House exterior entryway ideas
15 Ways to Freshen Up Your Exterior Entryway Right Now
Showcase Your Style
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The exterior entryway says a lot about the home. It’s an opportunity to showcase personal style, display cleanliness and organization, and provide curb appeal. Whether the exterior consists of a mere front door and a small stoop—or a large front porch—design shouldn’t take a backseat just because the entryway is a small portion of the home. These 15 ways to freshen up the exterior include everything from stenciling and painting the floor and stairs to incorporating alluring planters, cozy furniture and even adding privacy.
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Layer a Doormat
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Skip the same old doormat scene and instead try out a layering technique to bring the inside out. This combination features boho vibes beneath with a fringed rug and a minimalist but bold doormat on top. Available on Nickel Designs.
nickeldesigns.com
Hang a Swing Chair
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If your exterior entryway consists of a front porch, hang a swing chair! A trendy upgrade from the classic bench is the egg-shaped chair. This cozy swing features a stylish wrapped wicker weave and plush water-resistant cushions. Available on Birch Lane.
birchlane.com
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Decorate With a Vertical Garden
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Decorate the exterior entryway with fresh herbs and plants. This contemporary, architectural option is great for homes without a lot of outdoor floor space as it mounts right on a vertical surface. Available at Crate&Barrel.
Related: Growing Up: 14 Inventive DIY Vertical Gardens
crateandbarrel.com
Add Porch Poufs
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Outdoor poufs are the perfect laidback look for the exterior entryway. Stack one or two next to some chairs to flank the front door and provide a chic footrest or extra seating. Available on Rugs USA.
rugsusa.com
Incorporate A Bust Planter
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A bust planter adds instant sophistication to the exterior entryway. Made of terracotta, this antique-looking bust will age gracefully if left outdoors, developing a weathered patina over time. Create various looks, from a hair full of blooms to classic greenery. Available on Ballard Designs.
ballarddesigns.com
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Install a Gorgeous Gate
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Add privacy and grandeur to the exterior entryway by installing a gate. An ornamental metal gate will set the scene without fully blocking off the rest of the entrance. A pedestrian walkthrough entry gate can be installed right at the steps leading up to the home or down the pathway. Available on Etsy.
Related: Great Entrances: 10 Welcoming Garden Gates
etsy.com
Stencil the Stoop
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Whether for a front porch or a small stoop, stenciling the ground will add a unique, vibrant look to the entrance of the home. Choose a bright and bold Moroccan stencil, or go for something that resembles flagstone, like this patio stencil. Available on Etsy.
Related: The Next Level: 14 Stair Railings to Elevate Your Home Design
etsy.com
Decorate With Mirrors
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Leaning an oversized mirror on the home’s exterior adds glamour while reflecting the surroundings’ natural beauty. This beveled accent mirror is reminiscent of the French countryside with its arched silhouette and iron frame with iron accents in a rust finish. Available on Wayfair.
wayfair.com
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Hang or Lean Faux Gate Decor
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Decorate a wall inside the front door with a series of wood and metal faux gate decor. Inspired by stained glass pieces, this option oozes with an antique charm that will make an otherwise bland corner of the interior entryway a beautiful sight. Available on Grandin Road.
grandinroad.com
Hang Curtains
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Outdoor curtains add a whimsical element to the home. Set up a rod to section off a larger porch, or add them to the entryway. The curtains provide privacy when needed but look elegant when tied back. Available on Overstock.
overstock.com
Install a Screen
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For a sleek look, install a screen. This cord-free, semi-sheer roll-up shade will also block a bit of sun while adding some warmth in a natural hue to the patio. Available on Wayfair.
wayfair.com
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Add a Chandelier
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A chandelier is a surefire way to add elegance to any space, but when it’s hung in an unexpected place, it makes it even more alluring. Exterior entryway lighting tends to be modest, so go ahead and break the norm with something oversized. Available on Birch Lane.
birchlane.com
Paint the Steps
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Even the most modest front doorsteps can be painted to add a major wow factor to the exterior entryway. Take a look at the hashtag “paintedsteps” on Instagram for inspiration. This example creates the illusion of a rug running down the three steps. Available on Amazon.
amazon.com
Add a Firepit
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If there’s enough space for a couple of chairs or a bistro set outside the front door, there’s likely an opportunity to squeeze in a calming fire pit! This small but mighty outdoor wood-burning faux stone fire column features a removable fire bowl for easing cleaning. The fiberglass console ensures a safe and sturdy base. Available on Wayfair.
