Budget-Friendly Tips for Apartment Front Door Decor

Your apartment door greets you at the end of a long day and welcomes your guests into your home. If your front door’s aesthetic feels sterile or simply falls flat, it’s time to make a statement! Use these budget-friendly apartment front door decor ideas to create year-round, seasonal, and holiday apartment front door decor that’ll make your space feel like you from the moment you walk in.

1. Find Your All-Year Style

Wondering how to decorate a front door? Start by creating an everyday style that’ll enchant your guests and neighbors. Select a color palette that goes with your other decor and truly encompasses your personality and style.

In need of inspo? Here are a few items to consider adding in:

• Wreaths: Select a DIY or store-bought option that showcases your style. Try grapevine wreaths, silk arrangements, ribbon wreaths, or burlap to find a year-round piece that works for your style and budget!
• Doormats: Whether you’re looking at a classic woven doormat or one with a sassy or sweet message, a doormat provides both style and function.
• Plants: Decorating outside your apartment door can help you transform your outdoor space into your outdoor oasis. If you have a green thumb, use potted plants (like herbs or succulents) as doorway decor. If you’re a little unsure of your horticultural abilities, dress up your apartment front door decor with fake plants — nobody can tell the difference!
• Porch Leaner: Porch learners are a fun DIY project and timeless addition to your front door decor. Let guests know they’re welcome, declare which team you cheer for, or proudly state your family name with a painted wood porch leaner.
• Seating Space: Provided you have room — and it’s allowed — try adding a table, small bench, or comfortable chairs. Seating or tables will create interest and provide space to enjoy a coffee or receive packages.
• Color-Changing LED Lights: A stand of color-changing LED lights will allow you to select the perfect seasonal hue. Swap out the shade to reflect the holidays — or your mood!
• Lighting: Depending on your apartment rules, try battery-operated up-lights on either side of your apartment door, twinkle lights, or LED luminaries.

2. Add Seasonal Flair — Without Going Holiday Heavy

Once your all-year style is set, it can be fun to incorporate seasonal items that aren’t holiday-specific. Use these tips to incorporate seasonal elements into your door decor style without going overboard.

Spring Front Door Decor

As spring approaches, embrace nature! Try out front door extras like hanging flower pots, interchangeable wreath bows, and bright or floral doormats. By keeping your extras light and bright, your space will already be prepped for your summer front door decorating ideas.

Summer Front Door Decor

Summer is all about embracing fun! Try out whimsical elements like watermelon door banners, whirligigs, and pinwheels. Looking to spread the joy? Set out and a basket of bubble wands to share with your neighbors.

Fall Front Door Decor

As the temperatures begin to drop, it’s time to stash away your bold and bright colors in favor of more neutral and subdued hues. Flank your front door with a smattering of pumpkins — real or faux — and swap out your existing greenery for something more fall-inspired. Embrace bronze, gold, oranges, reds, and greens.

Winter Front Door Decor

Winter is the perfect time to create a welcoming and cozy front door. After all, what’s better than stepping in from the cold into a warm and cozy apartment? Select a durable doormat that’ll help keep slush from tracking inside. Then, create a glowing look with string lights, glittery plastic snowflake ornaments on fishing wire. As Christmas draws near, you can simply add in color and holiday-specific pops!

3. Add in Holiday Door Decor

There’s no better time to test out a few apartment door decorating ideas like the holidays! Keep your doorway looking festive and fresh year-round with a few simple swaps. You may want to exchange your standard doormat for one with a seasonal or holiday motif. Or, you could opt to swap out your hanging door decorations, like your wreath, for something a little more festive. Then, consider incorporating door signs or banners that display a friendly holiday greeting.

Ready to take it up a notch? Try decorating outside your apartment door with faux spiderwebs, pumpkins, and jack-o-lanterns for Halloween. For the ultimate door frame decor look, add in lights. For winter holidays like Christmas and Hannukah, string up lights and use faux snow to create a winter-wonderland effect. For Easter, consider putting out baskets of faux easter eggs.

Creatives types: there are many ways to get inspired and create your own holiday-inspired DIY front door decor. Tap into your creativity and dig into your existing craft supplies. Use yarn and beads to create a boho-chic garland or cut out snowflakes, pumpkins, or shamrocks.

No matter what or how you celebrate, holiday decorations are a great way to show your personality while having a lot of fun.

4. Make Sure You’re Apartment-Friendly!

Ensure your door decor ideas are apartment-friendly — the last thing you want is for your decoration ideas to lose you a security deposit! Read up on your lease or ask for permission before doing anything to the exterior of your apartment. Once you have the go-ahead, choose damage-free hanging options (ex: Command Hooks and tabs) for hanging wreaths, door frame decor, and door signs.

From there, make sure any painted or seasonal doormats don’t color bleed onto your front stoop by keeping an affordable, all-season rubber mat under your interchangeable decorative rugs. If you’re using live plants in your style upgrade, shop for matching or seasonal saucers to ensure the water runoff doesn’t stain your porch or hallway.

Are you ready to get keys to a new place? ApartmentSearch can help you open the door to a new lease on life! Use our advanced search features and filters to find a lease that checks all of your boxes — from amenities to cost.