THE EXTERIOR

The exterior view of your front entry is the very first thing people see of your home. Aim for a distinct presence whether it is visible from the road or is more private.

Lighting, pathways and landscape are the essential elements in a well-designed exterior entryway. Lighting permits safe travel along pathways as well as adding to visual aesthetics, and may include recessed down lights, solar lamps, wall sconces and up-lighting to highlight landscape and add brightness. Landscaping personalises your yard.

It doesn’t take a total design overhaul to enhance the street appeal of a home and refresh its look.

Decorate your front entry with ideas for this season:

/ Consider the colours of autumn. This season is about more than just orange; there’s sage and dark green, rich cream, crimson red, deep aubergine, chestnut brown and mustard yellow. Think about a basket of seasonal vegetables or fruit to welcome guests.

/ Consider vintage accents. An old basket, a weathered chair or a well-used timber ladder can work nicely with the autumn colours. They not only add visual interest, but they can also be a useful place to stand or hang plants.

/ Put plants in rustic containers. Whether you choose greenery or colour, gathering them in baskets, galvanized buckets or wooden barrels will be more in keeping with the theme than bright plastic pots.

/ Accessorise existing furniture. There’s no need to go out and furnish the entry with brand new. Just add cushions or throws in autumn tones, for example.

/ Try a simple, affordable front door makeover. This might be a change of paint colour and door furniture. Bold can be beautiful, and even a classic black front door looks sensational in the autumn colour scheme.

Often reserved for top-end homes, a gated entry can make you want to see inside even more. Perhaps it creates that sense of mystery? They can look fabulous and also provide additional security for the home’s residents. For ideas:

/ Large ornate gates flanked by twin gatehouses

/ Use of feature stone and rustic lights in Hamptons-style

/ Dragons, flower of life emblems and vibrant red doors that take you to somewhere very special… possibly Bali’s spiritual centre of Ubud? Such gated entries may combine innovative, contemporary architecture with traditional Balinese building materials.

/ Custom-made entry gates and fencing of contemporary glass and metal

Entry Doors

When used correctly, colour can be a focal point for the exterior front view of your home and colour can be used to draw you towards the door. Doors come in many shapes and sizes. Why not start with an entry door made just for you? Custom door ideas that can make and entry statement:

/ Stained glass art door

/ Contemporary steel and glass door

/ Sleek and smooth fully bronze door

/ Door that’s totally a 3D printed piece of art

In The Landscape

Entry statements in the landscape are exactly what they sound like – the first impression for anyone approaching and entering your home, including potential buyer. Some to consider are sandstone sign panels, walls of split sandstone shaped into square and rectangular pieces and black granite with laser etching. Lettering, designs and emblems can all form part of the design.

Consider these ideas:

/ Stay symmetrical and have matching garden beds, plants, slabs, timber features, or lighting either side of your front entrance path. This is one of the easiest.

/ Put in a garden bed around the letter box. Build a new one if need be. Perhaps install one in your front wall. A misplaced or cheap-looking letterbox can be a real spoiler.

/ Refresh the garden beds. Along with weeding and mulching, redefine the edges with some limestone blocks or other edging. It’s amazing what a difference that can make. Give the planting some attention. As harsh as this sounds, if it doesn’t look right then change it.

/ If you are tiling your front entry, go with large tiles where possible for more of a statement.

/ If a new path to your front door is needed, build it. Whether it is a concrete path, quality pavers with a timber edging, or a footbridge over a pond or dry ware course, make the walk to your front door memorable and inviting.

Once Inside

/ The interior of the front entryway is just as significant as the exterior. Ideally it should create a welcoming and secure impression.

/ Create a semi-private space at the interior of the front entrance if possible.

/ Provide good lighting, interior as well as exterior, with the light switches adjacent to the door.

/ Use large artwork, statement lighting and a rug as design elements.

/ Make it a functional space too, with a bench or seating that has hidden storage.