Related: No Money to Burn? 13 Fire Pits You Can Afford
wayfair.com
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Add Turf to the Steps
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Bring nature all the way up to the front door by adding turf to the steps. This custom cut, realistic-looking turf grass will also reduce noise, protect the stairs and create traction. Available on Amazon.
amazon.com
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Unforgettable Interior & Exterior Entryway Designs – SEI Construction, Inc.
Through each season, most homeowners aspire to have an entryway that catches the eye and increases home value at resale. Whether you’re looking for front entryway decorating ideas, small entryway ideas, information on building an entryway addition, or exterior entryway design ideas, we have you covered.
We explore popular entryway options that make the investment worthwhile.
1. The front entry with glass panels
Whether you decide to decorate your glass panels with ornate details or keep it traditional through simplicity, customization through glass can add curb appeal to both your front porch and interior foyer. They can also set the tone by amplifying the impression of a welcoming home through natural lighting.
2. Lighten the mood
Speaking of lighting, it’s a great outside entryway idea and front door entrance idea. There are three basic types of lighting that work together to light your home: General, Task, and Accent. A good lighting plan combines all three types of light to an area to provide function and style. Additionally, you can use paint color, the amount of square footage you’re working with, and your interior design to leverage the best lighting plan for your space.
3. Paint, woodwork, and ornate details
The most memorable spaces leave lasting impressions long after you’ve walked through them. The same can be said about using paint, woodwork, and ornate details as front door entrance decorating ideas. When incorporated into a design correctly, one or all can make the entryway brighter, warmer, and feel larger and airier.
4. Wood doors and potted plants
This combination is nice to look at, but did you know that updating your front door has one of the highest home project ROI’s? If wood doors aren’t your thing, there are plenty of additional front door ideas and materials to choose from. Steel doors, pivot doors, and even iron wrought doors with glass are among the most popular home exterior doors.
5. Include the staircase in your entryway design
In many homes, the staircase is in or near the entryway. Trying to design an entryway while ignoring part of it will usually fail. Instead of ignoring the presence of your stairway, include it. Don’t overlook the opportunities presented by a banister, which can be decorated to match the season.
6. Take a seat or grab a table
Forget the sofa table and accent chair you have in the living room. One of the easiest ways to make your entryway welcoming is to give guests a place to sit. Take it a step further and show off family photos and charming home decorations on a console table.
If you’re looking for a functional and transitional option for mudrooms, consider a bench with cubbies or drawers for storage underneath.
You can incorporate personality by adding customized shelving above that features family photos. This is a popular way many homeowners choose to show off their house entrance design from the exterior entrance or garage entrance.
There are many factors to take into account for your entryway design. Just remember that this space is the first place visitors see when they walk in the door so you want it to be both attractive and practical.
Entrance of a private house, decoration and design features, photo ideas
Entrance to a house, like a visiting card of its owners, at a glance tells about their character and preferences, mood. The connecting link between the site and the dwelling, which is the entrance to the house, is very important to arrange correctly, taking into account the style and overall design of the site and the structures available on it. According to the architectural solution, the entrance to a private house can be decorated strictly or using architectural elements inherent in the buildings of the rich. A pompously decorated entrance to especially luxurious mansions in the old days was usually called a portal, but today such priorities are not often observed, and in most cases the design of the entrance depends on its size, location and style of the facade of the house. Moreover, it is the design of the entrance that can have an important influence on the attractiveness of the appearance of the facade.
Contents:
- Making the entrance to a private house - how to choose the right option
- Making the entrance to the house - how to plan the area in front of the house
- How to equip a canopy or canopy over the entrance
- Porch video
- Entrance to a country house - veranda and its advantages video
- Tambour and its purpose
- Design of the entrance to the house - what should be the door
- Private house entrance design ideas video
Making the entrance to a private house - how to choose the right option
Various options can be used to decorate the entrance to the house: terraces, verandas, porches - the most common of them, it is very difficult to list everything, since their unique layout can be associated with the relief of the area adjacent to the house, natural factors, meteorological conditions, typical for this area. Also, the choice of option may depend on:
- use of certain building materials,
- opportunities to spend a large amount of money
- and personal tastes.
