Making an entrance: Getting your front door just right

Your front door is the first and last thing you see in your home.

'One of the first things I chose was my front door knocker.'

Choosing windows gets a lot of attention but for some reason, front doors too often seem to be an afterthought. Certainly, my front door was the last decision I made in my own home — although I did care a bit more about my internal doors (a column for another day). 

I wonder whether that’s because the front door is a long-lasting item that does not often need to be replaced. Once it’s in it’s in, only to be thought of again if draughts start to seep in. Or perhaps it’s because it seems that there isn’t much choice and that a door is a door is a door. Not so, however.

Jen Sheahan outside her house in Rathmines. 'My front door has since crept its way up the list to become one of my favourite features.' Pictures: Moya Nolan

My front door has since crept its way up the list to become one of my favourite features. Turns out being the first and last thing I see as I pop in and out of my home every day is an important role. As I work with others to design their dream homes, I have come to appreciate the importance of the humble front door much more. Here’s how to choose the right door for your home.

SECURITY 

Forget about aesthetics for a moment. The main reason you’re buying a front door in the first place is to keep people out, so first choose what kind of lock you’re going to get. If you choose the right lock not only will your house be more secure, but you can enjoy a reduced insurance premium. 

Most common and widely recognised as the most secure is the five-lever mortice lock (a seven-meter mortice lock is also available if you really want to kick things up a notch). The lock that you choose has somewhat of an influence on the hardware that you put on your door. For example, if you choose the five (or seven) lever mortice lock, probably the best option is to choose a lever door handle. 

I opted against this; I personally preferred the look of a brass doorknob in the centre instead of a handle on the side. This makes my front door a little tricky to open, but it’s one of the few areas where I was happy to choose form over function.

MATERIALS 

Your next decision is what material your front door will be made from. Doors come in a range of materials, like windows, the main ones being wood, uPVC, aluminium, and alu-clad. As usual, my best advice is to choose a low-maintenance material. 

Aluminium or AluClad are both effectively no maintenance but are on the more expensive side and have a more modern, industrial look. I chose wood, as these days wood is engineered and treated to be extremely hard-wearing, and so far, no maintenance has been required. I also prefer the look of wood, and I wanted to match my front door to my windows. 

I have not seen uPVC widely recommended — while it is lower cost up front, in the long run, it can tend to warp and let in draughts.

STYLES 

Finally, we come to style. The simplest advice is to choose a door style that matches the overall aesthetic of your home, especially one that matches your front windows, and for this reason, it may make sense to leave choosing your front door till last. 

'I love dark doors and windows outside but wanted a bright colour inside.'

If you’re restoring a period property, check out other similar properties to see what style best matches that era. If your home has a modern aesthetic, choosing a modern door with clean lines will go best. 

Colour is a personal choice, but I will note that you can choose two-tone — that is, one colour inside and one colour outside. I have done this in my own home as I love dark doors and windows outside but wanted a bright colour inside. 

The second major consideration is whether to choose windows in or around your door. windows of course, let lots of light in which can be wonderful if you have a dark hallway. Glass in or around doors should be double-glazed and laminated to provide security, so double-check that before you make your door purchase. 

Glass will mean that you are sacrificing some privacy, even if it’s frosted or stained, and if you (like me) don’t like unannounced callers then this might not be the right option for you. A happy medium is to have a transom window or a fanlight above your door. This allows light in while maintaining your privacy. This is what I have, and I would choose it time and time again.

I’d like to take a moment to talk about stained glass here. While it is more commonly associated with period homes, there are creative people out there who have done beautiful things with coloured glass in more modern styles. You might have to seek out a specialist supplier for this, but it can be a unique way to bring some colour and interest into your hallway. Check out Douglas Glass, Mike Nash, or Wild Bird Studio for some fabulous Irish stained-glass artists.

HARDWARE 

I mentioned that my front door was one of the last things I chose for my own home, but actually one of the first things I chose was my front door knocker. It is a brass bumblebee and it makes me smile every time I come home. 

Adding some unique hardware to your door is such a fun and subtle way to bring personality and style to the exterior of your home, and to give a great first impression when welcoming guests. My neighbours across the street have a frog on their door and it is one of my greatest hopes that my entire neighbourhood will eventually adorn their doors with brass wildlife.

SMART LOCKS 

One thing I’ve not yet done, but which I’m researching extensively, is to install a smart lock on my front door. This would mean I’m never again locked out, or that I don’t have to remember who I’ve given a spare key to if a friend needs somewhere to stay while I’m not there. 

Smart locks replace your key with passcodes or biometric identification, such as fingerprints. Many are now advanced enough to be highly secure, and so far of all the reviews I’ve read, it seems that the brand Schlege is the one that is considered the best, but I don’t have any first-hand recommendations.