Your front door is the gateway into your home, literally but also aesthetically. Selecting the right one can make your entry feel more grand, welcoming, and increase your curb appeal. Read on to learn more about all of the different types available and learn how to choose what type of exterior door best suits your home, needs, and budget.
Key Takeaways
- Understanding your home’s architecture is key when choosing a front door.
- Considering factors like harsh weather or security needs can help you select the right front door for your home.
- Choosing a front door color is important for curb appeal. Finding the right blend of personality and tradition can be challenging!
- Working with a team of experts is a great way to make sure your project will be done correctly and help your home value increase.
Types of Exterior Doors
Exterior doors come in many types. From Solid wood to glass panel, French door to screened– there are hundreds to choose from, and that doesn’t even cover picking your colors! Door configurations can include single doors, double doors, and combinations with one or two sidelights and transom windows to let light into your entry. Once you know what configuration you want, the next things to decide on first are the front door style and material.
Front Door Styles
The style is what story your front door tells to the world. Whether it incorporates contemporary sleek glass options or more traditional stained or decorative glass features, it paints a picture of what kind of home you have. In selecting a style, think about the architecture of your home, what type of regular maintenance you can commit to, and whether or not you want natural light to come in through the front door.
Panel DoorA popular choice due to its simplicity, security, and affordability– this classic style is a solid door characterized by a series of rectangular or square patterns that add depth and character to the door. |
Windowed DoorFeaturing one or more panels of glass, this is another popular style that brings more light into your home and allows you to choose a variety of window designs. From stained glass to slim, modern panes there are many windowed options on the market. |
Decorative DoorFrom hand-carved wood designs to decorative finishes, these bespoke doors are works of art. While it may take more effort to maintain, these unique doors add value and interest to your home. |
Storm DoorThis additional outer door provides a layer of extra insulation and protection from harsh elements. If you live in an environment with extreme weather, a storm door might be a critical investment to keep your home safe. |
Panel Door
A popular choice due to its simplicity, security, and affordability– this classic style is a solid door characterized by a series of rectangular or square patterns that add depth and character to the door.
Windowed Door
Featuring one or more panels of glass, this is another popular style that brings more light into your home and allows you to choose a variety of window designs. From stained glass to slim, modern panes there are many windowed options on the market.
Decorative Door
From hand-carved wood designs to decorative finishes, these bespoke doors are works of art. While it may take more effort to maintain, these unique doors add value and interest to your home.
Storm Door
This additional outer door provides a layer of extra insulation and protection from harsh elements. If you live in an environment with extreme weather, a storm door might be a critical investment to keep your home safe.
Front Door Materials
Doors are made from a variety of materials and each has their own benefits or challenges. Consider factors like your home’s climate, how often you want to maintain your door, and what best suits the architectural style of your home.
Wood Doors
Wood doors are popular and are naturally beautiful stained or painted. Solid wood provides a good layer of insulation to help with energy efficiency and with proper maintenance it can last for decades. Depending on the wood type and style, prices of these doors can vary.
Steel Doors
This durable, robust material offers maximum security and energy efficiency. They’re also more affordable than other door materials. Challenges include limited styles, frequent dents and scratches, and the need for regular maintenance to prevent rust.
Fiberglass or Composite Doors
This material mimics wood, providing realistic texture and finishes while being more durable and easy to maintain. They are moderately priced and come in a wide range of styles and are considered very energy efficient.
Aluminum Doors
Lightweight and corrosion-resistant, these low-maintenance doors offer good energy efficiency and are available in a wide range of styles and finishes. Challenges include being prone to dents and being more expensive than their steel counterparts.
Wood Doors
Wood doors are popular and are naturally beautiful stained or painted. Solid wood provides a good layer of insulation to help with energy efficiency and with proper maintenance it can last for decades. Depending on the wood type and style, prices of these doors can vary.
Steel Doors
This durable, robust material offers maximum security and energy efficiency. They’re also more affordable than other door materials. Challenges include limited styles, frequent dents and scratches, and the need for regular maintenance to prevent rust.
Fiberglass or Composite Doors
This material mimics wood, providing realistic texture and finishes while being more durable and easy to maintain. They are moderately priced and come in a wide range of styles and are considered very energy efficient.
Aluminum Doors
Lightweight and corrosion-resistant, these low-maintenance doors offer good energy efficiency and are available in a wide range of styles and finishes. Challenges include being prone to dents and being more expensive than their steel counterparts.