The final decision of the design concept will be influenced by the location of the entrance relative to the road, proximity to it, orientation to the cardinal direction.
It is customary to focus attention on the entrance with planning and decorative means, to achieve the desired effect, one and the other are usually used simultaneously. According to the planning, the entrance door can be located in a niche or on a loggia, in the middle of a wall or on the side, under the balcony of the second floor. The entrance to the house, located in the central part of the facade, gives the building a festive look, usually the splendor of such an entrance is emphasized by decorative elements or architectural techniques: steps are built in front of it, an original canopy with columns is made, large stone vases with ornamental plants are installed near the door.
In some cases, a more practical option is used, placing a glass vestibule in the depths of the loggia. In addition to being decorative, it plays the role of a gateway and helps maintain a stable temperature in the house both in winter and in the heat of summer.
Making the entrance to the house - how to properly plan the area in front of the house
When building a house, it is customary to plan the floor level so that it is at a height of 30 to 60 cm from the ground. Therefore, a platform will need to be built in front of the front door, its height should be about 5 cm below the floor level. It will also be necessary to provide for a slight slope of the platform - 2 cm per meter of length - this will allow rainwater to drain freely.
The shape of the platform can be semi-circular, oval or rectangular, and its dimensions must be such that 3-4 people can freely fit on it. The material for the construction of the site can be a concrete slab or brickwork, stone, natural and artificial, ceramic tiles or other materials resistant to low temperatures and moisture can be used as a lining.
For the convenience of climbing to the site, several steps are being built. The first floor raised above the ground level requires the design of a staircase installed during the construction of the house. Its design should:
- match the appearance of the facade,
- ensure safe use in all weather conditions,
- be user-friendly for users of different ages.
Stairs leading to the entrance can have a wide variety of designs, but it is advisable to adhere to the recommended dimensions:
- width - 110 cm and more,
- step height - 12-18 cm,
- step depth - 28-35 cm.
The smaller the angle of inclination of the ladder, the more comfortable it will be to climb it. Each tread should be installed with a slight (t 2 to 3 mm) slope outward - so that water does not accumulate and an ice cover does not form. For safe movement on stairs with a height of more than 100 cm, you will need to protect it with a railing. If the design of the house involves any monumental decorations, then instead of a fence, sculptural elements, flowerpots with plants, etc. are installed along the edges of the stairs.
Stairs can be made from masonry, metal or wood. Steps can be made from the same materials, but if desired, reinforced concrete stringers can be used.
Each material should be treated accordingly:
- metal - primed and painted,
- wood - antiseptics and flame retardants.
How to make a canopy or canopy over the entrance
This façade element is designed if:
It is difficult to overestimate the value of the visor - it will protect the door from raindrops on it, save the owners of the house from getting wet while they are looking for keys and opening the lock. In addition, at night, the backlight installed under the visor will greatly simplify the process of opening the front door.
According to its structure, the canopy can be:
Canopy roofing material:
- transparent slate,
- plexiglass,
- glass profile,
- the material from which the roof of the house is built: ceramic or soft tiles, profiled sheet.
Porch
When decorating the entrance to a private house, the porch, as a traditional option, is used quite often. The porch structure consists of:
- brackets or posts supporting the canopy,
- canopy itself, side walls,
- fences.
Beautifully designed porch not only protects the entrance from snow or rain, but also emphasizes the expressiveness of the facade. If earlier it was customary to place the porch in the center of the wall, today the architectural fashion is more democratic, the porch can be shifted to the side walls of the house, its shape can be rectangular or asymmetrically extended towards the front door. The resulting additional area is used as a veranda, setting a table, benches, chairs there.
If the entrance to the house is raised above the ground to the height of one step, then the porch is installed directly on the ground. If there are more steps, then a foundation is erected under the porch:
- rubble,
- brick,
- concrete.
It will serve as a support for steps or stringers. To prevent the porch from sinking, its foundation is laid to the same depth as the foundation of the house, combining them into one structure.
