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Design Considerations for a Welcoming Entry
First impressions make a difference and a home's front door is no exception. Use this guide to plan a welcome entry to your home
The front door and entryway is the first thing seen in a renovation or new-home build, but it’s often the most overlooked feature when in the planning stage. A door or entry needs to be functional, of course, but also needs to say a little about ‘who lives here’.
So what kind of door do you think will suit you and your home? Do you consider yourself the kind of person who likes to make a statement with a big door or bold colour? Or do you think you’d prefer being welcomed into your home by a rug, a nice piece of verandah furniture or novel lighting? It’s important to weigh up these things long before the design work begins. Below are 11 considerations that will help you plan your perfect entry.
So what kind of door do you think will suit you and your home? Do you consider yourself the kind of person who likes to make a statement with a big door or bold colour? Or do you think you’d prefer being welcomed into your home by a rug, a nice piece of verandah furniture or novel lighting? It’s important to weigh up these things long before the design work begins. Below are 11 considerations that will help you plan your perfect entry.
2. Shape
Aside from aesthetics, there can be many reasons for doing something different. Often, unusual forms can be used to disguise structure (columns) or services (door mechanisms, motors, electrical wires) so they perform more than one task.
Any major development visible from the street will need approval from local authorities and requirements will differ depending on where you live. Your local council area may have restrictions on what is seen from the street perspective, and will give a guideline to what is acceptable to them.
Aside from aesthetics, there can be many reasons for doing something different. Often, unusual forms can be used to disguise structure (columns) or services (door mechanisms, motors, electrical wires) so they perform more than one task.
Any major development visible from the street will need approval from local authorities and requirements will differ depending on where you live. Your local council area may have restrictions on what is seen from the street perspective, and will give a guideline to what is acceptable to them.
3. Style
In older houses, a completely modern approach to the entry may not be appropriate, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have fun with what you’re planning. In fact, seeing how far you can push the bounds of creativity with constraints can be a very rewarding process.
A simple way to brighten up your front door is literally with paint! Even if you’re not looking to push the boundaries, think about what look you’d like to achieve, and work within council guidelines to avoid disappointment – you don’t want them to reject a proposal! Working with a seasoned professional, like an architect, can help navigate some of the potential issues that may arise.
In older houses, a completely modern approach to the entry may not be appropriate, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have fun with what you’re planning. In fact, seeing how far you can push the bounds of creativity with constraints can be a very rewarding process.
A simple way to brighten up your front door is literally with paint! Even if you’re not looking to push the boundaries, think about what look you’d like to achieve, and work within council guidelines to avoid disappointment – you don’t want them to reject a proposal! Working with a seasoned professional, like an architect, can help navigate some of the potential issues that may arise.
4. Double up
Double doors are a classic choice, and great for those who are partial to symmetry. Something like those pictured here work well for houses where the doors open onto a large corridor space, which connect to living areas. The width can create great opportunities for cross-ventilation and natural air flow when the doors are opened up.
More glass front doors
Double doors are a classic choice, and great for those who are partial to symmetry. Something like those pictured here work well for houses where the doors open onto a large corridor space, which connect to living areas. The width can create great opportunities for cross-ventilation and natural air flow when the doors are opened up.
More glass front doors
5. Privacy
A completely open entry with lots of glazing can be very appealing but leaves your entry exposed to the world. Behind a secure fence or hedge, this might not be a problem, but if you want to achieve this look, think about what people will see from the street. There are ways to counter this to gain a more private appearance if your house is visible to the street, but the benefit of this would most likely outweigh the purpose of the design, so leave this style to homes with private access.
A completely open entry with lots of glazing can be very appealing but leaves your entry exposed to the world. Behind a secure fence or hedge, this might not be a problem, but if you want to achieve this look, think about what people will see from the street. There are ways to counter this to gain a more private appearance if your house is visible to the street, but the benefit of this would most likely outweigh the purpose of the design, so leave this style to homes with private access.
6. Security
Knock, knock, who’s there? If you don’t have a house with a privacy fence or screen, think about how you can see out from inside your home and check out visitors.
Two-way intercoms, cameras or basic doorbells can be installed, but if you want to keep it simple and tech-free, some frosted glass panels in the door could suffice.
