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| Feng shui Luopan compass (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
By Gates Dearen
Think of your home’s front door
as an integral part of your house’s “facial expression.” Generally, we humans like to make positive
first impressions in our interpersonal interactions. One way of doing that, of
course, is to exhibit an open, warm, kind facial expression. We do this through our eyes, mouth, and
overall facial muscle tone. Similarly, your front door is often perceived as
being the “mouth” of your home, the entryway that can not only make a good
first impression on others, but that also projects positive energy, prosperity
and opportunity. So your front door can
give your home’s “facial expression” a distinctive demeanor. (Of course,
functionality, safety, energy efficiency, and affordability, are all important
as well.)
What kind of statement is your home making if your doors
and/or windows are in a state of disrepair?
Not only does this make a less-than-favorable impression on visitors,
but it also costs you money by allowing energy to escape your home.
Your front door is often perceived as being the
“mouth” of your home.
The next time you are invited to a friend’s home, take note
of the condition and style of both the door and adjacent windows. If they are
not well maintained, if the paint is peeling or the framing looks worn, it’s a
sure bet that the owners don’t realized they're losing money.
That is why, even in a tough economy, homeowners are replacing
their outdated windows and doors and door surrounds when they notice them
starting to age. A good rule of thumb is this: If the windows and doors are
more than 20 years old, it’s probably time to look at replacing them.
Say No to “Dour” Doors
The doorway to your home speaks
volumes. Do you want to create an impression of being unfriendly, non-sociable,
or even impenetrable — as in a formidable fortress or commanding castle? On the
other hand, would you rather create one of being welcoming, warm and friendly? Incidentally, the latter
doesn’t necessarily
mean your front door is easy to broach by would-be intruders; not with today’s
materials and the advent of alarm systems.
While specific institutions may want their front doors to say, “Keep
Out!” generally, most homeowners would rather their doors reflect friendlier,
more welcoming sentiments.
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| English: Feng shui symbol Français : Symbole feng shui (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
Two aesthetic and personality
issues regarding doors are the color and shape.
Unless you’re building a house from the ground up, it’s often very
costly to alter a door’s shape — such as changing a rectangular door to one
that has domed, arched top. That usually requires reconstructing the archway,
which entails a larger investment.
Changing your door’s color, by repainting it, or opting for a new and perhaps
a more energy-efficient door is not only more cost-effective, it adds appeal
and personality to your home’s “visual statement”.
The Tao of Doors
Ever heard of Feng Shui
(pronounced “
Fung shway”)? It’s an ancient Chinese art and science developed
over 3,000 years ago. Simply stated, Feng Shui is an in-depth system and school
of thought that deals how to balance the energies of any given space to assure
health and good fortune for people
inhabiting it. Feng Shui concerns itself with the energy or “chi” of a given
space. Colors, according to this
venerable system,
possess and transmit specific energies and sentiments. Since your front door is one of the main
focal points of your home, the color you choose makes a clear statement about
the personality of your home and hence, about you.
According to Feng Shui experts
and/or color psychologists (interesting Ph.D., that), here is what different
color doors can denote:
Black
Just like a business suit, a
black door projects strength, sophistication, power, and authority. Because
it’s been a venerated front door color for a long while, having a black door
reflects that you’re consistent, conservative and can even express that you
have a reserved personality.
Blue
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A feng shui spiral at LA Chinatown's Metro station.
(Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
Ahhhhh… Blue front doors signal that your home can be
regarded as a place of refuge, that it’s calm, relaxing, and stress-free. Blue,
like water, also gives off positive energy and can denote a sense of abundance
and prosperity (which is one reason why many Feng Shui-oriented structures —
homes and businesses – feature strategically placed aquariums). However, the darker color blues, deep navy
versus light azure, can, like a black door, indicate you desire more privacy.
Brown
Whether painted or stained wood door (if yours is of the newer non- or
faux-wood materials), a brown front door looks natural and organic, and conveys
warmth, stability, and reliability. However, if you choose a fairly dark shade
of brown, it can signal a desire for privacy or even isolation.
Green
In Feng Shui, green is associated
with tranquility, harmony, safety, and health. (Maybe that’s why hospital
operating room personnel usually wear green scrubs?). It also
communicates balance, peace, compassion, growth, and renewal. Green also says you’re concerned about your
home and your community, and that you harbor traditional values.
Purple
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| English: Chinese hieroglyph Feng Shui with transparent background (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
Historically, the color purple
has been associated with royalty. Queen Elizabeth I forbade any of her subjects
to wear or display it; only those persons and institutions related to the crown
were deemed regal enough to wear purple. This hue symbolizes energy and is
thought to invite many opportunities into your home and improve aspects of
your life. However, in Feng Shui, if your doorway faces northwest, it’s thought
that a white, silver or grey door is better.
Red
It’s nearly universally accepted,
perhaps due to its quasi-biological associations, that red denotes passion.
Painting your front door red doesn’t mean yours is a house of ill repute,
however. It shows your home is vibrant,
full of life, zest and excitement.
White
Similar to red’s long historical
associations, white represents purity (hence white wedding dresses), virtue,
purity and serenity. If your preference
is to project being organized, clean and neat, go for white, even though you
may need to clean it more often.
Yellow
Perhaps because our brain tissue
is predominately yellow, the color denotes wisdom, mental clarity, perception,
understanding, confidence and curiosity.
It can also suggest humor and merriment. Maybe that’s why the creator of
the original, now-ubiquitous smiley face chose yellow for its complexion.
In this blog I’ve discussed how
your home’s front door can help portray the personality of your home and yourself. Ascribing sentiments to specific colors from
the age old Chinese practice of Feng Shui, I have described what different doors
color can portray to viewers by reflecting the owners’ personalities.
Gates Dearen is the
co-owner of HomeRite
Windows and Doors in Jacksonville, Florida.
Owners Gates Dearen and Richard Walden have been serving the
building products industry in Florida
for over 25 years. We know the products, the industry, the market and
what adds great value to a home. Our approach is a little different.
We strive to match the homeowner with the right windows for
their home and budget. Home improvements can be a hassle. We’re here to
make life easier with first-rate, energy efficient products;
affordable prices; strong warranties and expert, award-winning installers
that provide excellent service while respecting you and your home as if it were
their own.
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