Choosing a Front Door Style That Suits Your Home

Your front door makes an impression before anyone sets foot inside. Get the style right and it enhances your whole property. Get it wrong and it looks odd every time you come home.

The good news is that modern doors offer enormous variety. Whatever your home's style, there's a door design that will complement it. This guide helps you navigate the options and choose something you'll be happy with for years.

Matching Your Door to Your Home's Character

The starting point is your property itself. Different architectural styles call for different door approaches.

Victorian and Edwardian properties

These homes typically had panelled doors, often with decorative glazed panels in the upper section. Stained glass or leaded lights were common.

What works:

• Four or six-panel designs with raised mouldings
• Glazed panels in the top half, often with decorative leading or coloured glass
• Traditional furniture: letterplates, knockers, bell pulls
• Deep colours: navy, bottle green, burgundy, black, or traditional dark red

What to avoid:

• Ultra-modern slab doors look incongruous
• Very pale colours can look too "new" against weathered brickwork
• Overly ornate designs that weren't authentic to the period

1930s semi-detached homes

The classic 1930s door had a distinctive style: typically solid at the bottom with a large glazed section (often sunrise or geometric patterns) at the top.

What works:

• Art Deco-influenced designs with curved or geometric glazing
• Stained glass or reeded glass effects
• Darker colours suit the typical red or brown brick
• Chrome or satin furniture for an authentic period feel

What to avoid:

• Georgian-style doors that belong to a different era
• Very contemporary designs that clash with the 1930s aesthetic

Post-war and 1960s-70s properties

These homes often had simple, functional doors without much decoration. Replacement doors can add character that the originals lacked, but shouldn't fight against the overall house style.

What works:

• Clean, simple designs without excessive ornamentation
• Partial glazing with plain or lightly textured glass
• Contemporary colours can work well (grey, anthracite, duck egg)
• Modern hardware suits the period better than traditional

What to avoid:

• Heavy period detailing that looks out of place on a modern build
• Very ornate designs on houses designed to be understated

Contemporary and modern homes

New builds and recent extensions can carry bold, architectural doors that wouldn't suit older properties.

What works:

• Large glass panels and slim sightlines
• Aluminium doors for the sleekest appearance
• Horizontal lines and handleless designs
• Bold colours or natural timber effects
• Oversized or pivot doors for dramatic entrances

What to avoid:

• Traditional panelled doors look dated on contemporary buildings
• Fussy details that fight the clean lines of modern architecture

Cottages and rural properties

Older cottages typically had simple, solid timber doors, often with nothing more than a small glazed panel or none at all.

What works:

• Solid or near-solid doors with minimal glazing
• Woodgrain effects that mimic traditional timber
• Muted, heritage colours: sage green, cream, slate blue, dark brown
• Traditional hardware: ring handles, thumb latches, simple knockers

What to avoid:

• Large glazed panels that let light into what should be a cosy space
• Modern colours and finishes that fight the rustic character

Choosing Colours

Colour is probably the most personal choice, and trends come and go. Here are some principles that tend to produce good results:

Contrast or complement? Decide whether you want the door to stand out from or blend with the house. A contrasting colour creates a focal point. A complementary colour creates harmony.

Consider the surroundings: Look at your brickwork, stonework, render, and roof. The door should work with these fixed elements.

Think about what's around the door: Window frames, guttering, and other joinery often dictate or limit your colour options.

Neutral never fails: If in doubt, black, anthracite grey, or deep green work with almost any property type.

Light colours show dirt: Cream, white, or pale grey doors need more frequent cleaning than darker alternatives.

Fashion fades: Very trendy colours may look dated in five years. Classic choices have staying power.

Most composite and aluminium doors are available in a wide range of colours, often including RAL colour matching for exact specifications. Standard colours are usually cheaper than bespoke options.

Glazing Options

How much glazing, and what type, significantly affects both appearance and how much light reaches your hallway.

Amount of glazing

Full height glazing: Maximum light but minimal privacy. Works well with obscured glass or where the entrance isn't overlooked.

Half glazing (top half): The traditional balance. Good light with a solid feel.

Quarter or minimal glazing: Small panels or sidelights. More private but can make hallways dark.

No glazing: Solid doors suit some properties (cottages, for instance) but make for darker entrances.

Type of glazing

Clear glass: Maximum light and visibility. Only suitable where privacy isn't an issue.

Obscured glass: Textured or frosted glass lets light through while blocking the view. Many patterns available from subtle to heavily textured.

Decorative glass: Leaded, coloured, or patterned glass adds character. Can be traditional or contemporary depending on design.

Tinted glass: Bronze, grey, or blue tints reduce glare and heat gain. Modern aesthetic.

For most entrance doors, some form of obscured glass offers the best balance of light and privacy.

Hardware and Furniture

The metalwork on your door, including handles, knockers, letterplates, and numerals, adds finishing detail and should complement your overall choice.

Finish options:

• Chrome/polished stainless: Modern, clean, suits contemporary doors
• Satin/brushed: Softer than chrome, hides fingerprints better
• Black: Traditional or contemporary depending on style
• Brass/gold: Traditional, suits period properties
• Antique bronze: Heritage feel without being too shiny

Style considerations:

• Match handles to knockers and letterplates
• Consider whether modern or traditional hardware suits your door
• Check furniture is included in the door package or priced separately

Practical Considerations

Beyond aesthetics, some practical factors affect style choices:

Maintenance: Pale-coloured doors show dirt more easily. Some woodgrain finishes hide marks better than smooth surfaces.

Light levels: If your hallway is dark, a door with more glazing makes a genuine difference to daily life.

Privacy: Very glazed doors on street-facing entrances mean people can see in. Consider obscured glass or blinds.

Porch or no porch? Without a porch, the door is more exposed to weather and more visible from the street. Both factors might influence your choices.

Getting It Right

The best way to choose a door style is to see examples in context. Walk around your neighbourhood and notice what works on similar properties. Look at house sale photographs online for inspiration.

At our Grantham showroom, we have full-size entrance doors on display so you can see colours, finishes, and styles in person. You can also bring photos of your property to discuss what would suit it.

For specific advice on matching a door to your home, get in touch to arrange a visit. We'll look at what you've got, discuss what you're trying to achieve, and help you find a door that looks right and performs well.

GDCG supplies and installs entrance doors across Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, and Leicestershire. We'll help you find a door that suits your home's style as well as your practical needs. Contact us for a free survey and quote.