Front door ideas are integral to making the first impression of your house a positive one. Get them right and your kerb appeal is immediately boosted. Get them wrong and it can alter the look and feel of your own home.
Add to this the role of your front door in your home security and energy efficiency, and it becomes clear that choosing the right front door requires a careful combination of both aesthetics and practical elements.
From different styles and designs to hardware, lighting, steps and choosing the right size we've compiled 12 front door ideas to help you create the perfect entryway (and exit) for your home.
Article continues below1. Opt for oversize in all elements of your design
If your entrance is earmarked as one of your home's strong features, then make sure your front door ideas do it justice. Having the scope to 'go large' leaves you with plenty of scope to make your entrance unforgettable.
Here, a contemporary wooden door is surrounded by large swathes of architectural glazing to help bring light into the home. And, in keeping with the oversize theme, even the handle is larger than life, making it the perfect match for the size of this home.
Size is also a good place to start when choosing your own front door, says Elizabeth Assaf, co-founder and designer at Urban Front. “The first question to ask yourself about any entrance is how it fits into the building design, and whether that doorway/entrance could have a strong impact on the balance of the building.
“Should the door be large, small, match the windows above it – or should it blend with the frontage," are all questions to discuss. "Materials used on the outside of the building like window frames, cladding, render, plus zinc, copper or stone details, will all have an impact on the door you’ll choose too," she adds.
Elizabeth Assaf and her husband Nabil formed Urban Front back in 2005. Even today the doors are all handmade in the UK and signed off with their careful attention to detail and design.
2. Upgrade to aluminium for enhanced efficiency
It's not just aesthetics which are key – energy efficiency is an increasingly important factor. Keeping your home well insulated is all part of achieving a thermally efficient home so you will want to prevent any heat loss through your front door. Old, badly fitted front doors may allow heat to escape easily so make sure you fit something new and effective. The best front doors address this issue.
Aluminium front doors tend to be light, strong and extremely durable with a huge range of designs and powder-coated colours. “Aluminium has a strong, yet lightweight structure, making it the most secure and low-maintenance option on the market,” says Victoria Brocklesby, COO at Origin.
Aluminium could also be a good choice for those living in harsh environments, such as on the coast, who may be concerned about the effect of the strong winds and salt water.
3. Maintain regularly with a fresh coat of paint
If your front door is in good condition, but simply looking a little tired, painting a front door might be all that's needed to give it a new lease of life.
This can work particularly well if you're dealing with a more traditionally styled door that is perfect for your property. While timber front doors are the easiest to repaint, painting a uPVC door and an aluminium door is also possible if you follow the right prep and use the right products.
For more advice, find out why the paint you choose to upgrade your front door matters more than you might think.
Paints and tools for a front door upgrade
An exterior wood paint that's resistant to cracking and peeling making it perfect for a front door location
Prep your timber front door prior to painting to ensure a longer life span and better finish
Apply paint to all surfaces of your front door with this pack of three different sized paint brushes
4. Choose Corten steel for an industrial-style entrance
If your new self-build features external cladding ideas, such as Corten steel, then don't try and find a front door that contrasts. Instead, make it match by choosing steel for your door finish too.
It's also the perfect metal for a busy home too. There are many ways you could approach a metallic design on your front door, but consider that shiny, polished metallic surfaces are prone to fingerprints, so opting for something like a textured, hammered metal will be more practical and effective, suiting a contemporary self-build perfectly.
5. Colourful composite can brighten your entrance
If you're asking 'what is a composite door?', you're not alone. This type of front door is made from a variety of materials (including glass reinforced plastic, steel and polyurethane), for a strong, efficient and durable option.
While more expensive than uPVC front doors, "these doors can be cost-effective and can perform well for security, insulation and weathertightness,” explains Matt Higgs, director and co-owner of Klöeber.
If you do choose this for your front door ideas, make sure it's in a colour that you won't want to change too soon, as while you can paint a composite front door, they're generally not designed to be painted as they are built to last and hold their colour well.
Matt is the Managing Director of Klöeber, providing bespoke doors and windows to self builder's and architect's nationwide.
6. Marry your front door finish with your porch
If you're installing a new front door at the same time as a new porch, make sure they marry up to ensure your entrance feels considered and cohesive.
Here, an oak-framed porch idea is paired with a timber-clad front door for the perfect partnership. Timber front doors, while still suitable for homes of all styles, also offer modern benefits such as security, thermal efficiency and style.
“Timber is an extremely strong and durable material with excellent insulating properties. Wooden doors can be painted and stained in any colour, and there’s a number of timber types to choose from,” says Matt Higgs.
