and lighting fixtures in a finish and style that match or complement your current hardware and fixtures and your home’s style

You’ll also want to think about the design standing the test of time. If you’re going to be in the home for a long time, you’ll want an entryway that you’ll be happy with for years to come. If you anticipate selling your home in the not-too-distant future, you may want to balance your desires with how it will appeal to potential buyers.

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