8 Ways to Spruce Up Your Entryway

Probably all of your really good friends and neighbors always knock on the back door, but when strangers approach your house they go to the front door. So your front door is really where you make your first impression on anyone new visiting your house. Take a stroll up your front walkway to your front door. You may be surprised what you find.

Clean - Clean your doorway. Cobwebs never make a good first impression, unless you are a vampire and it is Halloween! Too often when we enter our home through a garage or back door, the front doorway is forgotten. If you never use it, make a point to enter your house through it occasionally just for a spot check.

Fresh Paint - Make sure that the paint on your door is fresh and not peeling or chipping. When you are repainting your front door consider giving it a bold, new color like black or red for a little extra drama in your curb appeal.

New Hardware - If you have had the same doorknob and doorknocker for twenty years; maybe it is time for a change. If you love your existing hardware consider refurbishing it, and then add your house number in big, shiny letters to your entryway for a fresh look.

Decorative Wreath - It is extremely easy to simply hang a wreath on the front door for instant seasonal decoration. It can be something as simple as branches and dried flowers in the autumn, an herb wreath for the springtime, flowers for summertime, and of course holly and berries for wintertime.

Stained Glass - Consider updating a plain glass door with a new, stained glass panel to add beautiful color and interest to your door. If stained glass does not appeal to you then consider some of the beautiful beveled glass panels available today to add a spark of new life to your front door.

Front Porch - If you are lucky enough to have a front porch, then use it. Make the entryway to your porch inviting. You can soften architectural lines with potted plants or hanging baskets, but take care to leave walkways unobstructed.

Doorknob Hanger - If you do not want to display a wreath on your front door, consider a doorknob ornament. Frequently children artwork is perfect for this purpose. In the absence of artwork however, a simple batch of dried flowers tied with a decorative ribbon will put your signature on your front door.

Light - Check your front light to make sure it still works especially if you normally enter and exit your house through the garage. Make sure your front light fixtures are in good repair, and make sure that they give off adequate light so that your visitors can travel up your front walkway without risking injury. You may also consider updating your light fixtures to give fresh new look to your entryway.