Ideas for Stainless Steel Gates

Posts

• Stainless steel fences are commonly constructed out of several thin posts. If you want to add some character to your fence and avoid a prison window appearance, you don't need to use standard, straight posts. Purchase posts that have a slight twist or contain decorative elements midway along their length. Common decorative elements include spirals, abstract designs or even letters.

Wood

• Stainless steel pairs well with other elements, such as wood. To soften the look of the stainless steel gate, add wooden elements to it, such as wooden panels on the gate itself or as part of the fence on either side of the gate. For a heavier look, use large, wooden panels to cover the gate and employ stainless steel only for the fence's handle and hinges.

Accents

• Just because a gate is made of stainless steel doesn't mean every one of its elements must also be stainless steel. Add accents in different colors and materials to create contrast on the gate. Mount a sign featuring your house number on the gate in colors such as white and black, and install a solar-powered light-emitting diode (LED) light above the placard to illuminate it at night. Painting some of the stainless steel with a color that complements your home's exterior is also suitable.

Decoration

• Stainless steel gates lend themselves to decorating throughout the year. To illuminate your gate, intertwine white lights around the gate's posts year-round. On holidays, such as Thanksgiving and Christmas, hang decorative elements such as wreaths on the gate. Because of the open nature of the gate, it's easy to hang wreaths, garlands and other decorative elements on it.