Entrance Ideas and Designs
What front doors can I choose from?
Your first decision when updating front doors is what type of external doors you want to use, taking into account style, security and accessibility. Investing in a high quality front door is always worthwhile – this is a purchase where a little extra money goes a long way. Hardwood exterior doors remain the most popular choice of front door; as well as being the most economical, timber also opens the door to an endless selection of paint, hardware and embellishment. However, natural wood doors do have their downsides – prone to warping, they require more upkeep and may require replacing if not adequately cared for. Whether you opt for solid oak external doors or an oak veneer option, wooden doors are a match made in heaven for period architecture – it’s hard to imagine a Georgian house without a solid, six-panel door, or a Victorian home sans its gleaming hardware and stained glass panes. If you prefer non-wooden exterior doors, the alternatives are UPVC doors, GRP doors (collectively known as composite doors) and steel doors. UPVC front doors are often the most inexpensive alternative to timber and offer added insulation benefits; because the material itself can be a comparatively insubstantial, UPVC external doors are built into steel door frames for added reinforcement. GRP (glass-reinforced plastic, or fibreglass to you and me) doors offer the same properties, with a woodgrain effect that can provide a happy medium for lovers of timber. Steel doors are less widely used in the UK than the US, and make great contemporary front doors thanks to their sleek, modern appearance.
How do I decorate my doorway?
Renovating or replacing your front doors is one of the quickest ways to give your home a makeover, and affords the perfect opportunity to add a splash of colour to the front of your home. To improve your front door’s kerb appeal you can flank the doorway with decorative trees or flowering plants in attractive planters and “dress” the door with shiny hardware. Door knockers and door knobs can be more than functional with a range of styles and materials available to add some personality to exterior doors. A traditional brass door knocker can be the perfect complement to a solid oak doorway painted in a rich shade of green or blue, whilst contemporary chrome door hardware will look perfect against a white or eggshell door. If you are looking for an elegant front door option, opt for a hardwood door with built in obscured glass panels to let light into your hallway. If you would rather avoid a glass paned front door for security reasons then smaller decorative glass panels can also be inserted into the surround or door frame. You can choose stained glass panes for decorative effect, patterned or textured glass will allow light in but protect your privacy or get your home name or number etched into a glass pane for a practical but personal touch.
How should I light my front entrance?
The warm glow from a doorway is one of the most welcoming sights that can greet us when we arrive home. An entrance light is of practical importance – we have all spent time fumbling for our house keys in the dark – but it also offers an opportunity to add warmth and character to front doors and entrances. A wall mounted lantern is a charming traditional choice, or for bright, directed illumination opt for a security spotlight. There are a whole variety of switching options available – you can choose a motion sensor light that switches on right when you need it most, a timer light that will offer illumination on a fixed schedule or a switched outdoor light. Pointing light upward is a good way to avoid harsh glare, or choose recessed lighting if you prefer not to have a hanging light in front of your external doors. An entrance is also a great place to display lighting as a decorative feature – choose a table lamp that echoes the lines and colours of the hall beyond it.
What furniture and storage do I need in my entryway?
It’s important to keep the entrance to your home as open and clutter free as possible, so selecting a few practical items that will help with storage and offer a warm welcome is the best approach for this area. Coat stands, umbrella holders and shoe racks are practical foyer additions that will keep the area tidy. For the knick knacks and paraphernalia that so often accumulate by front doors, sideboards or console tables are helpful and opting for a something with a drawer is a clever trick to ensure these things can be stowed out of sight. If you have the space, an armchair, occasional chair or hallway bench will prove useful for perching on when removing shoes and definitely consider multi-functional furniture such as a storage bench for shoes. A wall mounted shoe cabinet is a must have for a tighter space, getting shoes off the floor and neatly stowed away.
How do I decorate my foyer?
