Front door design ideas for inviting first impressions

First impressions are everything. Indeed, experts say fifteen seconds is all it takes for that initial impression to be one that lingers forever. So naturally, the first knock at a home's front door sets the tone for the home behind it. Front doors are the introduction to your private interior world. Inside, thoughtful furniture placement and lighting can help revive the look of any home; outside, it is the front doors with colour, brass knobs, and detailed designs that enliven any abode and set it apart from the others.

'Attend to the details, because they can really make a house sing,' says House & Garden's Style Director Ruth Sleightholme. 'The look and weight of good quality door furniture makes a far bigger impact than you would first imagine. It doesn't have to be the most expensive or ostentatious, but make sure it is well considered; that the design is good, the materials high quality, and that it works with the period of your building.'

What paint should you use on a front door?

Usually, most people opt for a gloss paint for their front door. Front doors are a home's barrier to the elements, so door paint must be hard-wearing; gloss paint stands up to scrapes, bashes, wind and wet. Other paints like eggshell or matte are far more fragile. Gloss paint, too, is longer-lasting; perfect for a front door that sees you in and out several times a day. Beyond practicalities, the sheen of gloss paint makes a front door stand out by adding a specific flair and highlighting certain harder-to-see design elements.

How do I bring personality to a front door?

Foremost, a great, welcoming and impactful front door is colourful. We love bolder hues – apple red, racing green and deep navy are a few of our favourites that we believe pack the most punch. Prefer a statlier entrance? A coat of rich, glossy black paint creates a particularly imposing, arresting aura for your entryway. Of course, front door colour is usually dependent on the material of the rest of the house, be it brick, wood or concrete. However, we suggest choosing your favourite striking shades and colours, seeing how each stand up to the rest of the home, and get to painting the front door.

Beyond paint colour, of course, is the hardware. Be they brass, steel or silver, doorknobs, handles and knockers add a special flair to a front door. Unique pieces – like those found at flea markets or in specialty and antique shops – add a certain oomph to your home's entryway and entice visitors to know what other design delights lie within.

What if I can't change the outside?

No fear, there's still plenty of ways to dress up your door! If the way in can't be changed, consider sprucing up guests' way out. Painting the backside of a front door adds a special decorative element to a room – a contrasting colour to the front room's scheme or a coat of extra-glossy paint can completely change the look of a room and help to give it personality. Hardware, too, adds glimmering detail; hanging a breezy, sheer tapestry is an easy way to anchor a front door. We know we said first impressions were everything, but a bold exit, too, imparts on people a lasting impact.

Some of our favourite resources for door furniture:

Emery & Cie| Bearmore | Chloe Alberry | van Cronenburg Architectural Hardware | The Nanz Company | Turnstyle Designs | S A Baxter | Jim Lawrence | Charles Edwards |