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How to Add {Awesome} House Numbers

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hey there! I'm monica 

I pride myself on making amazing style and design accessible for everyone, regardless of location, budget, or ability! My design philosophy is rooted in authenticity + attainability - If I can do it, you can too! My work has been featured in countless publications, but I take the most pride in homeowners that have been personally inspired by my DIY ideas and have tried something in their own homes!

learn more about ME + MY BIZ

Thanks for all your great comments about my new front door color.  Valspar’s Spritz of Lime paint might be a new obsession for me! I gave you a little sneak peek of the door numbers yesterday, but today I’ll give you the full low down.  Adding numbers to a metal door can be tricky, but don’t worry, I made all the mistakes for you and can save you some time!

Add numbers



My front door is heavy, and metal or something like it… bottom line, it’s not wood.  I didn’t want to make any holes in it. I found these clean lined, modern house numbers at Lowes.  I had big plans to DIY numbers out of MDF, but for $4.99 each, I decided these would work just fine.  I’m all about the DIY, but not when it makes more sense to just buy em!

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So… metal numbers on a metal door… hmm… I’m smart (or so I think…) so I decided heavy-duty, double sided magnet was a perfect non-permanent solution.  This way, depending on what wreath (or not) I have on my door, I can move the numbers around! Pure Genius!

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The magnet has adhesive on one side, so just cut little strips and stick it to the back.

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Like this!

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Umm… Guess what?? I guess my door isn’t really metal and doesn’t work with a magnet.  DARN! Would have been nice to check that out first.  Oops!

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They work great on my fridge! So if you even need house numbers on a fridge, now you know how!

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Okay, plan B… off I went to Lowe’s with plans to get double sided adhesive.  I asked the nice man where the industrial strength tape would be found.  Of course he asked about my project and had a better idea.  He suggested industrial velcro.

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It’s nice and heavy duty, so I was swayed from my plan and gave it a try.

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Apply it the same as the magnet…

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Because this stuff is sticky, I wanted to be sure I had it straight.  Look how muddy my level is… not really sure why…

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Peel the plastic off the adhesive and firmly press on…

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Wait 30 seconds and…
watch them fall to the ground.  ARRRGGG! This is the point where I started to get a wee bit annoyed.  Then I started to laugh… why would I think velcro was a better idea than just double sided adhesive?  I must have had temporary brain loss.

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Here’s the winner and what I should have used from the start.  So, if you want to add house numbers, just begin here and skip the other methods I tried!

tape

Finally! There they are. Nice and permanent (well sorta, if I want to remove them I can pull them off, and I’d just need to touch up paint)

door close up

I love the way they look against the green/yellow!

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And just as a reminder, here’s what else I have planned for my porch!

To do list

There ya have it… 2 ways NOT to add numbers, and 1 way that works like a charm! Aren’t you glad you have me to do all the trial and error for you?
Do you have numbers on your door?  Do Tell! 

The comments +

  1. The Lovelys says:

    Think about calling your color “grellow”. Cheers!

  2. umm what is the name of that color green for the door? I love it!?

  3. I love the look of those numbers, and can totally relate to your multi-step process. All’s well that ends well, right. 🙂
    Karah

  4. You just made me laugh so hard…thanks for the very real post. And when I get into a home I own…I’m so putting numbers on my door. Love!

  5. Cece Summers says:

    At first, I really thought those magnets will work. Now I know that scotch mounting tape would do the trick! Though, I am more interested with your other plans for the porch as I plan to add some fun on my porch too! I am not really a plant person and I’m afraid I can’t maintain it. So, can you suggest alternatives for that?

  6. Janice says:

    OMW. In the most uncreepy way possible, I want to hug you while dancing around in a circle. YOU HAVE NO IDEA! I have some super cute number plaques that I’ve been trying to hang on the side of my house for TWO years. Two years later, I still love them but they will NOT stick on the side of the house. I’ve tried command strips and everything possible I can think of, short of putting holes in the siding. If this exterior mounting tape works, I may show up at your door to hug you in person and shower you with gifts and praiase. Seriously. HOPE LIVES! hahahah 😀

  7. sophia says:

    i LOVE the ‘spritz of lime’ too! i dont know if the HOA will pass it though, they are SO strict i feel liked im trapped into bowing to their boring color palette…i am going to grab some of that color for pots (no doubt)…im redoing teal blue to purple and either color would look awesome with some spritz of ‘grellow”! thanks for sharing

  8. Chris says:

    Been looking for a way to have house #’s on my metal door for years! I don’t understand why they don’t make stick on or magnetic #’s. They make magnetic brass kick plates! Your idea is awesome. My only hesitation is that my door gets direct sunlight for several hours each day. Any idea if the tape will withstand heat?

    • Monica says:

      Hey Chris! I know right?!? Genius idea! As for the tape and heat, mine have made it through 3 summers no problem! Thanks for reading! -Monica

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