The entrance to a home is like a smile on someone's face. It is often the first thing you notice about someone's house, and the way it looks can leave a lasting impression. Often, the entry sets the tone for the home's decor and style. Update your entrance to make guests feel welcome.
Upgrade the Door
The door to your home is the focal point of all entries. By updating entry doors, you can completely change the feel of your home. Replace your traditional front door with one in a different design. Alternately, you can paint the door you have now in a fresh, vibrant hue that will coordinate with your home's exterior while adding a splash of color. Swap out the old hardware with a doorknob, doorbell, or porch mailbox in matching shades or finished metals like polished brass or brushed nickel. Install a stylish suspension lamp or wall sconces on one or both sides of the door.
Enhance the Porch
If you have a porch, overhang, or stoop, give it a fresh coat of paint or thorough scrubbing. Add a cozy glider with comfortable cushions and a side table for snacks or hobbies. Consider installing outdoor shades if the sun shines too brightly at certain times of the day. Attractive all-weather accent rugs, including a sturdy welcome mat, can coordinate with the porch furniture and the home's exterior color to create a balanced and appealing look. Hanging plants or potted shrubs make a nice addition to the corners or near the door.
Brighten the Steps
Concrete steps can be power washed or painted to go with the porch style. You may want to add step lights that come on at night to light the way safely in or out of the house. An attractive handrail made of the same or coordinating substance as the home's exterior, such as vinyl or wood, provides safety along with style. Seasonal accents like floral baskets in the Spring or harvest produce in fall will bring your entry into sharper focus.
Clear the Walkway
Keep the walkway leading to the entrance clear and free of debris, weeds, or overgrown grass. Powerwash or scrub with soapy water designed for a concrete sidewalk or brick pathway leading from the driveway to the porch. You can use decorative ground-level solar lights to illuminate the walkway between the house and the driveway at night. Attractive hardscape designs for concrete or a small vinyl fence or edging for an inlaid brick path helps to emphasize that area. There are many landscaping options to consider for a border along these paths as well.
Give your home a happy new face by remodeling your front entrance. With minimal cost and effort, you can get a brand new look to welcome your visitors.