Knock, knock, who’s there? If you don’t have a house with a privacy fence or screen, think about how you can see out from inside your home and check out visitors.
Two-way intercoms, cameras or basic doorbells can be installed, but if you want to keep it simple and tech-free, some frosted glass panels in the door could suffice.
7. Connection
How does your entrance connect to the living spaces? Are they directly off the main entrance or at the end of a corridor. Do you have a door that opens directly onto living spaces? How do you create a sense of arrival in an environment like this?
Perhaps this is something that can be achieved with furniture placement, as a way to divide up the space without the need for physical walls, or, alternatively, you could install lightweight partitions that allow light to flow through.
How to style up your hallway
How does your entrance connect to the living spaces? Are they directly off the main entrance or at the end of a corridor. Do you have a door that opens directly onto living spaces? How do you create a sense of arrival in an environment like this?
Perhaps this is something that can be achieved with furniture placement, as a way to divide up the space without the need for physical walls, or, alternatively, you could install lightweight partitions that allow light to flow through.
How to style up your hallway
8. Functionality
Is your main entry to the house also the same one you use on a day-to-day basis? Or, do you prefer to use a side or back entrance for daily use, leaving the front door as the show stopper?
If you have a growing family, defining a separate ‘family entrance’ can be a great way to localise the mess (read: school bags, muddy football boots, school projects) that gets dumped as soon as it arrives in the house. This means the main entrance can be kept clear of clutter!
How to control mess in your entryway
Is your main entry to the house also the same one you use on a day-to-day basis? Or, do you prefer to use a side or back entrance for daily use, leaving the front door as the show stopper?
If you have a growing family, defining a separate ‘family entrance’ can be a great way to localise the mess (read: school bags, muddy football boots, school projects) that gets dumped as soon as it arrives in the house. This means the main entrance can be kept clear of clutter!
How to control mess in your entryway
9. Approach
Consider how you will design the pathway to the entrance. Often landscaping can seem like an afterthought, but it should always be considered at a planning stage to give you an overview of the complete arrival experience. A great way to help people to your door is by defining a simple path with flagstones or pebbles.
Consider how you will design the pathway to the entrance. Often landscaping can seem like an afterthought, but it should always be considered at a planning stage to give you an overview of the complete arrival experience. A great way to help people to your door is by defining a simple path with flagstones or pebbles.
10. Lighting
Lighting in the front entry is not just a functional feature but can be a great way to create a statement in the entrance of your home. Perhaps you’ve been eyeing off a gorgeous pendant light for years, such as the one pictured here, and it’s a must-have for your entrance. Like landscaping, lighting should never be an afterthought, so keep its cost as a priority in your fittings and fixtures schedule.
Lighting in the front entry is not just a functional feature but can be a great way to create a statement in the entrance of your home. Perhaps you’ve been eyeing off a gorgeous pendant light for years, such as the one pictured here, and it’s a must-have for your entrance. Like landscaping, lighting should never be an afterthought, so keep its cost as a priority in your fittings and fixtures schedule.
11. Sunshine
A novel idea is to make the most of natural light through the entry and down the hall. The connection from your entry to your living can be lit up with glass doors and overhead skylights.
YOUR SAY
What would you consider when planning? Share your suggestions in the Comments.
MORE
Fabulous Front Doors That Show Off Who You Really Are
Designs for Living: Entrances Set Up to Serve You
19 Low-Cost, High-Impact Ideas for an Enviable Entry
A novel idea is to make the most of natural light through the entry and down the hall. The connection from your entry to your living can be lit up with glass doors and overhead skylights.
YOUR SAY
What would you consider when planning? Share your suggestions in the Comments.
MORE
Fabulous Front Doors That Show Off Who You Really Are
Designs for Living: Entrances Set Up to Serve You
19 Low-Cost, High-Impact Ideas for an Enviable Entry
They say it’s not about the size, but the way you use it. There’s probably no functional purpose for a pivot door this large, but let’s be honest, it looks pretty cool. So, if you’ve got the room, why not explore how big you can go? If you have the luxury of space on your side, you may want to consider doing something different with your front door. Large pivot doors, french doors, single doors with side light panels, even double doors –there are so many configurations to consider. But first you’ll need to consider the amount of space you have to play with.