I’m sharing 5 easy ways to refresh your front door that are DIY and budget friendly! Includes tips for accessories, adding curb appeal, planter ideas, and more.
One of the things that is personally important to me as a homeowner is curb appeal. If you ask my family, they will say that it borders on being an obsession. I love it when my yard is freshly mowed, mulch is neatly laid, and the front porch is fluffed. All of those factors contribute to curb appeal, but the most important thing, in my opinion, is the front door.
Just ask yourself…when you are walking or driving down a street, as you pass the houses, where does your eye go first? Mine goes straight for the front door, and I bet yours does too. The 5 easy ways to refresh your front door that I’m sharing below are guaranteed to impress your guests…and you will love them too.
This post may contain affiliate links. See my disclosure statement.
1. Update your door color.
I’ve said this before, but it is worth repeating…nothing gives you more bang for your buck than paint. One quart is all it takes to paint a door. It’s definitely something that can be done in a day, and it can change the entire appearance of your porch, and in turn, the front of your home. Choose a color that you love, or be bold and choose something out of your comfort zone. When you choose a color just a little out of the ordinary, it will definitely up your curb appeal factor. Don’t be afraid to try something new, because even if you make a mistake, it’s an easy fix. After all, it’s only paint. Learn more about my blue front door.
2. Add trim around your door.
Many years ago when we bought this house, it had double front doors that had seen better days. They were inefficient and unattractive. As soon as possible, we replaced those doors with the one we have now. It was purchased at a local Home Depot that is no longer in business. Their team installed it, but no trim or finish work was included in the deal. I tried to live with it, but it looked so unfinished that we hired a carpenter to add molding all around the door. I roughly drew it out for him, and he made it happen.
If you have access to free labor, or a handy relative, a project like this would be super budget-friendly. Even though we had to pay for our labor, it was so worth it because it made such a difference in the appearance of the door area. This one simple project gave us the finished and cohesive look we wanted.
3. Refresh your front door area with pots of greenery and flowers.
Unless you have the tiniest of porches, I would bet that you have room for at least one or two pots by your front door. They don’t have to be big or expensive. Basic terra cotta pots from a discount store will do the trick. Our porch is not large, and it’s very simple, but the addition of planters flanking the door adds the most amazing curb appeal and interest. Our porch planters have changed over the years, but they always include greenery and occasionally flowers. My favorite look is twin planters filled with ferns. Last year, I filled the planters with ivy, sweet potato vine, and white impatiens. Plants like ferns and ivy seem to thrive with very little care, so they are super easy to maintain.
4. Update house numbers, mailbox, door hardware, and lights.
After we installed the new front door, we slowly updated all the other elements on the porch. We replaced old brass lights, the mailbox, and the house numbers. In the picture above you can see that all those elements coordinate with the door hardware. Keeping your metals in the same tone gives your door area a very cohesive look.
Take Your Time
No where is it written that your list of updates has to be tackled all at once. Porch elements can definitely be replaced or refurbished a little at a time. When we were updating our porch, we began with the door. The next year, we added the trim around the door. The summer after that, we installed new lights. Last but not least, we updated the mailbox, and hung a new address plaque. Taking the project slowly allows you to be sure of your choices. It also provides you with time to save money, so you can get exactly what you want.
5. Replace your doormat and wreath.
I adore doormats…almost as much as I adore wreaths! I change both of these things out when the seasons change. Even if you have a covered porch like I do, doormats get dirty and they fade. Starting a new season with a fresh and clean doormat, along with a charming wreath, can totally breathe new life into a tired front door area.
SHOP + SOURCE
Click the links below to be taken directly to the product listing. Every effort has been made to provide sources for the items found in this post. Where actual items were no longer available, I’ve provided similar options. If an item is out of stock but may be restocked, I left it on the list.
*Affiliate links included. See my disclosure statement. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
- faux galvanized planters
- hello doormat
- blue and white checked rug
- door hardware
- address plaque
- door color
- white berry wreath
- porch lights
- mailbox
- round white planters (size small: need to drill holes in the bottom)
- hello sunshine doormat
- black and white checked rug
- Welcome Home doormat
- black striped rug
The one thing we have not accomplished, and that needs attention immediately, is making our front porch railing maintenance-free. It’s currently made of wood and is in sad condition. It’s rotting in some areas and the paint is peeling. I have that on my list for this summer, so I’ll report back when the project gets started!
Author’s Note: I never got the chance to fix the front porch railing because we moved! Read our moving story HERE.
Great ideas! Love it.
You’re right, curb appeal is very important – not for others, but it’s nice to come home and have it look nice from the outside. Thanks for all the tips!
The eight foot deep, 44 foot wide front porch in the home we bought in 2013 is turning out to be our favorite room. (Given the changes and improvements we’ve made, it’s also turning out to be one of the more expensive ones.) Because it faces west, by 2 p.m. on a June afternoon we pretty much need those goggles that tanning salons provide. I wandered around the Internet looking for shade ideas and wound up using 12 sheer curtains left over from the sunroom in our former home. If you spend as much time on your porch as we do and need sun protection, check out “outdoor curtains” on Pinterest.
Fun fact: My husband like this porch so much I bought him a twin size heated blanket to extend his lounging time by several months.
So many great tips, Ann and there is nothing like creating a great first impression. I just painted my double front doors that were always a neutral color a Charleston black green to match the shutters and I love the new look – fresh and inviting. Yours is so welcoming in every image!
Hi Ann,
Love you porch rule printable. I have a deck, do you think I can get a deck rule printable. Thanks so much….
To have house painted this summer/white farm house with forest green trim beneath windows,Any ideas for my front door/which is plain white at present??? Love your ideas Thanks
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Outdoor tile looks very nice on a porch. Just make sure it’s outdoor tile or you’ll be shelling out on an insurance deductible in wet weather.
I would love to paint my door…not afraid of the paint, but the drying! How do you deal with no door for a while.. any suggestions?
The fascia on our house is hunter green as is our front door, gutters are white, and the front of the house is gray stone. I would like to change the color of the door but not sure if we can because of the fascia. Thoughts?
Lots of good ideas here. Our new/old 1927 house has a side entry. It provides a particular challenge as the door is not really visible from the street, though a bit of the porch is.