Door Options & Trends

There are so many options available when it comes to choosing and designing your front entryway that you'll want to check out as many product lines as you can. Most door manufacturers offer several different lines designed to complement specific architectural styles, such as Craftsman, Traditional, Old World European and Southwestern.

One of the hottest design trends is adding a touch of decorative glass to your entryway. Glass adds value to your home, brightens your entry and allows you to create an entryway that reflects your personal taste and complements the architectural style of your home. Aside from creating a unique and dramatic entrance to your new home, glass provides many green elements — like conserving heat and energy.

Popular glass options include painted glass with custom designs to complement your home's exterior, half-round transoms above-the-door and glass sidelites with internal blinds. The half-round transoms are particularly popular because of the growing trend of higher ceilings and designing a grand entrance. No matter what style you choose, if you're using glass be sure it's impact rated glass to add privacy and security.

Not only are entryways getting wider, but taller. Most architects and designers are making ceilings a lot higher to maximize natural light and space and increase depth and dimension. This is particularly true with the entryway and foyer. To accommodate this trend, door manufacturers are making doors that range from 8 to 10 feet (a standard door height is 82").

Another important element is choosing a front door, which will add architectural authenticity to your new home. A key to achieving this authenticity is choosing the right decorative accent hardware, like strap hinges and clavos in brass, nickel, bronze and chrome finish. Today's lockset are designed to complement the accent hardware, but don't just go for style. Your lockset is critical to your home's safety. You should check its locking system for additional safety features and be sure it is corrosion resistant.

Once you've decided on style and safety, it's time to see how your entry door will perform against "mother nature" and the daily use and abuse of opening and shutting your front door. Performance usually refers to the quality of the design and construction of the door and its components to withstand harsh weather conditions and eliminate air and water infiltration.

Now that you have decided on the look and style of your front entry door, it should be easy to find complementary patio and garage doors to add to your home's overall design and curb appeal.