Your front door is your home’s first impression, so why not make a statement? If you’re considering replacing your front door, keep these four tips in mind.

Our new front door is definitely the statement piece of our home and I love the impression it makes. But the process of getting from our old door to our new front door took some careful consideration. I’ve had several questions from friends and readers about how we chose our front door, so I thought I’d share a few key tips we learned along the way.

Thank you to Champion Home Exteriors for sponsoring this post. All content and opinions expressed here are my own. Click here to read my full disclosure policy. 

1. Walk or drive around your neighborhood.

Take a walk or drive around nearby neighborhoods to get door ideas and inspiration. There’s a good chance the surrounding streets will have homes similar to your own. Pay attention to what catches your eye. Do you prefer solid doors or doors with decorative glass? Do they have coordinating sidelites and/or transom windows? What colors draw you in? Make note of what you like or what you think would work well with your home’s architectural style.

2. List out your likes and must-haves.

Consider how much weather and sun exposure your home gets—this will matter when it comes to choosing a material for your door (typically wood, steel or fiberglass). Then think about what types of styles and colors you like. Maybe you’d prefer something neutral that will blend in well with your home’s exterior. Or maybe you’re looking for a color or more decorative style to set your home apart and make your curb appeal pop. List out your likes, preferences and must-haves for your new front door.

3. Schedule an appointment at your local showroom.

When I’m shopping for an item as major as my front door, I prefer to look at options in-person. The difference between seeing something on paper or on screen versus in person is huge. Head to your local showroom and make an appointment to talk with a representative who can guide you through options, materials, installation process, etc. Click here to find a Champion showroom near you. While you’re there, don’t be shy about taking pictures! Snap photos of options you like. Ask for color swatches and samples to compare with your brick, shutters, siding and trim. If you know how to use Photoshop, you can create “mockups” of your home with the front doors you like swapped in. You can even do this with simple photo editing sites like PicMonkey.

4. Consider additional features and functionality.

Are there other features or upgrades that would be helpful for your family or lifestyle? Maybe an electronic deadbolt would come in handy (we love ours!), or maybe you’d like a mail slot, door knocker or storm door.

If you’re feeling ready to move to the next phase of front door shopping, Click here to read about our selections process or Click here to download the Champion Entry Doors Brochure.

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