I am about ready to give my front doors a major overhaul. I’ve been living in this house for over four years now and I’ve always disliked the finish and style of the doors. The wood is too orange, too dry and worst of all, there are small windows with leaded glass in them with brass accents throughout, yuck! I’ve dragged my feet long enough! These doors are the first thing visitors see when they approach my home and I’m through being embarrassed by their sad state.

So,in preparation for my own project I have given plenty of thought to all one must take into consideration when selecting a new finish for your front door.  You only get one chance to make a first impression, so you might as well make your front doors create a lasting one that says a little about your personal style.

Photo courtesy of DIY Network

The yellow door above adds a cheery pop of color to the blue of the house. The porch full of pots and flowers contrasts the yellow nicely making for a bright and happy entrance to this home.

Photo courtesy of Coastal Living Magazine

This lovely turquoise door really pops against the subtle white exterior of this house.  It’s also accented by a fun rug and containers full of color coordinated plants.  It would create a totally different feel if the door were red or black.  This color just says “beach” to me.

Photo courtesy of Coastal Living Magazine.

Here is another example of a white home accented with a red door, this really looks sharp and interesting. To me this one says “Cape Cod” and has a bit of a traditional feel.  When selecting a color for your front door, don’t forget to look around the inside of your house to pick up on color cues.  See the subtle red striping on the stair runner inside this door?  It’s tied in nicely with the red of the front door.

Image courtesy of Decorpad

If you are like me, the inside of your house is full of a variety of colors. So for me a black front door will make a dramatic statement and works well with the variety of colors I have going on inside. Cross your fingers for me, there is no turning back now!

–April