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.

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- Photographer: Lance Gerber
- Via: Dwell
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. 
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- Designer: Ludwig Mies van der Rohe
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. 
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- Architect: CUBYC arсhitects
- Visualizer: Inviz
Peaceful and perfect. Accentuate a crisp minimalist home entrance with perimeter lighting.