The porch can be built using the same materials that were used in the construction of the walls of the house, or others that are suitable in texture.
Entrance to a country house - veranda and its advantages
In rural areas, the entrance to the house is usually through the veranda. It significantly increases the area of \u200b\u200bthe house, the veranda is especially in demand in the summer - it can be used as a dining room or summer kitchen. In winter, it does an excellent job of acting as a heat lock. Beautiful decoration of this room can also enhance the overall appeal of a country cottage or country house.
Usually the veranda is not insulated, most of the wall surface is glazed. This option threatens to overheat on hot summer days. Therefore, when drafting the entrance to the house through the veranda, they choose to install removable frames in it, or opening ones.
Recently, sliding wall structures have become popular, allowing, if necessary, to turn the veranda into an open terrace. Such structures consist of several sections, interconnected by metal loops. When opening, the sections fold like an accordion. When closing, each of them is attached with metal hooks to a horizontal pipe, or staples moving to the right and left along a horizontal guide.
Vestibule and its purpose
Vestibule in front of the front door - the structure is more functional. It is designed to protect the premises from dampness and low temperatures. In the event that the operation of the house is planned only in the summer, it is quite possible to do without a vestibule, but for capital buildings in the northern regions of Russia it is simply necessary.
Depending on the architectural solution of the building, the vestibule can be located:
- in a recess, as if inside the main building;
- outdoors, i.e. protrude beyond the plane of the facade.
The depth of the vestibule should be at least 1.2 m. the appearance of the building loses its splendor. This option is most often used to design additional inputs.
Design of the entrance to the house - what should be the door
The entrance door should fit into the general style of the building, its dimensions should be such as to allow people to freely enter the house, bring furniture, household appliances into the house. In order not to create an obstacle to movement, the front door is located at the floor level of the first floor of the house.
Often there are disputes about which way the door should open: outward or inward. The first option can be life-saving in the event that a large number of people need to leave the house on an emergency basis, for example, during a fire or earthquake. A door that opens inward will allow you to safely leave the house in case of heavy snow drifts or icing, which are observed quite often in winter.
A beautiful entrance to the house can be created by installing single, double or one-and-a-half doors. The minimum width of a single-leaf model should be at least 95 cm. The height of the entrance doors can be about 195-230 cm, sometimes more. It is recommended to equip a glazed transom above the door - it will allow natural light to penetrate into the front.
As for the question of whether such a door should be blind or glazed, it all depends on the personal preferences of the owners. A blind door seems more reliable, but a glazed one looks more modern, allows you to get natural light in the hallway or vestibule, and unites the interior with the environment. The reliability of such a door is ensured by the use of bulletproof or tempered glass, strengthened by beautiful forged bars. In extreme cases, glass doors can be secured and roller shutters installed.
Of no small importance is the beautiful and original design of the outer door opening. For the manufacture of the platband, hardwood, natural or artificial stone, decorative plaster can be used.
Design ideas for the entrance to a private house
To equip a beautiful entrance to the house, you will have to take care of the surrounding area: build paths on it, install lighting, and landscape gardening.
A wide variety of plants can be used for planting in front of the entrance, these can be trees and shrubs with original crowns, coniferous evergreens, when composing the composition, you can also use solitary plants, such as sharp-leaved maples, pedunculate oaks, weeping birches.
Classic style house involves the creation of a beautiful lawn and hedges around the perimeter of the site.
The most interesting options on the theme of the entrance of a private house, decoration and design features, photo ideas.
55 photo of porch and front door, canopy design
The appearance of the entire building depends on the decor of the veranda and porch. Therefore, the arrangement of the entrance of a private house should be given special attention. Decoration can be carried out both with the help of natural and artificial materials or their various combinations.
Ennoblement of the entrance with greenery
Whatever materials the porch is built from, greenery will always look great. But in order for it to fit well into the overall design of the garden plot and harmonize with the porch and the building, you should know some subtleties. Let's dwell on the successful options for decorating the porch with plants with your own hands.
