Easy Ways to Update Your Entry

By Steele Thomas Marcoux
October 04, 2011
Photo: Ted Tucker
A beautiful front door can transform the look of your entire home. Here’s easy updates to give your entryway a mini makeover.
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Make an entrance.

Photo: David Hillegas

Bold colors, soft lighting, graphic house numbers, pretty planters, and fun accessories make a welcome addition to your front entryway.

Door in Simply Aqua (5008-10A); valspar.com

Starfish Wreath, $120; etsy.com/shop/beachgrasscottage

Frog Indoor/Outdoor Rug, $138 (4' x 6'); dashandalbert.com

Video: The Best Paint Colors for Your Front Door

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Color it bold.

Photo: Ted Tucker

Nothing has a bigger impact on a front door than fresh paint, which boasts curb appeal and provides protection from the elements. First buff the door with 220-grit sandpaper, and then prime it so that paint adheres better. According to Pat Sandor, a how-to expert at The Home Depot, “a smoother finish, like a semi- or high-gloss, will help prevent moisture from creeping in and forming mildew.”

From top to bottom:
Ebbtide (SW6493); sherwin-williams.com

Folly Green (76); farrow-ball.com (Try Easygoing Green (VR047C) for similar: valspar.com)

Martha Stewart’s Peony Orange (MS032); (Try Tropical Paradise (VR006C) for similar: valspar.com)

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Light it up.

Courtesy of Circa Lighting

Add ambience with a hanging lantern or nautical-style sconces. Materials such as unfinished copper or brass look even better with patina, says Gale Singer, president of Circa Lighting. Another tip: Use frosted bulbs for softer light and less glare.

Charleston 1-Light Outdoor Pendant in Oil-Rubbed Bronze, starting at $159; ballarddesigns.com

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Play the numbers.

Photo: Ted Tucker

Make sure guests (and mail carriers) can find your home with house numbers that are easily visible and have a coastal vibe.

Eames House Numbers in Paprika, $38 each; heathceramics.com

 

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Get some life.

Photo: Andrea Gomez

Extend a warmer welcome with planted pots. Check out local nurseries for low-maintenance plantings, such as succulents, that thrive in your plant zone.

South Seas Planter, $115; hayneedle.com

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Accessorize with style.

Photo: Ted Tucker

Door knockers, mailboxes, and pretty wreaths are like jewelry for front doors. Add one or two—but don’t overdo it.

Anchor Door Knocker, $105; michaelhealy.com

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