I get the utility of somehow blocking off the front door - but I do think it will impact curb appeal and make your very welcoming front porch/door seem off kilter. Who is the intended target for the "non-use" message: guests, Amazon/UPS, solicitors...?

Attach a white vinyl-coated chain across the entry steps with an "arrow plaque" directing people to the other entry. Make sure the chain is heavy enough that it does not sway in the wind.

Thank you for your comments/suggestion. The intended target is guests who try to the “right thing” by coming to front door as opposed to side door (which they bypass e route to front). UPS and Amazon use side door. Opening front door is awkward due to the fact it opens directly in front of stairway to 2nd floor (just enough space for door to swing).

Well in most cases there needs to be 2 exits from a home so what is the code in your area to start. As for using the door I do not understand why this can't be used so maybe some pics form inside. I need to see this from much further cack so I can see where the side door is please .

Photos for clarification; door can be used just tight quarters when door is open, either I or guests can stand at entry not both of us.

Yep! that's tight!

Well you now have options to choose from, to let your guests know to use the side door.

Put some sort of sign by the door you want them to use, because it is what they walk by first.

Etsy has some great signs, pretty signs. "Welcome, Please Use Side Door"

That picture would have been useful from the start of this Thread.

Good idea - thank you!

Could you make that first entry look like the front entry & the real front look like a balcony sitting area? Take off the railings going down steps, continue the railing across the top of steps to make the balcony. load up the steps with pretty pots all planted to create a garden effect & add chairs & table to complete the sitting area balcony look. Put the house numbers, welcome mat, main entry light etc at side entry to make it look like main entry,. Seems like this would satisfy fire code since the real main entry is still useable as an escape route.

Honestly if they're your guests, you should just tell them to use the first door. Most visits these days are not unannounced so I would think it would be easy. And once you tell your guests they will know for the next time.

Other option would be to remove the pavers to the front door, or put planters on the pavers that would block access to the front door from that path.

KW has a good idea. Or can you change to door so it swings out? Not sure there’s really room on the porch. What an unfortunate design.

Thank you all for your suggestions!

Another suggestion is to get a pretty bench and have it straddle the pathway.

Inspiration:

Bench on Path · More Info

Garden Arbor Bench · More Info

I would still love to see a photo of the enire front of your house.

I think that it is probably stunning. I wouldn’t want to ”mess” any of that up - so, I’d start with one of the least obtrusive options before I would do anything more drastic.

I like the idea @palimpsest suggested re: signs by the door you want people to use. I think that you should use that first (seems like it should work since people have to walk by it in order to get to your front door).

You can find many signs on Etsy - and can customize font/color/text/shape:

They also have metal ones if needed due to being exposed to harsher elements.

If people somehow still make it to the front door (after missing your other two signs) - you could add something more subtle (= won’t be seen unless on the front porch) at the front door.

You can have vinyl letters made (I would make them a little smaller in size) like these:

Or you coul have another sign made -

They have ones that have raised lettering/borders (can customize text):

The reason I selected this one is because it’s pretty small:

If the above doesn’t work, I like the idea of adding something to block access (like a chain as suggested by @chiflipper or something pretty that block pavers to the front door as suggested by @njmomma).

It really is unfortunate that the house was designed with the front door opening directly into the staicase. I remember seeing this when I was looking at houses (prior to deciding to build my current home) - and every time I opened a door that ran right in front of a staircase, I’d immediately shut the door, turn to my husband, and say ”Nope!”

Having the other door option right there on the front side of your house makes the front door/staircase issue much better than the houses I saw that didn’t have another convenient alternative entrance for people.

Some very creative suggestions on this thread. I left a handlettered sign made from a folded cardboard box asking the FedEx driver to bring a package up to the house, rather than dropping it at the barn, and my sign did not work. Maybe you could try a combination of a sign and pretty pots or garden sculpture on the bottom landing of the front door steps.

Pretty house.

Consider stenciling your message, with an arrow pointing to the other door, on the riser of the top step to the door you don't use. That should be close to eye level for guests and they won't even have to step onto the porch to know where to go.

Some great suggestions here. Just wanted to say it looks like a lovely home!

I would:

1. tell guests specifically which door to use. Seems like they aren’t “unexpected guests”
2. put a welcome mat, wreath etc at side door to make it feel more like the “real” one
3. consider putting the urn or a decorative bench blocking the path to the actual front door so they don’t even go that far.

Thank you again for all the lovely suggestions. I have just ordered an 8” x 8” metal sign on a stake from Etsy. It will have “Welcome” and underneath that an arrow pointing toward the side door that so many people seem to bypass. See suggestion from “Palimpsest” above - I will place sign where she has indicated by the white box in planting area.

Thank you again for all the lovely suggestions. I have just ordered an 8” x 8” metal sign on a stake from Etsy. It will have “Welcome” and underneath that an arrow pointing toward the side door that so many people seem to bypass. See suggestion from “Palimpsest” above - I will place sign where she has indicated by the white box in planting area.

UPDATE:

Your home is gorgeous!

Thank you Kay!