How do I choose a front door style?
Sunday, 13 December 2020
When your home receives a visitor, your front door is the first thing that they have contact with. Similarly, every time you return home it is your front door that greets you. The power of the front door to create a first impression has influenced house sales, valuations and the way that you feel about your home. If you hate your front door, this dissatisfaction confronts you every single day! This is why a front door is such a popular feature for people to replace as part of a home renovation. But how do you choose a front door design that you’ll love long term?
Material
So where do you start when you choose a front door style? First things first - material. Budget will have a bearing here, but once you have chosen your material, you’ll find that further choices become a little less daunting.
Wood Replacement
In period properties especially, wooden front doors look great. However, they also require a lot of work to maintain their lustre. So, to preserve your home’s authentic period style without the maintenance, select a wood effect material. The Residence 9 range stocked here is known for its authenticity and is the popular choice for listed properties and those within conservation areas.
Composite
This material will provide you with the best choice for statement front doors. Although their wood finishes look fantastic for traditional and country styles, the vibrant range of colours available mean that you can really make a splash!
Aluminium
Both affordable and sustainable, aluminium remains a popular choice for front doors. With spray paint colour options, this material can also offer a range of looks that can perfectly match your windows.
uPVC
If you’re looking for a front door that is in keeping with your windows and requires no maintenance, then uPVC offers everything you need. Indeed, the doors that we provide in this material are available to match the same range of colours as you’ll find for casement windows. White is forever popular, but you need not be limited when you choose this material.
Aesthetics
Before you get bogged down in details, there are overriding aesthetic concepts that need to be in place for your front door.
Period
A major choice when you choose a front door style is whether you remain in keeping with the period of your property or contrast it with a contemporary design. If you get it wrong, the door can appear incongruous. So, choosing a paneled front door that fits the period of construction is often a safe choice.
Consistency
Having said that, there are many period properties that look great with a contemporary front door! Check whether you are limited by any regulations before you pursue this path. The key if you do want to use your front door style to create contrast is to keep it consistent across your home. So, match the front door style to your windows across the property.
Colour
While white will always remain popular, more and more people are opting to add colour to their front door style. This is a key decision so make sure you get it right. You may have a hankering for an auberge front door, but if your property is red brick, it’s going to clash! Most buildings lend themselves to neutral tones - even darker ones like navy or black. These also tend to be more versatile if you alter the front of your home in the future. Bright doors can look fantastic though, so don’t be afraid of colour!
Practicality
There’s no point to having a beautiful front door which you grow to hate because it doesn’t fit into your lifestyle. So carefully consider the practical aspects of your front door style.
Size
Depending on your circumstances, this factor is often beyond your control. However, for renovations and front extensions, you may opt to have a larger, or double front door. This will make a huge difference to big, busy households as they come and go daily.
Security
Of course, the function of your front door must provide sufficient security for your household. Environmental factors can have a bearing here, so whether a home is in a busy urban environment or more isolated rural spot. If you’re inclined to lock yourself out, you may want to choose a system which doesn’t automatically lock on closing!
Light
For darker hallways especially, remember that your front door style can be integral to bring natural light into your home. A light, bright hallway is always desirable, so take the chance to optimize this when you choose your front door style.
Budget
Of course, budget is the one practicality which cannot be ignored! This is why it’s worth talking to your contractor or supplier to explore the options available to you. You’ll be surprised at what can be achieved!
Features
Lastly, you will get to adorn your front door. The range of accessories for a front door are far vaster than they have ever been before.
Hardware
Gone are the days where you’d simply decide between a stainless steel or brass lever handle! Contemporary styles are trending towards stainless steel pull bar handles. Period styles tend to prefer a round doorknob style. Then there’s hinges, numbers, door knockers (or not!) letterboxes and spy holes to think about! All these little details play their part in completing your front door style. However, try not to go overboard - only include features that you need, or your door will look cluttered.
Glazing
The shape of glazed panels, texture of glass and any colour to the glass are all features which need to be selected. You can even have your house number etched in frosted glass! Try to keep your glazing in keeping with the other stylistic choices you’ve made for your front door. Stained glasses work well with period styles, for example, and obscure or frosted glass is great for contemporary styles.
When style choices seem endless, it really is helpful to talk through your options with experts in the field. At Bill Butters Windows and Doors, we want everyone to have a front door that brings them joy. So, we’ll go on your stylistic journey with you and ensure that you’re getting the best whilst sticking to your budget. Contact us to chat!