Your front door is the face of your home. Does it have sunglasses on? Does it have concealer? Does it have some lipstick on it? I know it sounds funny to equate it to a face, but just as you greet someone you have never met and evaluate their features (consciously or unconsciously), you are formulating your first impression. 

“You never get a second chance to make a first impression.”

So, let’s make that front door sparkle and put her best foot forward! 

Think as you approach someone’s front door - what is the very first thing you notice? Perhaps it’s a dirty entry with leaves and spider webs that have been there for well over a year. Perhaps it’s a crooked, old doormat. Maybe it’s dirty glass. OR, maybe it’s gorgeous planters with blooming flowers that clearly get love and attention every day. An oversized, layer rug. A beautiful wreath on the front door. 

If your front door is your face, do you want to look well put together or hung over from the night before? Of course, the latter! Putting your best foot forward doesn’t have to be expensive or time-consuming. It’s just paying attention to a few details that matter and the presentation of the face of your home will be drastically improved!

Clean

Your entry is like any other room in your house and so much easier to keep clean than cleaning it. Each week when you have a broom and Windex in your hand, simply take a step out the front door and do the job. Every great cleaning company knows that if the front door is sparkling clean, people assume the rest of the house is as well. 

Planters

One or two planters on the front porch can make such a difference to the presentation. During the winter months, including evergreens and birch sticks. During the growing seasons, feature seasonal flowers. They just look so pretty!

Doormat

Your doormat should be replaced seasonally and positioned a few inches away from the door and straight in presentation. The bigger the better. Think about your entry rug like putting a rug in the middle of your living room and then adding furniture. You would want your rug big enough to put your coffee table on it and furniture so it all looks “oversized.” Your entry is the same way. A larger rug that can accommodate a planter and a cute bench with a little pillow is going to make your entry look far larger than it actually is.

Let your guests know they are at the right house

If you have a guest arriving for the first time, especially if you just moved in, having a doormat or sign with your last name or initial is so reassuring for your guests before they ring the doorbell that they are in the right place. Entry Envy signs are perfect for this because they are fully customized with your last name or monogram, and include a monthly subscription for faux holiday and seasonal decor. Talk about killing two birds with one stone - identify your home and keep your front porch effortlessly in style.

Doorbell

This is one of the most overlooked details on a front porch that says a whole lot. To be honest, video doorbells are creepy to me. I know they are practical, but personally, I hate them. I prefer exterior cameras that give me an eye of my property and I know exactly who is there but will not say to the individual who has arrived “show me your face and I’ll decide if I’m answering the door,” even if in fact that’s what you do. Remember, we’re trying to make a good first impression here! There are $20 electronic doorbells that have wireless receivers you can plug in anywhere in your house. The doorbells look modern and sophisticated, but not creepy, at least in my opinion. I have three receivers so I can hear it from anywhere, including the back patio. Here is a link to mine. No matter what, we don’t want a doorbell that is 20+ years old and looks every bit of it.

Door hardware

Now that your guest has pushed the doorbell and now is going to enter your home, is the hardware on your door clean, secure, and new within the past ten years? If not, consider this simple update for less than $150. 

Color of your door

A fresh coat of paint on your front door will go a long way. When you are making a decision about what color to do, consider what color your home is for something complimentary, what your style is inside your home, and that you need to live with this color 12 months out of the year. For example, I would love a fun bright yellow door…for about three months during the summer, but bright yellow during the middle of winter doesn’t match my style. Plus, I have nothing on the inside of my house that is bright yellow, I only have some mustard yellow. Keep in mind also, that the darker the color you do, the more it will fade and may need to be repainted in five years. 

Storm door

If you live in a part of the country where storm doors are necessary, make sure it is relatively updated as well - no faded, well coordinated with the exterior of the house and your front door, clean, modern hardware that coordinates with your front door and not “rickety.” Most of the time it's less expensive to replace these than to try to fix them up. Painting can be really tricky because they are metal and there are often times moving parts with a screen.  

In summary, keep your front door clean and adorn your front porch with decor, but not too much. Remember that “less is more.” A great rug, planter, perhaps a bench or chair, and a wreath or Entry Envy sign are perfect. You don’t need a ton, but just a little that says, “someone lives here, someone cares, someone is loved.” 

P.S. Entry Envy custom home signs welcome guests and help delivery drivers validate they are at the correct house. There are so many styles available! If you haven't ordered yours yet, please SHOP HERE to design your unique sign. Monthly home decor subscription boxes make it easy and convenient to keep your sign in style. You'll never have to think about how to update your front porch for the next season or holiday again!