Designing A Stylish Entry Way

Entry ways are often the focal point of your home. When guests come to visit your home, your front door is the first thing they'll see. Your front door ends up being the key element that will influence how the rest of your home is viewed. For example, an attractive and welcoming entrance will not only pleasantly greet friends and family, but it will also put an idea in their head of how the rest of your home will look and feel because it was their first impression.

Most homeowners do not realize the affect an entryway can have on their home. In fact, most front doors do nothing more than let occupants and visitors in and out. Ironically, the front door is an area where homeowners can make a huge impact without spending too much money. Also, reflect on your thoughts about other peoples front doors and maybe this will help you understand just how much a front door impacts a person’s home.

Take a minute to look at the front of your home. Below are a few questions you should be asking yourself while you do this.

• Does your front door have any accents?
• Does your front door have any trim work?
• Is the paint cracking and peeling?
• Does your current lighting scheme work?
• Is there a storm door protecting your front door? If so, what condition is the storm door in?

More often then not, front doors will lack style because they have no accents, they have no trim work, they are starting to look worn down, and are they poorly lit which makes the entrance appear shadowy. Luckily, there are several ways to enhance the style of your entryway and create a flashy, beautiful entry to your home without spending a fortune.

Entry Way Options

Replace the door: If your existing front door is old and worn then it is making a bad impression to the rest of the world about your home. Not only is it making a negative statement about your home, but most likely it is providing reduced insulation and security as well. If you do decide to replace your door, natural wood, fiberglass and ornate steel and wrought iron doors make a beautiful statement. Be sure to get a door of equal size to save you money on resizing your entrance space.

Add a storm door: Storm doors will not only serve as a decorative flair to your entry way, but it will also protect the entry door and keep heat inside in the winter, and bugs out in the summer. Your best option is to purchases a combination storm /screen door because they provide sufficient insulation during the winter and the best ventilation in the summer.

Install trim work: Trim can make a huge difference to the appearance of your entryway. Consider adding trim with finish carpentry such as columns and a crosshead pediment to extend the width of the door. Also, ask your carpenter about high-density urethane foam millwork because it’s a great choice to high maintenance wood.

Lighting: Outdoor lighting illuminates your entryway which places emphasis on your stylish door and beautiful trim work. Lighting also chases away creepy shadows that make your entry way appear unwelcoming. Lighting installed above or at both sides of the front door are wonderful options. Furthermore, lighting is a practical addition because it helps the people who live in the home successfully find their keys to get in!

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