Sep 6 2005
From elaborate floral garlands to simple but elegant wreaths, when it comes to holiday décor for the front door, style matters.
JELD-WEN, the world’s leading manufacturer of reliable windows and doors, offers expert holiday décor advice and creative floral designs for a variety of the company’s most popular door styles. The designs show how attention to detail can make a big difference in holiday curb appeal and overall delight.
“To make a memorable first impression when welcoming guests, color, size, shape and the door’s architectural style should all be considered,” said Elizabeth Souders, JELD-WEN’s door marketing manager.
JELD-WEN experts recommend floral designs with unique touches, like toile ribbons, small potted plants and sprigs of holly from the homeowner’s yard. These creations – with one designed especially for beginning crafters – play up each door’s color and character, making the whole front entry festive. When holiday decorations go up around the home, a little cleaning is often in order, especially when it comes to front door maintenance.
“Holiday time is the perfect season for inspecting entry doors to make sure they are in good repair for the cold winter months and look their best when guests arrive for family festivities,” Souders said. “Small touch-ups go a long way toward ensuring that the life of the door is extended for many years.”
JELD-WEN offers these simple steps to help front doors look their best for the holidays.
- Inspect door surfaces: For painted or stained doors, inspect the finish on all six sides for any signs that restoration is needed, such as cracks, dulling or a whitish cast on the door’s surface. Be sure to follow the manufacturer’s recommended finish when retouching.
- Inspect weatherproofing measures: Carefully look at the frame, seals and weatherstripping to make sure the door won’t allow cold air into the home during the winter months.
- Gentle cleaning: Just like windows, doors can often use a good wash. JELD-WEN recommends using gentle materials such as mixing one teaspoon of baby shampoo to one gallon of water, or 1 1/2 cups of vinegar to one gallon of water. Dry thoroughly with a clean, soft cloth. Do not use abrasive tools, harsh liquids, power washers or hoses that can damage doors and windows.
- Giving doors a facelift: A quick and easy way to give existing doors a facelift is to add new hardware that matches the architectural style.