Learn what to look for when choosing that all-important front door
The right front door can make a bold statement and grab the attention of passersby like few other home design elements. The choice you make is sure to say a lot about you and your particular style. But navigating the myriad of options can be a daunting challenge. Where to start?
The right front door can make a bold statement and grab the attention of passersby like few other home design elements. The choice you make is sure to say a lot about you and your particular style. But navigating the myriad of options can be a daunting challenge. Where to start?
To help you navigate the process, we’ve compiled a few things to think about before you start shopping. These tips are intended to empower you to more confidently tackle the search for the perfect exterior door. Let’s start with three important questions to ask as you get started:
- What color do you love seeing every single day?
- How much do you want your front door to stand out?
- Are you interested in adding other elements around your door, such as a sidelite or transom?
Answering these questions up front will help you streamline the process.
Color me stylish
You won’t be surprised to learn that the process of finding the right door usually starts with color. It can make your exterior pop, complement your home’s architecture, and generally bring new life to a tired look. As you explore, you want to always keep your overall home exterior in mind to ensure a good match.
At JELD-WEN, we work with color industry experts to bring you a palette of on-trend colors to choose from. These colors and more are available across JELD-WEN’s fiberglass, steel, and wood exterior door product lines.
If you want a door that really pops, choose one from our Smooth-Pro™ fiberglass line in a bold Persimmon red.
For standard paint options, check out everything from pale-green Fog to the deep hues of Revival Blue and Marine. There are even Marigold yellow and Persimmon red that will really draw the eye. And think about black too as an option that will stand out.
Colors to match your home type
A great way to help narrow the almost limitless color options is to identify which colors match your particular house type. For example, do you want your home to reflect a crisp coastal vibe? Go for trending paint colors like a reflective Modern White, a coastal Caribbean Blue, or a Serenity teal. Not sure how to proceed? Take the style quiz, and check out these style guides.
Here are some tips based on specific colors:
Black — A black front door can give your home a timeless, classic appeal while providing an eye-catching contrast. It adds a modern, sophisticated element to your home’s exterior and can also help create a contemporary farmhouse look.
Blue — Something like a dark navy can help deliver the clean lines of a modern house and elevate the natural look of stone and timber accents.
Red — A red door refuses to be ignored. It’s the route to go if you’re ready to make a bold statement. It also reputedly brings good luck, which complements any architectural style.
Green — Green is usually attributed to wealth and is often associated with personal betterment and development. Tranquil greens and blues add a splash of color and complement natural tones.
Yellow — Brighten up just about any space with yellow or orange to support a colorful coastal look.
An eye-catching yellow entry door can provide a warm and welcoming contrast to many house colors.
It’s not just about aesthetics
In addition to getting attention outside your home, a front door that boasts the right color can also improve how comfortable you are inside your home. Light-colored doors in yellow, green, or orange can help reflect the sun’s rays away from your house instead of absorbing them. That can lead to a cooler home during the hot summer months.
Maybe the best color is a stain
Your front door doesn’t have to be painted to get attention. Stains can deliver their own punch when used with fiberglass and wood doors. For example, our Design-Pro™ fiberglass exterior doors can be crafted to look like mahogany, oak, or fir woods. You can choose from a multitude of paint and stain options to enhance the look of the woodgrain details.
Design-Pro™ fiberglass exterior doors can be crafted to look like mahogany, oak, or fir.
Our IWP® Aurora® Fiberglass product is JELD-WEN’s luxury fiberglass exterior door line and can be stained to look virtually indistinguishable from real wood. To learn all about how wood species affect wood stains and the final look of your front door, read our “Guide to Wood Species.” But in case you still want paint, these dent- and warp-resistant doors can also be painted to create an impressive front entrance that boosts your home’s curb appeal.
Mix elements to make a one-of-a-kind door
Each of the product lines mentioned in this post includes artfully crafted exterior doors that can be stained or painted to align with your vision. JELD-WEN also has the capability to match virtually any color you select.
Finally, as you dream about your perfect front door, think about incorporating other distinctive features like sidelites and transoms into your plan. They add a welcome design element while bringing natural light into the home.
Transoms — These sit above your entry door and are used to add style and light, spanning the width of the opening they sit atop.
Sidelites — These are narrow, vertical windows that add light and interest to one or both sides of your exterior door, depending on your preference or available space.
Sidelites and transoms add a distinctive stylistic accent to any entry while welcoming more natural light into your home.
Design a front door as unique as you are
As the saying goes, you only have one chance to make a good first impression. So why not treat your front door like a canvas on which you can express yourself? The possibilities are endless. Browse our entire collection of exterior doors today.
When you’re ready to get started on this or any project, JELD-WEN is here to help.
Transform your home with JELD-WEN exterior doors.
