I often discuss the hallway as the most neglected room in most homes when it comes to decorating. But what’s forgotten even more frequently than the hallway is the exterior of the home, including the front door – even though it’s the first impression of your home people get. Hence, a certain level of care and consideration should go into it – luckily, a few experts have shared their top tips on how to make a front door look expensive, and they’re easy to replicate in your home.
By incorporating one of these front door ideas, you’ll elevate the overall look of your home and make a great first impression on your guests. Not to mention the fact that your front door is the first and last thing you see when entering and leaving your home, so why not make it an aesthetically appealing sight?
‘Your front door is more than just a way into your home – it’s the first thing people see, and the last thing they remember,’ says Marianne Shillingford, creative director and colour expert at Dulux. ‘We often focus our attention on interiors and forget that the front door plays such a powerful role in the overall character of our home. Think of all those cherished moments it frames – from first days of school to waving off visitors, it quietly becomes part of the family story.’
Are you ready to increase your home’s kerb appeal?
1. Coordinate your hardware
Dubbed the door ‘furniture’, many often forget about the hardware of the front door. But leaving it mismatched or worse, painted over in white, will cheapen the look of your entrance.
‘Door “furniture” is something that often goes under the radar, but having a consistent look across the handles, knocker and door number helps tie the look together,’ says Jimmy Englezos, Ronseal’s senior brand manager. ‘Using materials such as brass or stainless steel will also bring a premium feel to the entrance of your home.’
Aurelien Farjon and Laurie Davidson, interior stylists at Style Makers, add, ‘White painted metal hardware are the ones you do not want to have on show if you are after an expensive look. Instead, add a brass door knocker. It really elevates the look of the door as it’s such a smart finishing touch. You can then use it to attach Christmas and Easter wreaths and really draw attention to it.’
To add a fun flourish, consider a playful shape like the popular bumble bee door knocker, which you can pick up for under £30 at B&Q.
2. Illuminate your entrance
Just like in the interior of your home, the right lighting can also make a world of the difference when it comes to the exterior. And adding stylish, warm light is one of the best ways to make your porch look expensive.
‘Lighting is another great way to enhance the luxury feel of your home. If you have steps leading up to your front door, recessed LED lights can make a big difference, while lantern-style exterior lights can make an entranceway feel cosy and luxurious, especially in the evening,’ Jimmy at Ronseal says.
3. Go for a sophisticated colour
A fresh coat of paint in the right front door colour idea is another easy DIY project you can take on. And this colourful makeover will likely make your front door look like a brand new entrance.
‘Going for a rich dark tone will always look more elevated,’ Aurelien and Laurie at Style Makers start.
Jimmy at Ronseal continues, ‘Updating the colour of your front door is a great way to create a high-end feel without breaking the bank on a new door. Deep blues and greens are classic colours that work well across a wide range of materials, from brick to stone and give an elegant feel. However, if you want something more traditional, opting for a deep red shade is reminiscent of colours used in Georgian and Victorian homes, adding to the property’s character and creating a luxury feel.’
4. Opt for a glossy finish
As for the best paint finish for your front door, it’s often recommended to opt for a glossier type of paint, much like you would use on your skirting boards, rather than going for matt.
‘Using a glossier paint is a great way to enhance the look of your front door, as a shiny finish helps reflect light and creates a sharper appearance than a matt paint,’ Jimmy at Ronseal explains.
Farrow and Ball offers a Full Gloss paint that is perfect for front doors, it has a mirror-like shine and is scuff, stain and weather resistant.
5. Don’t forget the door frame
It’s not all about the front door itself, but also about its surroundings – which is why it’s key to also pay attention to the look of any trim and the door frame.
‘Painting the frame and trim around the door is another way to elevate the overall look. You can choose to paint it the same colour as the door to make it appear bigger and grander, while a complementary colour can help the door stand out,’ Jimmy at Ronseal says.
6. Create a cohesive look
Whether you’re decorating the interior or exterior of your home, it’s always important to think about the bigger picture as it will make everything look more considered and by extension more expensive, your front door included.
‘It’s important to ensure your front door works with the rest of your home, as a mismatch can make the entranceway look awkward. Coordinate your paint colour with the rest of the exterior of the house to create a cohesive look. For example, dark greens and reds work well with red brick, while neutral tones tend to suit stone homes,’ Jimmy at Ronseal says.
Get the look
Just because you're going for an elevated look doesn't mean you can't inject some charm and have a bit of fun. A whimsical door knocker in brass like this dragonfly design is the perfect way to do it.
Named after the unusual colour of a type of corn popular in Mexico, this rich Farrow & Ball shade comes in the full gloss finish which is suitable for front doors.
A centre door knob in aged brass finish is another great addition to a front door for a bit of old-world charm. But it works best on more traditional, period properties.
If blue like the one from Farrow & Ball is not your style, perhaps a classic green like this Dulux Buckingham shade might be more up your street. You can't really go wrong with a classic green!
Just like with indoor wall lights, there are many different outdoor wall light styles to choose from. But you can never go wrong with a stylish, timeless classic like the lantern light. And this one is super affordable.
As the experts have already explained, it's encouraged to keep your hardware cohesive. And very few finishes look as stylish as brass, especially when it comes slightly weathered.
Are you feeling inspired to give your front door an expensive-looking makeover?
