As much as we hate to admit it, looks definitely matter, especially when it comes to your home. Give it a bit of thought for a second here, how often do you actually redecorate and remodel everything? Sure enough, it’s not a common occurrence which is why it’s so important to get it right the first time around. But that’s a whole other can of worms in itself. Oftentimes, people are so focused on their interior décor that they leave the exterior look and feel as an afterthought. But we’re here to make sure that doesn’t happen to you.
It’s important that your home looks presentable both on the outside as well as on the inside. Adding curb appeal is a great way to increase the value of your home. Lots of people pass by it every day and the logical assumption is that you want to leave a good impression, right? You can decorate your garden and front porch all you want but do you know what’s the very first thing people notice? That’s easy, it’s your letterbox. It’s literally right under their nose, how could they miss it? So without further ado, let’s dive in.
How Do You Choose the Right Letterbox?
It might seem like an easy thing to do but it’s actually not that straightforward. There are a few factors you need to take into consideration before reaching a decision.
Materials
The most popular types of materials used for letterboxes these days are wood and stainless steel. Wooden letterboxes were a common sight back in the day and they’re still going as strong as ever. Be honest, who could resist their rustic charm and all-natural design? Plus, wood is quite tough so it won’t give in to changes in weather conditions that easily.
On the other hand, if you’re looking for something with a more modern and industrial twist, then you should have a look at stainless steel letterboxes. Its moisture-wicking and corrosion-resistant capabilities contribute to a sturdy and durable exterior which is bound to last a lifetime. Just make sure that you clean and polish it regularly if you want to keep it up and running for as long as possible.
Colour
Regardless of what material you decide to get, you can easily colour it to suit your taste and preferences. Fortunately, you’ve got a whole bunch of shades to choose from so you’re definitely not short on options, you just have to know what to look for.
For many years, red was considered to be the go-to colour when it comes to mailboxes. It’s a striking and eye-catching shade so it’s the perfect way to make your mailbox stand out. These days however, there’s an ever-growing trend of matching its colour to the exterior of your home. So for example, if you don’t have red anywhere else on your front porch, you won’t have any use of a red mailbox.
With that said, people tend to take the easier route here. Perhaps one of the most elegant option out there is the classic and elegant white letter box. Admittedly, this particular design is incredibly stylish and sophisticated. It’ll surely boost your home’s curb appeal unlike anything else. Plus, white goes with literally anything so it won’t even matter what colour the outside of your home is. Is there a better way to add a statement piece to your front porch than by including a white letter box? We didn’t think so. Plus, even if you decide to re-paint your home’s exterior, you won’t need to do any additional planning – white letter boxes are a suitable match for all shades, patterns and designs. There’s no doubt you’ll make good use of this convenient feature.
Size and Placement
These two factors go hand in hand because the size of your mailbox depends greatly on the available space you have at the designated location. If you put it right next to your front door, you need to make sure that it’s the right fit. However, if you want to place it on your fence, you’ll probably have a bit more room to play around with sizes since there aren’t any immediate limitations.
What Kinds of Letterboxes Are There?
Unsurprisingly, there are a few major types of letterboxes, depending on the way they’re secured into place. Here’s a brief overview of each one.
Wall-Mounted
The functionality of these kinds of mailboxes is immense since they’re quite compact and easy to handle. They’re usually found in urban and densely-populated areas where people don’t have the luxury of taking up too much space. Basically, they’re attached to the wall near your front gate or door without adding any unnecessary bulk.
Flush-Mounted
These are quite similar to the wall-mounted kind, except for the fact that they’re placed flush inside the wall, hence the name. In other words, they don’t hang from the sides or take up extra space which is definitely a bonus.
Post-Mounted
In this category, we have all the traditional-looking mailboxes that are mainly found in suburban and rural areas on the outskirts of the city. You essentially get a letterbox that’s attached to a post. The main advantage here is that you can place it literally anywhere you want, as long as it’s in plain sight for the mailman to see. Most of them even have an abundance of extra features such as front and back access along with a safety lock to prevent theft.
Fence-Mounted
For those of you that want to make good use of your chunky fence, why not attach a mailbox to it and secure it into place? Fence-mounted models are specifically designed to blend in seamlessly so you won’t have to make any compromises in terms of appearance.