Choosing a new door is quite simple if you know the options available to you. Match the style to your type of home.

Flush Doors

Flush Doors are smooth on both sides, and generally made of plywood or MDF and are available in hollow or solid core. They are the least expensive and are well suited for modern architecture. Most often these are used internally.

Two Panel Doors

As you will see in the pictures there are variations on two-panel designs. By adding an arched top panel the door becomes great for Cape Dutch or French country style homes.
Having a larger panel on the top gives the door a traditional look, especially when combined with appropriate hardware set low at the rail level

Four-Panel Doors

Four-panel doors are another variation in traditional architecture. You can find these with hollow cores and in solid wood.
These doors will give you an elegant finish. These are a good choice for traditional style décor and formal home entrances

Six-Panel Doors

One of the most common door styles is the six-panel configuration. You should be able to find this door with a less-expensive hollow core as well as in solid wood.

8-21 Panel

More panels are suited to more modern house designs. There are options available in hollow core and solid wood. A classic pattern of square panels.

Specialty Doors

Once you move away from standard size and shape doors you will end up spending more. This door arched door will require an arched jamb. The arched look is ideal for Mediterranean style homes, especially with Spanish influences. Doors Direct is able to custom craft doors to your specifications.

French Doors

French doors have a frame around one or more transparent panels, usually filled with glass. The goal is to maximize light in a room. Used on external walls they connect the house with the outdoors and allow light into the room
French doors can also be used internally in areas meant to put a room of your home on display, like music rooms, home offices, living rooms, Dining rooms, etc.
If you are going all-out on character and have an older style Victorian house, stained glass might be the way to go.

Pivot Doors

Oversized and dramatic, pivot doors are available in engineered wood and in solid wood. Perfect for a main entrance in a modern home.

Folding Stacking Doors

Sliding / folding doors are stackable folding doors of multiple panels that slide and stack neatly to one or two sides.
This allows for a seamless transition between indoors and outside entertainment areas free of any barrier or obstruction.
With multiple combination openings of up to 10 or 12 meters can be easily managed

Carved Doors

When you want a unique entrance why not combine your love of handcraft and natural materials and opt for a carved door. It’s African and unique and locally made.

Your home’s front door entry is the focal point when someone visits your home.  You don’t have to spend big to make a large impression.  With a small bit of elbow grease and some basic tools you can make a big difference

Hardware

Think house numbers, the entry door lock, and light fittings overhead light.  These elements can all add style and interest.  Most people inherit them from the previous owner and forget about them or add elements as needed.

By thinking of these as a set that function collectively you can upgrade your home.  Brass elements on a traditional home, brushed nickel on a more contemporary home.  Replace that rusty light fitting with something new.

Your front Door

We often forget to clean off grimy marks around the door handle or to polish the metal fixtures.  If you are feeling more adventurous paint the door a new colour or if the doors lacks personality replace the door with something that fits your style better. Doors Direct allows you to order your new entrance door online and it will be delivered directly to your home.

Perfect Symmetry

Symmetry is simple to arrange and is pleasing to the eye.  Use pairs of sidelights or pairs of planters to create a symmetrical composition

Lighting

Low voltage or solar landscape lighting provides security and makes an impact to your home’s curb appeal.  Accent trees or illuminate the path. 

Create a garden

A container garden is a quick and affordable way to create a welcoming entrance.  Add colour with containers from the nursery filled with bright annuals such as impatiens, petunias or begonias

 Next week we are going to talk about how to match the style of door to your style of home. 

The colours we choose to surround ourselves with reveal a lot about us. Are you outgoing with a love for bright colours? Are you more low-key and prefer subdued colours

The colour you choose for your front door sends a strong message and provides insight on how you see your home.

Blue. If you want to go blue you are well grounded and are not swayed by others. Blue is strongly associated with tranquillity and calmness. Blue is an abundant colour, it's the colour of sky and water. Blue symbolizes trust, loyalty, wisdom, confidence, intelligence, faith, truth, and heaven.

Yellow. Are you dying to paint your front door yellow? You like to look at life with a positive attitude. Yellow produces a warming effect, arouses cheerfulness and stimulates mental activity.

Green. Green is an obvious choice for people with a passion for gardens and the outdoors. Green represents balance, peace, compassion, growth, renewal, and harmony. Duck Egg and Sage are popular for a 'country chic' look.

White: A crisp white door is for those who are (or strive to be) organised, neat and clean. White is associated with light, goodness, innocence, purity, and virginity. It is considered to be the colour of perfection.

Purple. Purple combines the stability of blue and the energy of red. You’re comfortable taking risks and dreaming big.  Purple is associated with nobility and power as well as creativity, mystery, and magic.

Red.  Red is a powerful colour with very high visibility, which is why stop signs, stoplights, and fire equipment are usually painted red. A red door calls for attention, so you’re not afraid of being  noticed. You are telling the world that your home is full of  energy and excitement. In Feng Shui, a red front door means “welcome.”

Orange: Orange corresponds to desire, sexual passion, pleasure, domination, and thirst for action.   Since you're a social butterfly and love to entertain you'll enjoy the attention that this highly visible colour brings

Brown. Whether painted or stained, a brown front door looks natural and organic, but it can send mixed messages in terms of colour psychology. On the one hand, brown conveys warmth, stability, and reliability, positive attributes all, but certain darker shades of brown signal a desire for privacy, even isolation.

Black. Those who paint the front door black are communicating something entirely different about their homes. A black front door projects strength, sophistication, power, and authority. Black is considered to be a very formal, elegant, and prestigious colour.

Many people are afraid of painting wooden doors.  

The two main arguments generally go as follows

Once you paint you can never go back. This is not exactly true, going back to wood is a hassle and is time consuming.  The other point we make is why would you want to go back?  Once you have painted you have a choice of all the colours under the sun why would you want to go back to brown?

It's a waste to paint real wood is other argument that often comes up.  Paint will preserve the wood. Painted wooden doors are actually well protected from the elements and will generally be in better condition under the paint 20 years on than a door that is not painted.  

A new coat of paint on your front door can breath all new life into your home, and it’s a lot easier than you may think!  Yes, you will have to put in some elbow grease, but it shouldn’t take you more than a day to complete.

Because your front door is open to the elements outside, you’ll want to use an acrylic latex paint with an oil-based primer; this will cover any old paint left on the door.  However, if you have a brand new door that has never been painted, you are able to use an oil-based paint instead.