Most people don’t even know if they have a front door kick plate, and if they do, they might think that it is part of the door. The truth is that almost all doors are sold without them, and if you have one on your front door, then someone went to the trouble of installing it before you owned the home.
The history of kick plates goes back a long way to a time when people didn’t have garages that they used to enter their homes. In a time when the only way into and out of a home was the front door, having a front door kick plate was almost a necessity. Especially in areas where there was a lot of snow, rain, or mud, having that extra barrier on your front door meant that people could push or hold the door open with their foot while they were carrying many items.
If you go outside right now and take a look at your front door, you will discover one of several things. If you have a kick plate, you might want to take a look at the condition it is in. If it is beat up, rusted, loose, or just not looking so great anymore, then you may want to go shopping for a new one. This is one of the smallest and most affordable changes that you can make to your home that will make a huge difference. Everyone who enters your home may not notice that the kick plate is there, but they will certainly not see a dirty, beat-up old door!
When you are shopping for a front door kick plate, you should find one that is stylistically similar to the rest of your home. In other words, if you live in a new area with a modern home, you don’t want to buy a kick plate that is “old world” in style! Choosing one that is simple and good looking is always better than trying to make a statement. A kick plate is not to be noticed.
If you have a light-colored door, there is almost no doubt that you should have a front door kick plate, and you can choose one that is in line with your color scheme (a white aluminum or steel one on a white door), or you can choose one that contrasts (a gold plate on a pine or maple door). Especially if you will be choosing one that is rather tall, you are always best picking one that is not too obtrusive.
Finally, a front door kick plate should not be the most overpowering thing that people see when they come to your home. They are available in a variety of sizes, usually from 6 inches to 10 inches in height, and usually a shorter size looks better unless you have a very large door. But, no matter which one you choose, these are extremely easy to install and will make an instant, though perhaps undecipherable, difference to your entrance.
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