- Tall arborvitae look great right next to the door. Even if you plant one thuja on each side of the porch, the building will take on a majestic look. These plants are especially well suited for tall buildings. And to emphasize the design idea, you can plant other conifers in the area in front of the building;
- Another option for decorating the part of the porch at the door is a lush flower garden or bushes of bright roses. Designers are advised to give preference to weaving roses if there is a small veranda or porch, which allows you to make something in the form of a roof of plants on it. The combination of roses with other flowers will also look noble in this zone;
- Doors can also be decorated with indoor flowers in pots, which are often taken out into the fresh air. If this is not possible, limit yourself to hanging planters with petunias - bright ampelous and spray flowers will help decorate the porch railing from the outside and will look great in the form of a waterfall over your head from the street.
Do-it-yourself landscaping of the facade, parts of the veranda from the street or the porch zone of a country house are done both vertically and horizontally. A combination of design options is also acceptable. And if there is an arch near the door of the building, you will have much more opportunities for finishing and decorating the outside - the arch and doors topped with greenery and flowers create a unique atmosphere.
Site layout in front of the house
Depending on who will live in a country house and what is the general style of the site, a site is planned before construction. Let's dwell on the subtleties that will help make the porch as comfortable as possible.
- Pay special attention to the dimensions of the parade area at the facade and door of the building. It is better if 3-4 people can easily fit on it. Even if one person lives in the building, this will be a good solution, since it will provide free access to the door of a private house if there are a lot of bags or other cargo. It will also make it easier to bring in dimensional furniture;
- It is better to use concrete masonry or tiles as a base for the platform at the facade and door. You can also make it out of stone. The main thing is that the design is not afraid of moisture and large mechanical loads;
- Please note that the height of the front platform in front of the door should be approximately 5 cm below the floor level. At the same time, a slight slope towards the street is needed - this will allow rainwater not to stagnate;
- The beautiful outside entrance to the country house can also be equipped with steps or stairs. It all depends on how high the foundation is. Accordingly, the higher it is, the more steps the structure should have. For a high rise, it is better to immediately create a staircase with your own hands from the outside with a railing at the door. The structure can also be constructed from different materials.
Beautiful entrance to the cottage largely depends on the proper arrangement of the area at the door. The more spacious it is, the more opportunities for decoration and decor ideas will open up.
Porch canopy decoration
Equally important is the arrangement of the visor, which is an integral part of the porch at the cottage.
The most traditional are the ideas of canopies mounted on special supports - beams, columns or poles. They are the most reliable and durable, withstand even very heavy loads, and therefore are considered optimal for regions where there is a lot of snow in winter and frequent showers in summer.
Groups of canopies that are mounted in the walls of the cottage and partially rest on cantilever beams are called cantilever. They look quite light and airy, but are not suitable for climates with severe snowy winters.
To finish the entrance to a private house, a variety of materials are used, each of which has both its advantages and disadvantages, which we will now dwell on in more detail.
- Most often, the owners prefer not to bother and equip the front canopy from the same material from which the roof of the house is built. It can be soft tiles, ceramic or profiled sheets. This decor option allows you to connect the building and the porch;
- Organic glass or glass profiles allow you to create a real piece of art from the entrance of a private house. The transparent roof creates a special atmosphere and style, especially if it is raining or snowing outside. This is a great solution for people who prefer to see lightness in everything and be as close to nature as possible. The only disadvantage of the element is the need to monitor cleanliness. Otherwise, the element will not have a decorative look;
- You can also build it from slate or wooden planks. It will already seem heavier, but in terms of reliability it will not be inferior to ceramic tiles. But as for wooden boards, they should be carefully processed and impregnated with special means so that the fibers do not deteriorate soon, and the wooden board lasts longer.
To decorate the approach area to the cottage, it is best to choose the most reliable and durable structures. And even if they don’t look attractive enough on the outside, you will have a great opportunity to decorate them to your liking so that others will not be able to understand what they are actually made of.
Lighting and decor
There must be lighting on the way to the building. To do this, it is better to give preference to lanterns from the street group, if we are talking about the main light. As small highlights, you can get by with garden light-accumulative figures.
As for the lanterns, decide in advance on their height and decor. It is important that they are not too high, but very low lights are also useless. It is better to cement the base so that the light sources do not loosen over time, and the lamps are securely covered with special shades.
Small lanterns can be placed at equal distances on the sides of the area leading to the door. If it is built in a sunny region, conventional solar-powered appliances are also suitable for this purpose.