When you walk up to a home, the first thing that you notice is always the front door and its hardware. Actually, you only notice the hardware if the home has nice hardware installed; otherwise, all you notice is the door. Let's face it, most homes are built with cheap hardware, there's really not much there to notice.Hardware is like the jewelry for your home.

Just as a pretty woman can become stunning with the right jewelry accents, a nice home can look rich by installing the right sort of door hardware. Actually, other than complicated wood molding, there's nothing else in the building of a home that conveys a message of luxury like the hardware used on the doors. Even expensive homes will look cheap if the door hardware is cheap.Changing your door hardware is one of the easiest remodeling projects you can do. While most people won't comment on it, everyone will see it. Integrated entry door sets which have the door knob, deadbolt, and handle mounted together on a plate set the tone for your door hardware selection. If you go for a lever design, instead of a more traditional knob, that adds to the ;richness; of your home.It's important to maintain the same style throughout your home. Nothing says ;run down; the same as having mismatched door hardware.

People will look at it and wonder what happened. Take this the next step and make sure your cabinet hardware in the kitchen and bath match your door hardware as well. Adding hardware to your kitchen cabinets can take the mundane and make it look expensive.The right hardware can set the tone for the style of your house. Is your home colonial? Then pick an antique brass or copper hardware for your doors. Is your home ultra-modern? Then you'll want to select polished brass door hardware, possibly in a full sphere shape. Whatever you ultimately choose, it should go not only with the style of your house, but also with the decorating style you are using throughout your home.Replacing door hardware is a snap.

Most doorknobs are held in place by only six screws; two that hold the outer and inner knobs together, two that hold the door striker to the doorframe, and two that hold the deadlatch to the edge of the door. Since door hardware is standardized, you shouldn't have to drill any new holes, or change the size of any of the existing ones. One little detail of installation that you should be aware of; the doorknob which has the screw holes in it always goes on the inside of the door, with the screw holes forming a horizontal line.Most door hardware manufacturers make their products in matching series. So, you can use the same series or style of doorknobs for pass doors, privacy lock doors, and even closet doors. Be sure to save the simple key that comes with your privacy lock doors, so that you can get into your children's rooms when they decide to lock themselves in.There you have it, a simple home makeover, that like putting on that string of pearls, really dresses up the rest of your home.