If life was like a fairy tale all our homes would be made of cup-cakes and sugar and our entry gates would be a large slab of chocolate candy, just like the house from Hansel and Gretel. In the earlier years many garden and entry gates were designed to look angry with massive “Keep Out!” signs attached to it that I sometimes wonder if the idea for a gate was to welcome guests or scare them away. Fortunately though, times have changed.

A gate is more than just an entry point to your garden; your gate completes the appearance of your home. It's that last dribble of icing on the birthday cake that gives it the finishing touch. But the gate manufacturers have kicked it up a notch and all those uninviting designs of the past has surrendered to more friendlier looking gates that welcome your guests on arrival, and compliment your home.

Finding The Perfect Gate

There is an endless amount of new designs for gates that range from contemporary to traditionally old-fashioned. Your selection of a brown gate or a white one has now broadened to a much larger spectrum. You now have the opportunity to transform the appearance of your home with a beautiful, eye-catching new entrance.

Metal and wrought iron gates is the standard option for most home owners primarily because it is easy to maintain and it is able to withstand all the elements as the seasons change, making it last a longer time than a wooden gate. The designs on a metal or wrought iron are also what attract the home owner. The structure can be curved and melted to almost any shape and the results are remarkable.

Wooden gates require more attention in order to always look its best. It is usually crafted from Teak, Rook, Oak and sometimes even softer wood like Scandinavian Redwood. Most people have a preference for the natural look and you can't really achieve that with a metal finish. But although the wood will age with time and the damage caused by a surplus of rain or sunshine will add character to the gate and give your entry point a unique and personal touch.

The functional alternative would be either the Swing Gate or the Sliding Gate. Swing gates are perfect if your property boasts the spacious factor; the gate wings add a luxury country club effect to your house. Sliding Gates takes up less space than Swing Gates and are much easier to operate, but are much more expensive to install.

The idea is to choose a gate that will suit and compliment the architectural style of your house.

Making An Informed Choice

When going gate-shopping it is vital that you know all the facts before you decide to make a purchase. There are many factors you need to examine first.

•You want to find a gate that is low on maintenance and that will wear well in its specific environment. For example if you live in a region that experiences heavy rain most of the time, then it'll probably be a bad idea to get a wooden gate because wood damages in the rain. It's the informed decisions that will be difference between a gate that will have a longer life-span and one that will age and expire before its time.

•You want to purchase a gate that suits your house. Know the basics of never throwing two time period's looks together. If you your house is a contemporary design with modern architectural traits then stick to the basics and choose a gate that is also a contemporary design. Your choice should unify and enhance the appearance of your home; it shouldn't be so conspicuous that it looks like you were trying too hard to be stylish.

Top Four Gate Designs

Bear in mind that the following list is only a guideline and ultimately your choice should reflect what your house already looks like. Strive to blend in rather than stand out.

•The Ornate Structure – This is a metal gate or wrought iron gate crafted in a range of diverse patterns ranging from traditional outlines to beautiful vines and flowers. The emphasis lies in the intricate detail of the design.

•The Simple Structure – This is usually a wooden gate but can also be found in metal structures. This type of gate has plain, clean-cut lines with no complex details. The emphasis is on the material and the craftsmanship of the gate more than the design. A Simple Structure type of gate is usually complimented with a high quality, classy wood or metal.

•Traditional Structure – Your average white picket-fence gate with miniature details and decoration that stand out against linear patterns.

•Modern Structure – This design fits most houses with contemporary architectural surroundings. The emphasis is on both the material and the design which is a mix of geometric shapes, linear patters and horizontal lines.

What you should remember is that all gates – entry, garden of driveway gates - will eventually retire. And a good gate doesn't come cheap. So rather invest in buying a good quality gate than one you've spotted at a bargain price. Very often it's the bargain price gate that will have you spending more than you intended to, repairing the after-effects of sagging and corrosion.

Don't Stray From the Path

The witch lured Hansel and Gretel into her house with her house and garden gate that was made of real candy. Evil as she is you have to give her credit for not straying from her architectural scheme. Your gate is the first focal point of your house. It's the first thing your guests see when they visit and it's the first thing potential buyers look at if you're going to sell.

The perfect gate is not that hard to find if you know what you're looking for. But with all the exquisite designs available, it's a search nonetheless. You need to find a gate that has just enough amount of “Keep Out!” attitude to scare trespassers away and just the right amount of “Welcome” to keep the butterflies fluttering to your garden. Let the search begin…