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My front door for the holidays
I was recently surprised to find out that my new front door has the best return-on-investment of all my home renovations. That puts the front door ahead of the new kitchen, the updated bathroom and my back patio according to Remodeling Magazine, 2022. It makes sense in an odd sort of way. Think of the front door the same way you would tires on a new car. It may not be the reason to buy, but everyone checks them out to make sure they are in good shape before driving away.
The front door also goes a long way to making a great first impression for buyers, or even just guests coming over for dinner. This holiday, I decided to step it up a little and here’s how I did it.
I PAINTED THE DOOR!
Even in cold weather! Paint technology has come a long way when it comes to the minimum temperatures that you need to paint outdoors. In this case, I went with Benjamin Moore’s Aura paint, which dried beautifully in 4°C weather. I decided on a shade of black to really accent the red tones I wanted to bring in. Come spring, I may change it up and add something less dramatic, but because it only took me an hour to do, it’s not a big commitment.
WREATH IT UP My friend Kelly made my beautiful wreath for me this year. She collected pinecones and glued it all together by hand. I think it’s stunning but this wreath also has a very important purpose, it adds warmth to my new black door. I am a huge fan of incorporating natural elements into a space. I find natural elements welcoming and perfect for a first impression.
ADD SOME DECORATION
Twigs and boughs in the planters. These branches really are cuttings from my yard! I prefer to keep my planters on the lighter side when it comes to having them at the front door.
I’m an advocate of less is more, which is why I went light but with a few pops of colour like my little cardinals.
PERSONALIZE
I added a few simple touches like Santa, my little chipmunk and my bearded gnome. These little accents not only fill the empty spaces around the door, they tell a story of what is going on inside. The front of your home should be included in your design plan for your entire space. Personalizing it creates a visual flow for your guests. And who doesn’t love a cute gnome?
RED, RED, RED!
There is something about the shade of red that comes out around the holidays. I not sure if it’s the intensity of the sun, or just the lack of colour outside, but this scarlet ties the space together. Red in the bow, in the berries, even in the fun accents. It all works.
This holiday, do something special at the front door. Remember, it is the first thing your guests see when they arrive, and the last thing they see when they leave after a great evening!
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