Spicing Up Your Entryway

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green Entryway door and window

 

Pixabay

If seasoned estate agents know anything, it’s the fact that curb appeal is what sells a home. It doesn’t matter how good a new kitchen might be, or how plush the living room is, if the front of the house looks like a bombsite, nobody will want to buy.

The reason for this is simple: your front porch is what creates the first impression of all your guests. It’s also the last thing that they see and leaves an enduring image of your house in their mind’s eye. Do they really want to live in a house that looks dilapidated and unwelcoming from the outside? Probably not. Here are some ways to spice up your entryway and make it more welcoming for guests and buyers alike.

Lead Them In

The first point to note is that is it important for there to be a synergy between the front garden and the entryway. The landscaping at the front of the house should be designed in such a way as to lead people to your front door. landscaping directory should feel as if they whole design language is guiding them to that end.

With that in mind, one popular method is to line the path leading up to your door with shrubs and small bushes. The path itself should be about four feet wide and preferably paved with beautifully cut slabs or professionally laid concrete. You can also adorn footpaths with artistically placed rocks and gravel. Walkways like this help to add interest for guests and really draw them in towards your front door.

Add A Punch Of Colour

Entryways can often look dull and uninviting, especially if they have the same monotone colors of the rest of the house. Many people, therefore, are now experimenting with brightly-coloured features in their entryways. You’re probably used to seeing things like doors painted scarlet or green, but you don’t have to limit yourself to the door itself. There are other ways to make your entryway “pop” including adding plants and making the porch structure itself more elaborately designed.

When adding color, it’;s a good idea to make sure that the element complements the rest of your home. For instance, if your home is constructed in the coastal style with large areas of white-painted wooden facade, then it’s a good idea to go with subtle, pastel colors, like pastel green or blue. Houses with darker brickwork will need to choose more striking colors to have an impact.

Don’t Let Things Get Overgrown

Another common issue is allowing the entryway of your home to become overgrown. Too often, proud homeowners have a lot going on in their front yard area. This can mean that it is often hard to see from the road where the door actually is.

BHG suggest pruning back any plants that obscure the front door, as these can put people off. They can make it seem as if walking through your front yard is like walking into Wonderland.

If you want your garden area to be colorful, a good idea is to use flower pots and boxes, instead of beds, to keep everything neatly contained. Plus, flower pots are easier to move if you are showing guests around.

Add A Touch Of Security

When people come to visit your home, they not only want something beautiful, they also want something that is safe. Entryways, therefore, need to appear robust and strong: not weak and flimsy.

One way to give the impression of strength is to use modern technology, like smart locks. These locks are relatively small, as this August lock review points out, meaning that they don’t interrupt the flow of your design. But they are a welcome addition too, and something that is still a little bit unusual.

Give It Some Personality

Many entryways look manicured and professionally put together, but are also hopelessly generic in appearance. Yes, it’s nice to have complementary colors and excellent framing, but the final effect is often something that lacks personality.
Entryway home in the country outdoors Wikimedia Commons

One way to spice things up a bit is to add interesting features, like colorful step tiles or an outdoor lantern. These features are those that will stay in the minds of potential buyers and visitors. If you’re going to spend money on luxury, they entryway is the place to do it.

Add Architectural Flourishes

Architectural flourishes around the entrance have been a mainstay of building design since medieval times. Things really kicked off in the 18th century when new wealth from trade led wealthy merchants to create opulent country estates in the style of the nobility.

If you’ve ever been to one of these homes, you’ll have noticed that a lot of attention is paid to the front door. Usually, it’s surrounded by columns and encircled with beautiful artistic and architectural motifs. Of course, you don’t have to go to such extreme lengths, but it is nice to have decorative effects to separate the entrance from the rest of the house.

Things like decorative brackets above the door, columns, and moldings all go a long way to making a big impression. Some homes are built with these features already installed. If so, make sure that they are in good condition, giving them a fresh lick of paint if necessary.

Use Repeating Elements

Ideally, you want your front entrance to meld seamlessly into the rest of your home’s exterior. The best way to do this is to make use of repeating elements. For instance, if your front door has an arch window about it, it’s a nice touch to make sure that the awning is arch-shaped too. If your door has blocky windows at the front, put down blocks of a similar size and shape in the path leading up to it.

Create A Meeting Spot

Entryway country porch outdoor chairs

Flickr

Finally, a cute way to make your front porch feel more welcoming is to bring the inside out. Many home designers recommend filling a large porch with outdoor furniture, turning it into the perfect place to relax and sit out with a warm drink.

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