How to Choose the Right Front Door
Even the simplest homes tell an architectural story, and when you make design decisions, you bring a piece of yourself into the story as well. The right front door can make a home feel welcoming, add curb appeal, and protect your home from security threats. When choosing a door, consider your home’s window and siding design and how to harmonize with it.
Architectural Style
Understanding the architectural style and inspiration that went into your home can help you determine the natural door choice that suits its style. Some popular architectural styles include Cape Cod Style, Ranch-style, Craftsman, Mid-Century Modern, and Farmhouse.
For example, in a modern home, you would want to avoid ornate metalwork or wood-carved details that would feel more at home in an Italianate-style home. Instead, a simple and sleek design with a bold color would be better suited.
Check out this great overview of the different architectural styles to identify your home.
Security & Safety
Your front door is the first barrier to unwanted entry into your home. Whether you’re looking to keep out burglars or are more concerned about fires and other natural disasters, the right front door can play an important role in keeping you safe. For fire prevention, look for fire rated doors in materials like steel or aluminum.
Another upgrade you can make is to integrate smart home features into your front door. From after-market integrated keyboards to build-in features that automate your security– there are lots of ways to introduce your home’s key entrance to your smart home security set-up.
Curb Appeal
A great front door is welcoming, secure, and tells a story about your home to anyone walking by. When it comes time to sell your home, it can make or break your curb appeal. When you first look at the front of a house, your eye likely pulls to the front door first. It’s the focal point, center, and heart of the exterior– so make sure it looks and feels like the right fit and the value will follow.
Maintenance and Lifestyle
Think about your lifestyle and what kind of maintenance you’re willing to DIY or hire out before selecting a door that needs high levels of attention. If you don’t see yourself treating rust on a quarterly schedule, refinishing wood when needed, or cleaning sidelights and transoms regularly– perhaps they’re not for you. That’s okay! Know your lifestyle and choose a front door that will work with you, not against you.
How to Pick a Front Door Color
Traditional Colors
Front doors can be any color, but traditionally, more classic and timeless colors have been neutrals like black, grey, cream, or white. It’s not uncommon to see slightly bolder hues of red, deep green, or blue on a traditional front door as well.
However, traditional can mean different things for different homes. For example, mid-century homes traditionally have white, cream, or another neutral shade on the exterior– so the front door is a place to have a little fun. It’s not uncommon to see pink, bright green, blues, oranges, and other bright pops of color drawing your eye to the front door.
Honoring the History of Your Home
If you have a farmhouse home, a bright geometric door might seem out of place. If Tuscan-inspired is your aesthetic, leaning into natural wood alongside stucco could make it pop. Considering the mix of siding, roofing, windows, trim, and the front door is key to your choices feeling harmonious.
With a wide range of options, we recommend looking at a color wheel and finding either complementary or contrasting colors with your existing palette. Play around with a color creator like this tool from Adobe and see what hues work well together.
Making Bold Decisions and Curb Appeal
The final rule when picking a front door color? There are no rules! It’s your house, and you get to pick something bright, loud, or surprising if that’s what makes you happy. But if you plan on selling your home, consider making those bold choices in a way that is reversible if it harms your curb appeal.
Front Door Smart Upgrades, Efficiency, & Security Features
Newer front door styles come with a host of impressive features. Lots of impressive features are on the market, like smart glass that can transition from clear to frosted with one tap and handles with built in keypads, touch ID, and remote app access.
There are also some impressive new energy-efficient fiberglass front doors on the market that have the look of wood but efficient insulation. These are perfect for homes that experience extreme temperatures, both high and low. Keep your home’s temperature consistent and save on your heating bills. Look for labels from ENERGY STAR to find efficient options and see potential energy savings.
Why Choose Us?
TGE’s team of experts is on standby to help you complete your home projects with quality and affordability. From patio doors and windows to siding and gutters– we know all about home exteriors and how to make them look and function amazing. Contact our team to get started today.
Front Door Installation: What To Expect
Front door replacement or installation can be a very simple project to complete, depending on your home’s needs. To simply swap out an existing door, this can take a matter of hours– for more complex structural changes, it might take weeks. Knowing your timeline and your budget is key when approaching experts to get quotes for the work. The average price of replacing or installing a new door ranges from $500 to $2,000+, depending on your selections and project details.
Choose Your Next Front Door with Confidence
Work with experts who understand the importance of a great front door. After all, you’ll walk through it daily and see it for years to come– it’s important that you’re confident in your decision. TGE’s team is ready to help you find the types of doors you’re looking for and to make your front entry look its best.
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