Front Step Decor Ideas To Create A Welcoming Entryway
The front steps are doing more than you think. They’re the first thing your guest touches, before even arriving at your door! A worn-out and frayed staircase can make a lovely home feel untended, and a well-maintained one can make any entrance stand out. The great news is that you don’t have to spend all your renovation funds to get there!
It may be a change of material, lighting, or a border with plants, it can be so many different things. Here are 10 Front Step Decor Ideas that real homeowners have used to give their entryways a facelift, ranging from the traditional brick to the contemporary stone.
And then, there’s some small entryway landscaping and Front Step Decor Ideas thrown in for good measure. If you’re looking for inspiration for your next undertaking or if you’re looking to do a complete overhaul, there’s so much here for everyone to pick up inspiration from, and it doesn’t require a lot of cash.
Red Brick Steps Bring Timeless Curb Appeal
Brick never goes out of fashion and here’s why. It’s warm enough that concrete and stone can’t match, and ages gracefully, not looking worn down. Red brick steps are an ideal match for traditional residences, colonial facades, or any structure with a bit of history.
If your steps are already brick, but appearing dull, a power wash and re-pointing the mortar joints will create a dramatic transformation without having to replace any bricks. For new construction, use herringbone or basket weave instead of rows on the tread surface. Provides texture without being loud, and looks great in afternoon light when photographed.
Modern Grey Stone Steps Elevate Entryway Style
Where it gets modern, grey stone steps are a no-brainer – and it’s a good idea since they work. The neutral tone helps to integrate dark siding, glass doors and low-maintenance landscaping. The large-format slabs with clean mitred edges create a floating, architectural appearance to the steps, particularly when combined with recessed lighting below each step. Don’t bother with fancy railings here.
The composition is kept from becoming cluttered by a simple black metal or floating glass rail. It’s also a good choice for small entryway landscaping as grey stone allows for low plantings or gravel beds to do the talking.
Timber Sleeper Steps Glow In Golden Light
It’s almost like a cabin, and on a suburban lot, timber sleepers just make a home look cozy. The reclaimed railway sleepers or new hardwood oiled beams are stacked and staggered to make a rustic staircase, the wood grain catching the light at golden hour looks particularly good. They work well on natural materials already used, such as stone chimney, cedar shingle or exposed timber beam houses.
One tip: untreated wood steps should be sealed periodically to deal with the rain and foot traffic; maintenance plan each year or two. The low-voltage riser lights along the side add some soft lighting after dark and provide some added visibility, more than people realize until they get in trouble.
Lavender Lined Steps Create Dreamy Garden Path
If you’re looking for a more romantic vibe, decorate your front steps with lavender, on both sides. For a good reason it is a favorite among gardeners: the silver leaves are attractive even when it is not in bloom, the fragrance is visible to visitors before they arrive at the door, and it is less susceptible to drought conditions than most flowering plants.
Combined with stone or aged concrete steps, or other steps, not too contemporary – lavender’s cottage-garden feel doesn’t really go with sharp, minimalist lines. Place in staggered rows and not in straight rows for fullness. This is an outdoor step planter idea which costs minimal but alters the whole appearance of an entrance in one growing season.
Grey Stone Steps Lead To A Side Entrance
Side entrances are frequently overlooked by design plans, and many think of it as a functional entrance as opposed to one to be dressed up. That’s a lost chance. You can make rock steps that lead to a side door as purposeful as the front entrance and make the steps look that way, too, by continuing the rock into a small landing at the top. Just add a bench, a couple of potted plants or even just an overhead light fixture, and that side door becomes a real point of entry, rather than secondary. This is the case especially if your home has a side entrance which serves as the main entry point on a regular basis, such as in a home where the front door is more formal than functional.
Travertine Steps Frame A Left Side Entry
The warmth and texture of travertine is not unlike other stones, but it has a natural pitting, and soft color variation ranging from ivory to warm tan. It will make the room feel like you are stepping in when used as a frame to a left-side entry, even with a small entryway design. Resists heat, especially if receiving direct afternoon light and is generally cooler to walk on than dark colors.
For external steps, think of honed, not polished, finish as the surface may become slippery when wet. Add symmetry to the planters or sconces on either side of steps to define the framing effect, particularly if the entry occurs slightly off-center from the other openings on the façade.
Teak Wood Steps Meet Bold Metal Grates
Warm teak wood treads with black metal grate risers or black metal side panels for an industrial-meets-natural look. There is a contrast between the organic wood grain and the geometric metal which adds interest without the need for additional decoration. Teak is not only a chic material for steps, but it is also an extremely practical one because of its natural properties.
Teak is primarily resistant to dampness and insects, making it a very practical material to use, as well as a stylish one for steps. This pairing works well in homes that feature a lot of glass, steel accents or exposed structural components already. This combination is a good bet for front door décor in the design-forward direction as opposed to traditional.
Honey Oak Steps Glow Beside Metal Grates
Like teak and metal, but with a light, soft feel, honey oak steps add warmth to an otherwise cold material palette. Even with dark iron or steel grating, the golden hues of oak appear inviting. This combination is perfect for homes that want to give their angular, contemporary exterior a little more softness while maintaining the architectural style.
In wet climates, oak requires more maintenance than teak, but can be kept from greying too soon by using a marine-grade yearly sealant. Use one sculptural planter at the bottom instead of smaller pots to complement the wood grain, which should take the focus here.
Pine Wood Steps Paired With Matte Black
Pine is one of the less expensive wood choices and with matte black railings or edge trim does not seem very cheap. It looks deliberate. The most important thing is to get the pine finished properly and the pine can yellow or splinter more rapidly than hardwoods if exposed to normal weather conditions.
The clear exterior grade sealant maintains the natural light tone and the matte black hardware lends the overall appearance a modern and contemporary feel. It works well for homes that are in a craftsman style but also for farmhouses and for homes that already have black window frames or black front doors, to tie the metal tones together throughout the front façade.
Amber Wood Steps Curve With Iron Grates
Amber wood tones and wrought iron grates make a striking choice in their own right, but it’s an even more striking combination when you put them together. The warm amber color complements darker ironwork and the curve adds a nice touch to what may be a rather staunch architectural element. The curved staircase complements the rounded porches, arched doorways or other soft forms that may also be found in the style. If front porch step lighting is in your design plans, it’s a great way to create light along the outer curve and after dark light becomes a design feature as well.
Ready To Refresh Your Front Steps?
Though the Front Step Decor Ideas are a small component of a home’s footprint, they can make a surprisingly strong impression. From the classic charm of red brick to the sleek appeal of modern stone, or the inviting feel of timber, there’s a look to fit nearly any budget and home.
Do a walk-through of your own entryway this week and notice all the things that are going well and what things are not. Then choose one of these ideas to experiment with first. The answers lie in the simplest changes at the front door, which will have the greatest impact so begin there and see how far it gets you.
