How to Redesign the Front of the House

Study the front of homes in your area for design ideas. Typically, the style should fit in with those of the other homes in the area, and if you're part of a housing association or historic district, specific requirements typically exist. However, the neighborhood might have a very eclectic mix of styles and colors, depending on location.

Assess which basic style you want the front of your home to take on. A country-style home includes a large wraparound, covered porch and steep pitch lines, while traditional styles such as Colonial or Cape Cod fit into typical designs of certain geographic regions. Consider the current style and keep the new design in the same or a similar style for a unified look.

Study which features you'd like to keep or change. You may want to keep the home's dormers, for instance, and simply add a gable or repaint the trim, which costs significantly less than removing or completely remodeling them.

Change the windows, if they don't currently match the style of the original home. Consider whether wood or aluminum frames work better with the home's age and style, as well as pane and trim style.

Research options for a new front door and hardware. Look for a style that fits your design concept and home's architecture, including the doorknob, bell, house number and additional elements such as knockers.

Collect a wide variety of paint samples to determine the new colors for the front of your home. Consider the color of other exterior materials such as siding, wood or metal, for instance. Considering adding bold accent color on the exterior trim or front door, or keep a more subtle color scheme if you want material such as cedar siding to take center stage, for example. Research colors that go with the home's original design and age if you want to design it with its history in mind.

Re-design the porch and front landscaping to go with your new home. Consult the local agricultural extension on which native and adapted plants do well in your area and provide pleasing color and fragrance and also provide screening or shade.