Much more than just a door
How do you feel about your front door? How do you think others see it?
The front door is easily one of the first things that people notice about a home.
A front door should be welcoming, and draw you into the home. It can express your personality, just like your landscaping.
Your front door must also be practical. It should be sturdy as well as stylish. While you want it to be aesthetically appealing, it still must be tough enough to withstand wind, rain, hot sun and possible intruders. And it doesn’t matter how magnificent it looks new if you are not prepared to maintain it.
Your front door serves many important purposes, but sometimes gets lost in the shuffle.
You can build a million-dollar home and still not draw attention like the little cottage down the street. How often have you driven by a beautiful new house and wondered by no one invested in a front door statement, instead thinking ‘Who uses a cheap front door like that on an expensive home?’
When you are selling, replacing the front door may easily enhance the appearance of your home exterior and prove a good return on investment. Curb appeal is something buyers and neighbours notice. Visitors, including buyers, may judge your home by your front door. If you have paid attention the first experience when someone comes to your home, it stands to reason that you have paid attention to detail throughout your home.
The front door is security, protecting you and your family and keeping everyone in the house safe. It’s also a chance to incorporate your personal style and add some flair to your home. Colour can make a statement and send a welcoming vibe. Don’t be afraid to be bold, even if your neighborhood is conservative.
Some home owners feel the need to see out the front door while others are more comfortable with something completely solid, but aside from incorporating window panels and openings, the majority of front doors tend to be of timber, fiberglass, steel or iron construction.
Timber doors are visually appealing and solid, but need maintenance. Fiberglass doors are resistant to warping and bowing and tend to be more maintenance-free than many other door types. Steel doors can look amazing but are not necessarily any stronger than solid wood or fiberglass. Aluminum doors generally have a wood frame with insulation filling the spaces, they may dent but not rust, and are the most versatile if a custom-built door is what you are after.
Finally, if you have an interest in feng shui, the front door is the ‘mouth’ of your home, or the ‘mouth of chi’. ‘Chi’ means energy, and a house wants good Chi coming in through the front door. A front door facing the street means that energy and opportunities can come in. If not, your goal is to direct the energy to your ‘hidden’ front door with lights, planting or other markets; and if you live in an apartment, you may need to put one or two plants outside your door to lift your own energy when you see your home.