Exterior doors are the gateway to a home—their look and style can contribute greatly to the overall feel of the house. Whether you’re looking for elegance, a pop of color, or a unique design, there is a style available to achieve your vision.
Style Considerations
The architectural style of your home should be considered when buying exterior doors. Choose a style that will complement the home’s design. For example, panel doors are well suited for Craftsman-style and Colonial-style homes, whereas flush doors may look best on a modern home. Hardware for the handles, locksets, knocker, and kickplate can also be selected to match the home’s decor.
Glass inserts, known as lights or lites, can be incorporated to enhance the entryway, especially at the front door. Lights can be rectangular or another shape, like an oval or fan, and the glass can have textured designs. Windows on the sides of the door are called sidelights, and a window above the door is called a transom. If you include lights, consider using insulating glass or Low-E glass.
Door materials are important to consider when choosing a style, and you can read in more detail about the most common materials—wood, steel, fiberglass, aluminum, and vinyl—in the first section of this two-part blog.
Styles of Exterior Doors
There are various styles of exterior doors, but the most common are panel, flush, French, sliding, Dutch, and storm doors.
With so many types of exterior doors to choose from, you might consider hiring a door replacement professional to offer guidance on door styles to enhance each entryway in your home.
