You’ve already heard it before: you just get one chance to make a good first impression. Whenitcomestoyour house, the first experience starts at seven before you open the door.
Your chance to shows off your attention to detail and set the perfect mood is with a clean floormat and a tasteful house number. However, keep in mind that the above must be practical and quick to read as well: you don’t want the mailman or, worse, emergency responders to skip it, do you?
Here’showtoselect a house number and letter that’s both practical and appealing.
WhatCouldtheColor of the House Numbers Be?
You should select house numbers and letters in a color that provides a light and dark contrast to their backdrop in order for them to stick out and be quickly spotted from the lane.
If your house has a certain accent color (for example, a bright yellow fence), you may want to keep it intact and use it for your house number as well.
Ifyourdooror house has a busy texture, such as a red brick wall, a back plate with your house number might be preferable.
how do I Choose a House Number and Letter That Goes With My Decor?
Areyouattemptingtoachieve a certain mood or drawing influence from a certain design style? Here are some suggestions for making sure your house number matches your vision:
- Choose metal color as individual numbers or as a plaque for a minimalist and industrial look.
- Rustic: go for soft pastel colors and painted them for a handcrafted look or white numbers on a black natural slate plaque.
- Take the style of Frenchsignage, with white numbers on a dark blue plaque, and apply it to a country cottage.
- Art-deco: Tocreate a 1920s-30s retro feel, use warm-toned metal on a dark door.
What Font DoYouUseforYour House Numbers?
Whilecertainornate house numbers and letters may look lovely when seen from a distance, their fancy fonts may make them difficult to read from the lane.
A sans serif font, suchasArialorHelvetica, is the best bet since it lacks the thin decorative lines at the end of each stroke.
WhatSize House Numbers and Letters Do You Use?
The best scale for house numbers and letters is 4 inches in height as a general concept. However, it is also dependent on how far your door is from the road:
- 3 inches would sufficeifit’ srightnexttoit;
- Look for 6 inches or higher if it’s 130-160 feet away;
- if it’s over 300 feet away, it should be at least 10 inches long.
If your house is very far from the driveway, you may want to consider adding the house number to your front gate as well.
Don’tworryaboutthekerning, which is the distance between letters and numbers, to improve visibility: they might be the right height, but if they’re placed too close together, they’ll be difficult to see.
WhatMaterial Is Best for House Numbers?
When choosing a material for your house number and address, the most important factor to remember is its longevity, particularly if your home is exposed to rain or other harsh weather conditions.
- Stainlesssteelorchromefor a minimalistlook;
- slatefor a cozy, classicfeel;
- acrylic plaques forne whomes;
- brass for an art-deco revival;
- and terracottafor European orMediterraneanvibes.
Quick tips
- Doyougetthe feeling you’re going to miss something? Let’s go into the most crucial bits!
- Choosing a house number and letter may be a deliberatedécorcall, but don’t forget about the usefulness.
- Choose a color that contrasts well with the light and shadow of your door or wall.
- Toimprovecontrast, use a sans serif font.
- The numbers should be at least 4 inches wide, but keep in mind how far your door is from the driveway.
- Pick a long-lasting, weather-resistant material.
The author of this article is Zsolt Sesztak, a ceramic artist from Spain, manufacturing and installing handmadeceramic house numbers.