Particularly in the entrance to the home, colour can be a wonderful tool to set the tone of the house. Neutral palettes can create a serene atmosphere appropriate for greeting guests; alternatively, you might find yourself being a little bit more adventurous by choosing a whimsical wallpaper or a bold wall colour that could look overwhelming anywhere else in the house. In either case, the foyer can be blended seamlessly into the home with details that connect it to adjoining rooms. Even if your entrance is not self-contained, instead with exterior doors that open straight into the house, visual tricks make it possible to create the illusion of an entryway by defining the space as such. Changes in flooring, a well-placed rug, a screen or curtain, or even furniture such as a console table or coat rack, can be used to delineate the space and distinguish the entrance from the rest of the hallway. Decorating walls and furniture with photographs or artwork is a simple way of bringing your personality into the foyer and plants, lamps, candles, vases and ornaments can be displayed on windowsills, tables or shelves. As a final thoughtful touch, mirrors placed next to front doors are a practical choice for those last minute appearance checks, as long as it’s not directly opposite the doorway, which could back-light the user – decidedly not helpful!
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Simon Case
This is an example of a contemporary foyer in Other with white walls, a single front door, a medium wood front door and grey floors.
Windows staircase and nice lights - gaynor_day72
View of entrance hall from traditional entrance door to modern windows in the rear lounge.
Lighting by Agapanthus Interiors.
Photo by Pawel Paniczko
Over the door - cristina_tahoces
Hayley Watkins Photography
This is an example of a medium sized farmhouse entrance in Oxfordshire with beige walls, a single front door, a medium wood front door and beige floors.
Подобаються корзинки під лавкою - kristina_kovalenko
Inspiration for a medium sized classic boot room in Other with grey floors and beige walls.
Drawer idea - crystollic
Inspiration for a classic front door in Other with grey walls, concrete flooring, a single front door, a dark wood front door and grey floors.
Everything! - ogarros
Popular Filters to Try:
Design ideas for a traditional boot room in Berkshire with white walls and white floors.
cloakroom - bayer808
A Victorian semi-detached house in Wimbledon has been remodelled and transformed
into a modern family home, including extensive underpinning and extensions at lower
ground floor level in order to form a large open-plan space.
Photographer: Nick Smith
Nice entrance hanging light and bell chain - rangyrog
Photo of a traditional boot room in London with a single front door and a grey front door.
Something to organise against the walls - gmucismith
Kitchen with door to outside and an original stained glass window, originally an ante-room in a renovated Lodge House in the Strawberry Hill Gothic Style. c1883 Warfleet Creek, Dartmouth, South Devon. Colin Cadle Photography, Photo Styling by Jan
Hallway hanging space over radiator - michelle_bell30
Photography: Morgan O'Donovan
Rural boot room in London with blue walls.
Dark colour more practical for muddy boots? - sarahlouisefurling
A London townhouse with exterior painted in Parma Gray Masonry Paint
Design ideas for a classic entrance in Dorset.
Front door with chrome door furniture - norma_ireland
Design ideas for a large contemporary boot room in Gloucestershire with grey walls.
A different approach - love the shelf - fifodina
Kristen McCluskie, Simon Maxwell
This is an example of a medium sized scandinavian foyer in Buckinghamshire with white walls, concrete flooring, a grey front door and grey floors.
James Brunton-Smith
Photo of a medium sized rural front door in Surrey with a single front door and a medium wood front door.
This shows the scale we would want and possibly the shape of the front porch but not necessarily these materials. - webuser_144347704
This is an example of a victorian front door in Cheshire with a single front door.
Stained glass vs 1970’s build - donkeyman
A oak framed timber porch designed and built for a client in Hampshire. We combined oak, glass and brick within this design. Request a brochure to see more of The Classic Barn Company's work.
Colin: Like this enclosed porch works well with rendered finish - cjsa123
Cleeves House
Inspiration for a victorian front door in Berkshire with a black front door.
Nice front door and tiled floor - laura_roberts48