Traditional-style timber doors work well with modern door fittings and lots of glazing, so don’t be afraid to mix up your style ideas. But, do remember, some of the cheaper softwoods can be prone to twisting and warping over time and need to be properly treated and looked after.
7. Don't forget your front door step matters too
While your front door ideas may be shiny and new, the approach to the front door is just as important as the door itself – and there are various entrance design ideas to help you make an impact.
So, if your front door step ideas are lacking in character, style or are simply past their prime, make sure you upgrade them when installing a new front door.
In this property, brick slip-clad steps are used to give this entrance a rustic but contemporary finish, matching with the brick reveals and timber tones of the modern front door.
Don't forget to make your front door step welcoming by adding a cheery doormat. The added bonus is that it will also help to keep dirt out.
8. Add character with your front door furniture
If you're keen to add a more personal touch to your front door, switching up your door knobs and knockers is a great way of adding some character, without costing too much.
Here, a pretty shade of cornflower blue is combined with a silver number three featuring a bee, and is topped off with a bee door knocker. It's the perfect spring front door idea guaranteed to bring a smile to anyone coming to visit.
"Accessorising your door beyond the usual letterbox and fancy handle can also be a good way to add further personality from the outside of your house. Think of a spring wreath or a new doormat," suggests Jade Oliver, home stylist from Express Bi-Folding Doors.
Framing your entrance with flower boxes, trailing plants, or even painted window sills can help anchor the house visually too," she adds, "giving your overall entrance, further depth and appeal."
For a similar theme, try this bee door knocker from Amazon that's made from brass but given a contemporary chrome finish
For an alternative animal theme, this hare knocker would look great on a country home or in a more rustic location
9. Don't forget your front door is also an exit point
While we tend to think of the impact of a new or updated front door's on the exterior of our homes, the interior is just as, if not more, important.
Not only will your front door design influence how you enter the home, but also the immediate areas around it so why not keep preferred hallway ideas on your mind while door-hunting.
Think about how the door swings open and how keys, bags and coats naturally get set down. Also, glazed panes and panels alongside a door will let more natural light into the hallway and make it a more appealing place. For added impact, also consider opting for a bright colour to bring joy into your hallway decor.
10. Keep security at the forefront of your new front door
Home security is a top priority when purchasing a front door. “The main idea is to delay someone from getting into the house for as long as possible,” says Elizabeth Assaf. “The longer they spend trying to break in, it’s more likely they’ll be caught in the act.”
There are lots of ways you can opt for a secure door but the two main factors will be the door material, like wood or aluminium, and the door lock. It's always advised that you look for British Standard (BSI) Kitemark and PAS 24 accreditations when buying a front door. Plus if you have glass in your front door make sure it’s toughened, security glass.
Secured by Design, a police security initiative, is the necessary accreditation to look out if security is a particular concern. Finally, if you want to incorporate some smart home security, then considering items such as a video doorbell can be a sensible move.
11. Add wow factor with a pivot door
Increasingly popular, pivot doors rotate on a pivot rather than traditionally swing open and closed. They are best suited to large door openings and are often taller and wider than most standard-fitting front doors.
“The real benefit of pivot hinges is the fact that you can have a very large, heavy door on them,” explains Elizabeth Assaf. “Nowadays, I think a lot more people would rather have one large door instead of double doors because it looks much more contemporary," she says.
12. Let light in but add privacy on a busy street
Although contemporary front doors with large sections of architectural glazing can look amazing, if you're renovating a terraced home for example, you might find yourself on a busy street and looking for a more traditional style of door.
Add to this an overshadowed entrance, and the need to let light in might seem daunting if it means opening up the view of your home and hallway to passing strangers. If this sounds like your particular scenario, then opting for privacy window film or opaque glazing will be the best solution.
Glazed panels on the door and to either side still let light flood in, but ensure passers-by are unable to see what's inside. Etched glass can be requested at the time of purchase if buying from new, or consider adding a window film such as this Glass Frosted Effect Window Film from B&Q. Also remember to make sure all glass in (and around) your front door is made from strong safety glass.
Creating 'kerb appeal' is a term that gets thrown around a lot in reference to selling a house, but a front door can really make or break the overall look and first impression your home sets.
As well as making sure your front door ideas speak volumes, make sure you also pay attention to your porch lighting ideas as well. They not only improving your home's kerb appeal at night time, but also give an extra layer of security, ensuring you can find your keys without fumbling around in the dark, and ward off would-be burglars.
A good quality outdoor wall light is your best bet – make sure you find a design that's at least IP44 rated, and casts an illuminating, but not harsh, glow around your front door area.
