Transform your ugly front door

When guests arrive at your home or potential buyers see it from the street, first impressions count. But if your front door is an ugly, dilapidated, worn-out mess, they may get stuck there and fail to notice your home's inner beauty. Fortunately there are easy things you can do to transform your home's front entry to reflect your personal style, add instant curb appeal and even save on energy and upkeep.

Installing a new front door is one of the fastest, easiest and least expensive home upgrades you can make. Manufacturing technologies also continue to improve, providing an array of choices to keep your home looking great for years to come. Here are some tips for creating a new entryway for your home.

Evaluate your entryway: Check the door opening to see what your home can accommodate structurally. Most doors are 3 feet wide and 6 feet 8 inches tall, but many new doors are up to 8 feet tall. If your home design allows, a higher or wider front door creates a dramatic statement.

Add class with glass: Add even more character to your front door by choosing decorative glass inserts. Available in countless styles and patterns to fit most any home design, glass brightens up an entry and adds interior and reflective light.

Choose durable materials: For a door that's truly built to last, consider fiberglass. For example, a Therma-Tru fiberglass door won't rot, split or crack like a wood door, and won't rust, rot, dent or ding like a steel door. Most fiberglass doors are Energy Star-qualified and provide up to four times the insulating value of most wood doors, creating an energy-efficient envelope for your home and helping you save on utility bills. As part of the Economic Stimulus package, homeowners are also eligible to receive a tax credit equal to 30 percent of the product cost - up to $1,500 per household for all improvements combined - when they purchase and install qualified products through Dec. 31.

Complement the architecture: Many new door styles are designed to complement today's popular architectural designs including Craftsman, bungalow, Arts and Crafts, Mission and cottage style motifs. If your interior decor features beautiful mahogany wood, for instance, you can extend the look to the exterior with a Fiber-Classic Mahogany Collection door, which provides the style and warmth of mahogany but at a price value compared to premium wood doors.

Courtesy of ARAcontent