Door Ideas for Colonial Homes

Flag Color

• Paint the door of your colonial home one of the colors of the U.S. flag if you are looking to brighten the entry area or make your home eye-catching even when viewed from the curb. This works best for wooden doors. Choose a muted version of a flag color, such as brick red, navy blue or ivory, for a stately, patriotic accent to your home's exterior. Pick a bright version of the color, such as royal blue or fire-engine red, if you want to add zing.

Antique Fixtures

• Install an antique, colonial-era fixture, or an authentic reproduction of one, on or near the door to enhance the historical atmosphere created by the home's architecture. For example, you could install a colonial-style reproduction door knocker or doorknob. Or, if you have steps leading up to your front door, replace the lowest railing posts with hitching posts meant for horses.

Contrasting Trim

• Show off the door of your home with jaunty contrasting trim around it, perhaps in a flag color. This works well to bring visitor attention to other colonial-home door ideas you have executed. For example, if you painted your door brick red and installed a stately antique-style door knocker, painting the outer trim of the door white will "frame" the improvements.

Flanking Trees

• Place young trees with colonial heritage in planters on both sides of the door. This not only frames the door and lends eye-pleasing symmetry to the entryway, it also provides a historical talking point. For example, place dwarf apple trees in planters. George Washington liked to spend his free time caring for his apple trees, according to the University of Illinois Extension.