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Entry door buying guide: The different styles of front doors
The right front door sets a tone for your home’s style, but increased curb appeal isn’t the only benefit a front door can provide. It can also improve security and energy efficiency. Find out how to make the right selections when picking out a new front door. We’ll walk you through the details you need to add the perfect functional centerpiece to your home.
Learn the most popular front door styles and selections that will bring each one to life.
Modern front doors
Modern is a broad term, but there are some characteristics that carry across its various iterations — such as an emphasis on clean lines and large expanses of glass. Here are some details to keep in mind if you want a more modern door.
- Panel style: Single panel doors that are taller, rather than wider, in proportion are most common. Slab-style panels, or those without smaller inset panels and other details, are a great choice.
- Hardware: Look for minimalist hardware with black or metallic finishes, or a finish that matches the color of the door. You’ll find options like these among the FSB® hardware.
- Glass: Glass doors are key elements of modern style. We offer Entry Doors with full glass panels. You could also add more glass with a sidelight (window beside a door) or a transom (window above a door).
- Grilles: Grilles are less common in modern homes but not unheard of. Consider the semi-customizable specified equal light pattern arranged horizontally as a nod to mid-century style.
- Color: A brightly colored front door can really pop against the understated elegance of a modern home. If you want something a little more subtle, think about choosing a natural wood front door. And if you’re going all in on glass, a black frame can look sleek.
If you’re looking for what's popular, explore our Pivot Doors.
Ready to start designing your perfect modern front door? Try customizing the Straightline glass panel style 102 in our Design Tool or explore the rest of our modern front doors.
Trendsetter Michelle Adams was looking to bring a Mid-Century Modern look to life when she remodeled her Ann Arbor, Michigan ranch house. This front door was created per her specifications — yes, we can create custom front door designs!
Double front doors
Looking to make a grand entrance? Double front doors are the way to go, and they can suit most any style of home. Our double Entry Doors are available in a range of sizes, customizable to your style and home. For details, check out our front door size guide. Base your entryway selections on characteristics of a modern, farmhouse, craftsman, or traditional front door using the tips in this article.
The double front doors on this home are the Straightline glass panel style 181 with FSB® hardware and colonial grilles.
Farmhouse front doors
Farmhouse style has exploded and evolved in the past couple of decades — there’s the classic Midwestern farmhouse, but there’s also the modern farmhouse with Scandinavian minimalist characteristics, and the warmer old-world or European farmhouse.
No matter which direction you want to go, here are a few selection ideas to get you started:
- Panel style: Wood is a classic material for farmhouse front doors. Single front doors with some glass and some detailing in the woodwork, like smaller inset panels below the glass, are typical on a farmhouse.
- Hardware: Look for more traditional hardware featuring details like curves and ridges — check out Encino® or Newbury® hardware — or tweak the look to suit a modern farmhouse by selecting hardware with right angles and flat surfaces — find options like these among the FSB® hardware.
- Glass: A door panel with glass on the top half is classic. Additionally, a farmhouse might have a sidelight (window next to a door) or a transom (window above the door).
- Grilles: Grilles may be included if you’re going for a more old-world or Midwestern-style farmhouse look. They can be skipped if you’re going for a modern farmhouse look.
- Color: Classically, farmhouse front doors are painted in rich earthtones that range from neutral shades of white and canvas to forest green and cocoa bean. A light-colored wood stain or black paint are popular options if you’re looking to add modern farmhouse appeal.
Ready to design your own farmhouse front door? Try out the Straightline glass panel 194 in our Design Tool or explore the rest of our farmhouse-style Entry Doors.
Dutch doors
A fun play on the farmhouse door, and a perfect match for one that’s old-world inspired, is the Dutch door. Historically, these split doors originated on farms where they helped keep children inside and animals outside while still allowing fresh air into the home. Dutch doors are definitely on the rise, and we can make them custom to suit your style. Look to the selections above if you need inspiration.
Craftsman front doors
Craftsman-style homes emphasize hand-crafted features — prominent wood trim, stained glass, and more. To bring a Craftsman front door to life, consider the following details:
- Panel style: Pick a single panel front door that’s wider, rather than taller, and includes detailing — like smaller inset panels carved into the door. A Craftsman front door might be flanked symmetrically by sidelights or windows on either side.
- Hardware: Look for functional hardware that’s simple and understated in finishes like black, distressed bronze, or distressed nickel.
- Glass: Windows in the upper third of the door are typical. Sometimes these windows feature art glass — learn more about our art glass options.
- Grilles: Vertical grille bars or a diamond grille pattern are two good options for a Craftsman front door.
- Color: Doors are usually stained wood, rather than painted. Stains are often rich, warm browns like mocha or espresso.
Ready to bring your perfect Craftsman front door to life? Try out the Arts and Crafts Entry Door panel style 404 in our Design Tool or explore the rest of our Craftsman-style doors.
Traditional front doors
Traditional-style homes are timeless. A variety of architectural styles could be considered traditional, but no matter the exact type you have, the pointers below will help you get started creating the right front door look.
