How to choose a front door.
August 4, 2021
It goes without saying that your front door is important! It is the first impression of your home, ahead of entering.
First things first. Is it obvious where your front door is located? It seems like a silly question, but sometimes it isn’t clear. Often people feel the need to paint their front door, side door, and garage doors the same colour. Don’t do it! Your front door should make a statement, whereas your garage and side doors should blend into the facade of the house.
When purchasing a new door, should you choose fibreglass or wood? Did you know your fibreglass door can look like wood? While purists may opt for a wood door, in the Canadian climate, fibreglass is a better solution in my opinion. Not only is it less maintenance, but it will not contract and expand with changes in temperature and is also extremely durable.
In terms of style, is your house modern or traditional, brick or stone or siding? Is it formal or relaxed? A traditional red brick home looks amazing with a black front door, while a Cape Cod style home looks terrific with coloured front door - think yellow, red, blue. Putting a very modern door on a very traditional home is unsettling. Try to connect the styles so that they complement one another.
Other factors in choosing your door colour (besides the stone/brick/siding colour) are the roof and window colours. Sometimes, you have to work with what you have. Don’t fight it if there is no plan to replace it. While you want your front door to be special, you also don’t want it to be completely disconnected from the rest of the house. In other words, if you want a yellow door but your exterior has a lot of grey, make sure the yellow you choose has a grey undertone.
Is your front hall dark? Perhaps a sidelight or partial glass door is in order. For privacy, frosted or seedy glass are good options. If privacy is not a concern, let the light flow in through clear glass!
And finally, if you have the space and the budget, consider going with a taller and possibly wider door, or add a transom for more light. A taller, wider door always feels more gracious.
Remember your front door is your opportunity to make a great first impression and say welcome to your guests. Make it count!