This year, I am all about freshening up the outside of my home. We’ve replaced old mulch with crushed red stone, we’ve had new bushes planted, and we’ve gotten some new yard decor. With each little improvement, I can feel my home’s curb appeal — and really, its entire vibe — brightening up.
And that got me thinking about perhaps the most important part of a home, the part our eyes are most drawn to: the front entrance.
The front door is the focal point of a home; it can look tired and drab or it can look fresh and inviting — and the great part is that it really doesn’t take too much money (or sweat) to make it pop again.
So I gave myself a challenge: How could I freshen up an entryway on a budget of $100 or less?
Paint
If you’re only going to do one thing to liven up your entryway, slap a fresh coat of paint on your front door. If you’re feeling adventurous, have fun with a bold colour. But even if you’re going to stick with the same colour you have now, a fresh coat of semi-gloss will take away all that weathered dullness.
(If you have railings, those could probably benefit from a fresh coat, too.)
Cost: $44
Replace the house numbers
Have your house numbers been around as long as your house? Then chances are, they’re chipped, weathered, tarnished or otherwise less than pretty. A little paint might be all you need, but wouldn’t a fresh set be nice? As with anything, you could spend a little or you could spend a lot, but for our purposes, I’m going to pick a pretty standard set from a big box store.
If you want to spend a little more, though, there are some lovely options on Etsy.
Cost: From $12-$18 (assuming you have two-three numbers in your address.)
Get a door knocker
When we moved into our home, my husband’s aunt bought us a door knocker as a housewarming gift. I’m not sure it ever would have occurred to me to buy myself a door knocker, but man, does that thing look nice. It really finishes off a door beautifully and, as a bonus, it’s great to have in case your doorbell ever randomly stops working and you can’t seem to find the time/energy to get an electrician out to figure out why (not that I would know).
If there’s a place for you to splurge a little, this should be it. If you can afford a nice door knocker, go get yourself a nice door knocker. But hey, we’re operating on a budget here, and you can score them pretty cheap.
If you want a wider online selection, I noticed that eBay has something for every style. (Knock-jaw skull cast iron door knocker, anyone?)
Cost: $15-$20
Replace your welcome mat
This isn’t the place to splurge, and fortunately, you can be both cheap and welcoming at the same time.
You can go basic, you can go bold, or you can be a little pet-obsessed. Whichever route you choose, you’ll be amazed how much a new welcome mat can freshen up an entryway.
Cost: $10-$15
Switch out the old porch light
It’s been there so long, you don’t really even notice it anymore. After all, it serves its purpose, lighting the way for you as you fumble to put key in lock late at night.
Upon closer inspection, though, the thing is outdated, it’s likely caked in layers of dirt and the finish underneath is all scratched, faded and/or rusted. This is another area in which if you’ve got more of a budget to work with, you can splurge on something a little more expensive.
But this one is remarkably affordable and it’s solar powered.
Cost: $10
That brings our subtotal to just $107 – or less, if you plump for some of the cheaper options above. Now go forth and make your front door as inviting as the rest of the place.
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