- Panel style: Either a single or double-panel front door could be suitable. No matter which one you choose, look for panels that have detailing included in their design. A more handmade look will harken back to an earlier time and more traditional style.
- Hardware: Look for hardware that stands out with decorative flourishes like ridges and curves, bright finishes like brass, or stately dark finishes like distressed bronze.
- Glass: A transom above the front door can help further a traditional look since transoms are often found on historic homes (they were placed above front doors to let in fresh air prior to air conditioning).
- Grilles: These are generally considered a more traditional feature and can be integrated into a door’s glass panel, transom, sidelights, or all three.
- Color: To find the right paint color or wood stain for your traditional home, let history be your guide. Certain colors are tied to specific architectural styles and specific regions. Find out more by looking up your home’s architectural style in our Home Style Library.
Did you know? Front doors can be one color on the exterior and a different color on the interior, so it’s easy to make sure your door coordinates with its surroundings on both sides.
Arched front doors
An arched front door is classic on traditional home styles especially Spanish-style homes [https://www.andersenwindows.com/ideas-and-inspiration/blog/tips/how-to-pick-windows-for-spanish-style-home/], European farmhouses, and more. We offer a variety of arches, including the following:
- Arch doors have a rectangular shape with a gentle curve along the top. They’re available with full glass panels or glass inserts of various sizes.
- Gothic doors have a rectangular shape with a pointed arch along the top. They’re highly decorative statement pieces that are often seen on Tudor homes or historic universities and churches.
- Springline™ Entry Doors have a rectangular bottom and circular top creating a more defined arch. They’re available with full glass panels or glass inserts of various sizes, and in panel styles ranging from simple to intricate.
A traditional look is created here with our Springline Entry Door in panel style 708, colonial grilles, and dark mahogany* wood.
*Actual wood species is either Sapele or Sipo, both non-endangered species grown in Africa with color and characteristics similar to Central American mahoganies.
How to identify your home’s architectural style
When picking out a door, an understanding of your home’s architectural style can be a great way to guide your design choices. For example, knowing Ranch-style homes often feature wood doors with small panes of glass can help you rule out some options and serve as a starting point.
To identify your home’s architectural style, start by gathering some of these quick clues about your house:
- When was it built? You can research what styles were popular the year your home was built and see if any of your home’s features match.
- Where do you live? Different styles are popular in different locations, and sometimes styles are unique to the place.
- What shape is your roof? Look for details like the pitch of your roof: Is it flat or steeply angled? Does it feature details like dormers or turrets?
- How many stories is your home? Often, the number of stories on a home can be an indicator of a particular home style.
- What shape is your home? The shape, or silhouette, of a house can tell you about the style.
- Is it more ornate or more austere? Generally, a more ornate home is considered traditional, while something more austere is likely a contemporary style.
- What material(s) is it made from? The materials on a home can indicate what was available in the place where the style originated, or how it was adapted locally.
- What types of windows and doors does it have? If the windows and doors are more detailed and decorative, the home is likely a more traditional style, while simpler features are going to be considered modern.
Then head over to our Home Style Library and find the style that matches best. It’s common for homes to blend elements from multiple styles, so if yours doesn’t fit neatly into one category, that’s okay. Mixed architectural styles can still guide your exterior door decisions. If you don’t know what home style you have, don’t worry. It can be tricky, but our Home Style Library was designed to help you explore the most popular American home styles and what doors match best.
Front door FAQs answered
Which door material is best for energy efficiency?
Our Entry Doors are made of a wood core. Wood is a great front door material due to the natural insulation it provides. An exterior cladding of aluminum protects the wood and makes a great foundation for a variety of finish options. Flexible foam weatherstripping lines the perimeter of our Entry Doors and combines with a sweep watershed at the bottom to help resist wind and rain. The materials and designs of our Entry Doors help them perform in a way that’s energy efficient. Find out more about how to pick out an energy-efficient front door.
Our full-service replacement business, Renewal by Andersen offers another option that is also energy efficient. The Ensemble™ Entry Door is made of fiberglass and our exclusive Fibrex® material and is designed specifically for replacement scenarios. Wondering about the differences between Andersen and Renewal by Andersen?
What is the best material for a front door?
We make our doors out of a strong, beautiful, and practical combination of wood and aluminum. The wood core provides thermal performance, and the aluminum cladding offers a durable, low-maintenance exterior layer, which also makes a great foundation for a variety of finish options. Learn more about Entry Doors.
What are the most popular front door styles right now?
The most popular front door styles right now are doors featuring expansive glass. One great option is a Pivot Door, which can be ordered with a full glass panel for a perfect modern look. For a glass-forward option that’s available among our traditional hinged Entry Doors, check out our Straightline glass panel options.
Looking for more home design trends?
Does Andersen sell replacement doors?
Yes, our Entry Doors can also be used in any type of project from replacement to new construction and remodeling. In addition, our full-service replacement business, Renewal by Andersen offers the Ensemble™ Entry Door, which is specifically designed as a replacement product.
Learn more about the differences between Andersen and Renewal by Andersen.
Which door material offers the best security?
Find your perfect entry door style
Entry doors
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