Ideas for Exterior Doors
Create an artistic focus to your home exterior by remodeling your existing exterior door or replacing it. Impressive exterior doors, especially front doors, add curb appeal to your home and property, and with a little effort, you can find or create the door that's right for you. Does this Spark an idea?
Door Style
Doors come in a variety of styles from simple to ornate, and not every exterior door style will be right for your home. If you're hoping the door you buy will last a long time, you live in a wet area or you have a high traffic home, you might want to go with a steel door. More durable than wood or fiberglass doors, steel doors also won't warp or crack. However, if you're looking for pure, natural beauty or have a historic home, a solid wood door may add the extra touch you want. Remember to take the size and type of your home into consideration when picking exterior doors. Heavier, large doors may overpower a small home; in which case, a simple painted door may be best.
Windows
Even if you choose a simple door style, you can still jazz up your exterior door's look with windows. If you'd like an exterior door with windows, keep that in mind while you're shopping. Prefabricated doors can be purchased with windows or a door may be special ordered per your design specifications. If plain glass doesn't add that extra pop you were looking for, try stained glass. A large selection of colors and designs are available, and manufacturers sometimes offer a stained glass option. If the door's manufacturer doesn't offer the choice, you can have plain glass replaced with stained glass after the door is installed.
Paint
If your door is in good shape and just needs an update, a coat of paint or two might do the trick. Pick an eye-popping color that contrasts but complements your home, such as a yellow door on a home with a blue exterior or a black door on a white stucco home. If contrast isn't your style, stick with your color scheme. A red door can fit right in to a warm exterior color scheme, or a simple white door may be just the thing for your cool blue house.
Hardware
Sometimes the beauty of a remodeling job is in the details. Replacing existing exterior door hardware, such as doorknobs and locks, with new hardware can make a difference in how your home looks. If you have a historic or larger home, try wrought iron elements, especially against a natural wood to give your door a bit of extra appeal. For a simpler style of door, exchange your current brass knobs for an antique-looking handle. Other door hardware elements, such as window grates and locks, aren't just for security. Search for sets that match to add security and get the look you want.
Tags: your home, exterior door, stained glass, with windows, color scheme, door extra
