Boost Your Front Door Appeal

Instead of curb appeal, let's focus on door appeal -- The front door, that is.

Your front door is the first impression you make to anyone passing by or stopping in for a visit. There's nothing worse than a neglected front door with chipping paint and squeaky hinges.

So we got in touch with Kristan Cunningham, the former host of HGTV's "Design on a Dime" who often dishes design on the Rachael Ray Show, for advice. She offered 5 quick and easy tips to spruce up what may be your home's most important feature.

"Your door is the extra finishing touch that shows you've really put time into your home," says Kristan. "It's the one statement people see every day and it prepares them for the style inside of your home."

1. Make One Statement -- Not 20
"The worst thing you can do is try to make 20 statements in one space," says Kristan. "If you do, they'll all get lost."

In other words, keep it simple. Less is more. How to do it? Choose one preferred look, like a beautiful flower pot – and then choose a few pieces that really work with it. "Pick one thing and go for it entirely – not ivy in one section and a flower pot in another and a misplaced decoration in another. Try to play up the shape of the outside railing and stick with natural elements," she says. If you live in an apartment building, focus on a nice welcome mat and add a handsome doorknocker.

2. Be Practical
Small, polished touches are eye-catching, says Kristan, like a dark charcoal or chocolate runner. You can even paint one leading up to your front door. "Lay down some black tape the width of your door on each side, and paint inside the lines. This looks great with, say, a peacock blue colored door, and it gives the outside a more polished, decorated feel."

And don't forget the risers. They also give you an opportunity to make a statement. "Paint them a slightly different color than the tread (where we step), and it brings out an architectural detail in the contrast," she says.

3. Mix it Up!
Sometimes we all just need a change, right? From wreaths to door mats to a new door entirely, it's surprising how frequent little updates can keep us feeling refreshed about our homes. Add a glossy oil based finish to your existing door, which will make it pop, and add new hardware. Or try installing a new door style entirely. It may make a bigger difference than painting the house.

Another way to keep your door feeling fresh: Add something new every 3 to 6 months, like a seasonal wreath, hand stenciled house numbers or a mounted Craftsman-style mailbox.

4. Finishing Touches that Wow
Kristan says it's the little things that count. Start with a handsome color combination. "Oil rubbed bronze hardware like door knockers and back plates look great against Robin's Egg Blue doors, and I love the look of a dark charcoal door with taupe trim."

5. Don't Forget the Inside
"Doors and windows are breathing points in a room – so it's kind of nice to have these spaces as a sort of break from the rest of the home," says Kristan. Still, she notes that the back of your door should be the same color as the front, as it is one piece and should maintain one identity. "You don't want it to look too confusing."