Audrey Hepburn said that the eyes are “the doorway to her heart, the place where love resides.” I would take that one step further and say that your home’s front door is the entryway to the heart of your home. Making an impression there tells the world a lot about you.  

Novelist Katherine Dunn said, “Every doorway, every intersection has a story.”  

When I show property, the doorway is where we all take a breath. Each person standing at the doorway is pausing for a moment to look for the doorbell, preparing their smile, checking their watch to see if they are on time. In those moments, they take in a lot of information about the person or people who live on the other side of that door.

So I encourage you to take an afternoon or an evening to study your doorway. Whether you live in an apartment or home, see if your personality shines through.

Here are some tips to make your entryway more welcoming to visitors:

• personalize the door with paint;
• invest in new hardware for doorknobs, mailboxes, and mailslots;
• plant flowers, including jasmine so that you smell its intoxicating scent whenever come or go;
• have something that says “welcome” like a wreath or a door hanging;
• always have a fresh doormat so you and your guests can wipe your feet in inclement weather; and
• install lighting so that your guests can easily find their way in and out of your home.

Even if you can’t afford other maintenance on your home right now, make a welcoming and friendly doorway your focus. Not only warm your heart, but also that of any guest who enters.

As always, if we can lend a hand, please reach out. We can help – from providing you with referrals for contractors or guiding you when it’s time to find a new entryway.