You only get one chance to make a good first impression, so why wouldn’t you make your front door entrance the absolute best it can be? These 51 front door entrance ideas each welcome you with a high-end “hello”, which sets the tone of what’s to come. You’ll find a multitude of unique designs here, which build fabulous first impressions through use of outdoor lighting, creative landscaping, concrete overhangs, cutaway canopies, art sculpture, water features, contrasting materials, and picture-perfect pathways. We take a look at secretive entryways that build anticipation, a number of wide open glass door entrances, grand double front doors, and ultra contemporary pivot front door designs.
Conjure mystique. Our first front door entranceway leads into an interim courtyard, which builds a sense of peace and tranquility upon the short journey into the house. Stair lights glow mysteriously from under the treads to build anticipation.
Open out a narrow walkway. Picture windows reveal snap shots of the house interior all along this narrow home entrance. Uplighters illuminate green borders, pushing out the sides of the stepping stone and pebble pathway. Full house tour here.
Inspiration from Japan. Japanese inspired screen doors reveal hints of a zen courtyard through black lattice, allowing one green space to link to the next.
A different take on the Japanese Shoji inspired entrance.
Natural meets modern. These rugged stone walls make wonderfully cooling contrast with a golden wood frame front door. A white path and white concrete roof slice cleanly between the dark grey masses.
Nothing to hide. This modern glass wall home has a clear glass front door entrance to match, so there’ll be no hiding from door-to-door salesmen or unexpected in-laws!
Build perceived status with elegant statues. A collection of art sculptures adorn this home entrance, elevating and dramatising the approach. They make a perfect introduction to a house filled with more masterpieces.
Capture sunlight with cutaways. The concrete overhang over this home entryway features a deep cutaway so that sunlight hits indirectly, creating light play. Full house tour here.
Cutaways also allow sunlight hungry plants to be enriched when planted deep within covered doorways.
Add your personal stamp with a huge house number. This one stands out elegantly on a pure white home exterior, where decorative concrete blocks form a lace-like panel over a natural timber front door. Full house tour here.
Nestled in the trees. The overhang on this front door entrance is part concrete, part tree, as the two bridge to form one picturesque canopy.
Full height floor to ceiling doors. This front door has no containing upper or lower framework, giving the entranceway seamless grandeur.
Build balance with surroundings. Two trees flank this home’s front entrance, so a double front door design has been selected to compliment the twin tree trunks.
Another perfectly balanced front door entrance, this time with twin trees, benches and wall sconces.
Wood adds a wealth of warmth to monochrome home exteriors. This cool stone and black powder coated metal architecture becomes infinitely more welcoming with the rich timber addition.
Water features add wow factor, atmospheric sound and captivating movement. This one is lit up with outdoor lighting too, so that it can also be admired at night.
Broader bodies of water give a home entrance a floating effect.
Layered canopies provide shaded walkways out of the burning sun, a pleasant welcome in hot climates.
Stage it. From the iconic Farnsworth House, this tall staircase entrance has been split in half with a large concrete platform placed between–almost like an outdoor stage.
Cut a sweeping entrance with a curved canopy. This one has a circular skylight to elaborate on the curvaceous theme.
Match up the metalwork. This wood slatted front door is flanked by chic outdoor wall sconces that complement the dark silhouette of its black metal bar handle.
The linear look. The horizontal timber boards of this modern door design complement the shallow steps that lead to it, and the staircase that climbs to the rear entrance. Fins fashioned into the side of the concrete façade elevate the linear aesthetic.
L-shaped steps carve out the opportunity for a long and deep planter by the doorway.
The indirect approach. Lay slabs that meander rather than direct, like a mini path of discovery.
Another take on the indirect approach.
Whether you have space for planters or not, greenery can grow a welcoming touch. Plant a vertical garden full of different leaf sizes for a deeply textured garden wall that looks like a living work of art.
Romance isn’t dead. Even an ultra modern front door can be given a touch of traditional whimsy and romance by adding a floral arch.
Wide steps have dormant potential as concrete planters. Hollow out about half of each step to plant a picture-perfect pathway of slow growing shrubs.
For retro-fit wow factor, erect a pergola over the front entrance. Extend it with a carport for added usability.
Peaceful and perfect. Accentuate a crisp minimalist home entrance with perimeter lighting.
Let nature take centre stage, like this fantastic mature tree. A wood front door and wooden garage shutters complement the bark.
More beautiful traditional Japanese inspiration, this time from a large zen garden.
An arid garden shapes this front entrance, planted with spiky succulents and uniform rows of round cacti. Large paving slabs vibe with a wide slab-like front door design.
An elbow canopy constructs a sense of intimacy from an angled approach.
A sweeping pathway presents opportunity for shapely plant beds. Turf fillers draw emerald outlines.
Craft a wood slat feature wall to create wondrous height.
People are intrinsically drawn to waterfalls, and this seven foot water feature has stunning allure by a floating pathway. Note how the front door timber and wood siding horizontally contrast with the fall.
A wood ceiling creates a comforting sense of already being indoors.
Play with solid volumes and voids, like this concrete picture frame courtyard.
Cluster families of modern outdoor planters in varying heights. Use architectural plants to create shape, and differering leaf colours for interest. Here, green and red foliage rest darkly against white on white front door and entryway decor.
Generate character in a modern setting. This fabulous three-piece shuttered front door design sets a scene strength and charm at the same time. Large bowl planters flank either side of the concrete stoop, alive with tiny pricks of intense red flowers.
The faux giant front door. Get the look of a grand door without the extra weight and hinge size by cutting a small door within a matching surround. Timber planks do a great job of disguising the joins.
Sliding glass doors allow the house to stand open to the garden in a welcoming indoor-outdoor living style… Exclusively suited to those who live on a gated property, unless you want strangers wandering in off the street!
The theatrical entryway. A wide pivot door spins an elaborate first impression between two gorgeous palm trees on this property. Angular windows have been cut out of a concrete walled courtyard between. A circular pool is set centrestage to playfully disrupt the walkway.
Interlace concrete and wood. The climb to this amazing elevated design looks steep with its deep concrete steps, but timber treads in between make the ascent easy work. Feathery grasses soften the edges of the concrete staircase and assist to the lightweight appearance of the main volume. Wood slat walls attractively shroud a covered porch.
Make a bright colourful statement with your front door, even if there is not one single splash of another colour on, or in, the property. This simple change is tried and proven to add a positive burst of curbside appeal.
Assemble an indoor atmosphere to feel at home before you’re even through the front door.
Dark and delicious. Dark grey stone, deep stained wood slats and wood facing come together to make a sophisticated front door entrance. Full house tour here.
Use the landscape. The bordering wall of this property is sliced through with transparent sections to reveal beautiful tree filled land beyond. An outdoor bench sets out a spot to enjoy the viewpoint.
A long approach is a place to play. Water features, flower planters and palm trees make this home looks like a party and we’re only on the front door step. The mind boggles at what might await inside!
Low key but aglow with lanterns. This looks like a place where they always keep the home fires burning and fresh tea in the pot.
