Your front door is the first thing your guests, buyers or simply passers-by see when they look at your house. It sets the mood for what your home will unravel inside. Therefore, never underestimate the impression it makes on others and choose it carefully. Here are a few hints on how to do it.
Colour
When choosing your front door, consider the exterior colour of your house and try to complement it in a visually pleasing way. For instance, an earthy green exterior comes to life when accessorized with a red door. A black door can tone down a baby blue house while anchoring this large mass of unexpected colour.
Do not ignore the psychological effect of colour. A red front door is inviting and welcoming; some cultures associate it with a good place for resting. Blue, the colour of the sky and water, speaks of abundance and calm. Yellow tones are stimulating and joyful - a promise of a good time.
This is your chance to make a bold colour statement. While white is a classic, safe choice that gives your house a crisp and clean look, it may also seem lifeless. Take a leap of faith by using a lively purple colour or a daring gold tone to spruce up your home and tell your guests yours is a fun place to be.
If you are not sure how to choose the right colour, use a simple trick. Take a picture of your house and use different paint chips to mimic the door. This way, you will be able to visualize the end result and make the right choice.
Architectural Design
It is important that, in choosing your front door, you remain true to the style of the house and its architectural details. If yours is a historic house, do not go for a metallic door or for an overly modern style. If the house is reminiscent of a Tuscan villa, enhance its attributes by choosing a door flaunting wrought iron designs. Your front door is an opportunity to prove that you have given ample consideration to every design detail.
Size
While sometimes this may not be an option, a double door can enhance the look of your house, providing it with a more grandiose entrance and, if completed with glass panels, allowing more light to come into the house. However, the look of a single door can often be enhanced vertically, by choosing a piece taller than the standard models.
Material and Finish
If you want to emphasize the unique character of your modern house, a steel door is an excellent way to please your decorating tastes. A combination of wood and glass is classic and chic, and comes with the added benefit of allowing light to enter your house. Solid wood is both durable and classy, but you can achieve a similar look for a lower price by choosing a medium density fiberboard door. Carefully weigh your choices when it comes to the finish of the door. A white or black painted door looks great on a beach house, but a stained one that lets the grain of wood shine through adds a touch of class to a Spanish villa or a Mexican hacienda.
Depending on the time and money you are willing to spend on this project, you can purchase a pre-made, ready to install door or order a custom one, that will allow you to pour all your wishes into its design and achieve a spectacular result. Regardless of your choice, remember that your front doors will remain the central focus of your house, telling your guests its story even before you have the chance to do it.
Colour
When choosing your front door, consider the exterior colour of your house and try to complement it in a visually pleasing way. For instance, an earthy green exterior comes to life when accessorized with a red door. A black door can tone down a baby blue house while anchoring this large mass of unexpected colour.
Do not ignore the psychological effect of colour. A red front door is inviting and welcoming; some cultures associate it with a good place for resting. Blue, the colour of the sky and water, speaks of abundance and calm. Yellow tones are stimulating and joyful - a promise of a good time.
This is your chance to make a bold colour statement. While white is a classic, safe choice that gives your house a crisp and clean look, it may also seem lifeless. Take a leap of faith by using a lively purple colour or a daring gold tone to spruce up your home and tell your guests yours is a fun place to be.
If you are not sure how to choose the right colour, use a simple trick. Take a picture of your house and use different paint chips to mimic the door. This way, you will be able to visualize the end result and make the right choice.
Architectural Design
It is important that, in choosing your front door, you remain true to the style of the house and its architectural details. If yours is a historic house, do not go for a metallic door or for an overly modern style. If the house is reminiscent of a Tuscan villa, enhance its attributes by choosing a door flaunting wrought iron designs. Your front door is an opportunity to prove that you have given ample consideration to every design detail.
Size
While sometimes this may not be an option, a double door can enhance the look of your house, providing it with a more grandiose entrance and, if completed with glass panels, allowing more light to come into the house. However, the look of a single door can often be enhanced vertically, by choosing a piece taller than the standard models.
Material and Finish
If you want to emphasize the unique character of your modern house, a steel door is an excellent way to please your decorating tastes. A combination of wood and glass is classic and chic, and comes with the added benefit of allowing light to enter your house. Solid wood is both durable and classy, but you can achieve a similar look for a lower price by choosing a medium density fiberboard door. Carefully weigh your choices when it comes to the finish of the door. A white or black painted door looks great on a beach house, but a stained one that lets the grain of wood shine through adds a touch of class to a Spanish villa or a Mexican hacienda.
Depending on the time and money you are willing to spend on this project, you can purchase a pre-made, ready to install door or order a custom one, that will allow you to pour all your wishes into its design and achieve a spectacular result. Regardless of your choice, remember that your front doors will remain the central focus of your house, telling your guests its story even before you have the chance to do it.
