Home Improvement Construction: Planning an Entryway Remodel

To enhance the curb appeal of your home, your home improvement construction should include an entryway remodel, especially if your home is more than 25 years old. Follow these suggestions to plan your entryway remodel, and note the tips on when you will need to get a building permit.

1. Flooring in the Entryway

Start from the floors up. The main entry of your home will get more traffic than most other parts of the house, so choose durable, easy-care flooring materials such as porcelain tile, ceramic tile, marble tile, ,or stone. If you decide on wood flooring, be sure to protect it from wet boots, coats, and umbrellas with boot trays and other waterproof matting.

2. The Front Door

Your main entrance door should always be eye-catching. You will need a building permit if you plan to extend the front door entry beyond the front wall of your home, or if you are widening your entryway to install double doors. For security, your front door should be made of either solid wood or steel. Use paint creatively on your front door. Match the color to the trim on the rest of the house, or make it high-contrast but in a complementary shade such as red, dark green or black. Add a decorative knocker, carved panels or other trim elements, and provide a hook to hang a holiday wreath or other seasonal decor.

3. Entryway Lighting

Add elegance to security in your main entryway with suitable lighting. Choose a fixture that uses low-energy light bulbs, as these lights will be turned on and off many times a day. Find a fixture style that complements the architecture and interior design of your home. Place a switch for this lighting as close to the entry door as possible.

4. Windows

Add a window to your main entryway to allow in natural lighting and to enhance your security. Stained glass, beveled, or frosted glass add charm to an entryway window. You will need a building permit to add a window to your entryway if it does not presently have one. Put the window on the opposite side of the door from the doorknob and lock, to prevent opportunities for intruders to break in through the window.

5. Paint and Wallpaper

A main entryway should invite people in, so choose a warm color of paint that coordinates well with the rest of the main floor. Wallpaper in a subtle texture and neutral color will also work well in the main entryway.

6. Decorative Accents

Hang a mirror on the wall that is at a right angle to the main doorway, to prevent reflected glare from the entry lighting. Set a bench or narrow table inside the door for guests to set down parcels, handbags and briefcases. If you have a large enough entry, add some niches to hold statuary or a group of framed photos.

7. The Hall Closet

A hall closet in your main entryway keeps the entry neat and accessible to everyone. If you have no space for a closet, add a standing coat tree, or add a coat rack behind the door.