Skip to content

First impressions: 3 ways to give your front door a makeover

As the saying goes, you never get a second chance to make a first impression. Your front door is the first thing visitors see when they come to your home, so it’s worth taking the time to make sure it looks perfect. If your front door has seen better days, the best alternative to purchasing a new one is to give your old door a makeover. Here are three suggestions to get you inspired.

A fresh lick of paint

Our front doors can accumulate a lot of wear and tear over the years. During winter, they stand up to rain, wind, and snow, while in summer time they scorch under the sun. Weather aside, our front doors are opened numerous times as we enter and leave the property every day. With all of that action, it’s hardly surprising that the paintwork can start to look a little tatty after a while.

A fresh paint job can quickly transform the entrance of your home. You might even consider switching to a new colour. Bold colours like green, sky blue or yellow feel energetic, friendly, and welcoming. Pillar-box red is a real statement colour and implies confidence and stature. For a more reserved aesthetic, opt for a cool grey. Alternatively, colours like turquoise, purple, or burnt orange will stand out from the crowd. Before you decide, buy a small ‘tester’ pot from your local DIY shop and swatch the door. Then check to make sure you like how it looks at different times of  day and in different weathers.

Decorative glass

Door glassDecorative glass panels or windows are a great way to rejuvenate your front door, consequently boosting the curb appeal of your property. The great thing about glass is that it can be decorated in so many different ways. Stained glass is always a popular choice for front doors. You could use it to create an abstract piece of art, or a more formal, repeating motif. You could even opt for something more specific, such as images of flowers or leaves. Adding a pop of colour can make a statement about your home and liven up an otherwise reserved door design.

For something subtler, consider installing etched glass. Rather than using colour, etching mixes opaque and clear glass to form a pattern. A current trend uses etching to create large, statement house numbers in door panels. In addition to the decorative benefits, this type of ‘obscured’ glass provides an added level of privacy.

Features and furniture

Little details like ‘door furniture’ can transform the overall appearance of your front door. When you’re choosing a new set of accessories, take inspiration from popular architectural styles. The Baroque period, for example, featured doors with ornate woodcarvings. Traditional cottage doors by comparison, often feature simple wood panels and cast iron fittings. Perhaps the most popular front door style is ‘British Victorian’. These doors typically feature an asymmetrical design made of vertical rectangular panels.

Keep in mind that favouring a particular style needn’t mean investing in a whole new door. By adding some key features to your existing door, you can create your own unique look. Consider installing a new letterbox, doorknob, or a decorative doorknocker. Think about which materials you’d like to use. Brass works well with period features, whilst glossy chrome looks more modern. Whatever your style, make sure to coordinate all your door accessories for a truly polished look.

[Photos by Unsplash and James Valma]