Selecting the right entry door for your home can dramatically enhance its curb appeal, value, and security and the privacy of those inside. This quick guide to the different styles of entry doors will help you narrow your choices and select a door that’s right for you and your home, whether you’re building a new house or thinking about upgrading your existing front door.
Traditional Entry Doors
Traditional style entry doors are a timeless choice that exudes elegance and sophistication. Typically, these doors feature a clean, symmetrical design with two-, three-, or six-panel configurations. They can also include elements such as classic divided light windows or subtle decorative details that contribute to their classic appeal.
The beauty of traditional doors lies in their versatility; they complement a wide range of architectural styles. A traditional entry door can seamlessly blend in, enhancing a home’s overall aesthetic charm, whether it’s a colonial, Victorian, or Cape Cod. These doors also tend to match well with homes that feature a more formal or classic interior design.
Craftsman Style
The Craftsman style, with English origins in the late 19th and early 20th century Arts and Crafts movement, is synonymous with simplicity, functionality, and exquisite attention to detail. This style was a counter-response to the mass-produced ornate designs of the Victorian era and was popularized by furniture maker Gustav Stickley and architect Frank Lloyd Wright, who further developed the Prairie Style using Craftsman style elements with a more modern, open, and horizontal expression.
American Craftsman-style entry doors mirror the principles of simplicity and functionality, using straight lines and a squared-off appearance. Craftsman-style doors typically include a window at the top with a variety of panel configurations below.
Craftsman-style doors are especially fitting for bungalow, cottage, or Craftsman-style homes, but their timeless appeal allows them to enhance a variety of home types. They are particularly suited to homes with an interior that embraces natural materials and handcrafted elements. A Craftsman-style entry door can be a wonderful addition to your home, whether you live in a historic neighborhood or simply appreciate the unique combination of simplicity, functionality, and artistic detail.
Southwest Style
The Southwest style, deeply rooted in the cultural heritage and geographical aesthetics of the American Southwest, is a unique choice for homeowners looking to infuse their homes with a touch of rustic charm. Southwest-style doors often use natural materials like wood, with particular emphasis on textures and warm, earthy tones, mirroring the arid landscapes of the region.
These doors also frequently feature elements such as wrought iron hardware, intricate carvings, and vibrant colored accents, reflecting the region’s rich Native American and Spanish influences. Arched doors are particularly popular in this style, adding an alluring architectural detail. A Southwest-style entry door can be a distinctive focal point, making a bold statement while providing a warm, welcoming entrance to your home.
The Importance of Door Materials and Frames
A door can be beautiful and vulnerable or beautiful and strong, built to keep intruders out and provide security to the residents within. A door’s construction, particularly the materials it consists of and the frame it sits within, can make all the difference to home security and energy efficiency.
Steel Entry Doors: Strength and Elegance Combined
Steel entry doors offer homeowners a durable, secure, and stylish choice. Defender Steel Door offers steel entry doors constructed from 22-gauge steel that provides superior strength, resisting denting and warping better than other materials. This strength doesn’t compromise aesthetic versatility; in fact, a steel door’s finish can mimic the rich texture of wood grain, offering the beauty of a wood door with the robustness that steel provides.
Defender Steel Door also offers doors with magnetic weatherstripping, much like that on the doors of your refrigerator, which seals the door frame and prevents air infiltration, moisture, dust, and insects from entering your home. This feature contributes to your home’s energy efficiency by preventing heat or air conditioning from escaping. Defender’s adjustable threshold and magnetic weatherstripping also keep frigid or steamy air from infiltrating your home through gaps between the door and frame, potentially helping to lower your energy bills.
Our steel doors come with steel frames or we can deliver them pre-hung, enhancing their strength and security. A steel frame provides greater stability and resilience, capable of withstanding extreme weather conditions and potential intruders. Steel frames are also resistant to warping, rotting, and expanding, ensuring the longevity of your door and providing peace of mind for years to come.
Enhance Security With Steel Storm Doors
Steel security storm doors are an excellent choice for those seeking an additional layer of protection for their homes. These doors, consisting of high-quality steel like our entry doors and set in 16-gauge steel frames, can stand up to adverse weather conditions and add an extra barrier against potential intruders.
The variety of available shapes and styles is one of the advantages of steel storm doors. You can even get them to fit your home’s arched or pointed doorway. This customization feature ensures that no matter the shape or style of your entry door, there’s a matching steel storm door that will provide that extra layer of security.
Moreover, we offer arch-top storm doors for Chicagoland homeowners that will fit and complement arched, curved, camber, pointed, or cathedral-style entry doors, enhancing your home’s aesthetics while providing the added security of a second, sturdy door.
A steel entry door, complemented by a steel security storm door, offers both robust security and elegant design, ensuring your home is safe, energy-efficient, and welcoming.
Sidelight Options
Adding sidelight windows to your entry door design can significantly enhance your home’s entrance by inviting natural light into your entryway. These slender, vertical windows flanking either or both sides of your entry door serve more than just an aesthetic purpose; they allow daylight to flood your home, creating a welcoming, bright, and airy ambiance. With a variety of decorative glass options available, sidelight windows can further augment the beauty and personalized charm of your doorway, all while letting the sunshine pour in.
We hope our quick guide to the different styles of entry doors provided you with the information and inspiration you need to transform your home’s aesthetic appeal while enhancing its security and energy efficiency. Remember, your front door is more than just an entrance—it’s the first impression your home makes, a symbolic transition from the outside world to your personal space, and a reflection of your unique style.
Recent Comments