Choosing a front door for one’s home is a matter of taste, and there are seemingly endless options. There are, however, some general guidelines that make sense of the chaos of choices out there.

Take your cues from the style of your home. You wouldn’t put a plain steel door on a Craftsman bungalow just as you wouldn’t put ornate wooden door on a modern-style home of concrete and steel.

Of course, most American homes are an amalgamation of styles. Few people live in homes that fit strict categories. In fact, most of us probably live in homes that could be broadly categorized as post-World War II suburban. There’s not a lot of continuity of style within that broad category.

Still, when thinking of front doors, take a look at what distinguishes your home. Think of materials — is it wood, stucco or concrete — and its general design — do simple lines dominate or is there a complexity to its appearance? The general rule is to choose a front door that fits — or at least doesn’t clash — with your home’s overall look.

Despite the difficulty of categorizing American homes, architectural details can often be teased out. And emphasizing those details in a front door can give your home a distinguishing touch.

If you’re not sure of your home’s stylistic elements, there are guides on the internet that can help. Here’s a look at a few traditional home styles and what they mean for front doors.

And remember, no matter the style, Rocket door has the solution:

  • Colonial style homes emphasize symmetry and simplicity. The front door is located in the center with windows, dormers and other architectural accents equally divided on each side. It’s all about balance. That should be reflected in the front door — panels, glass inserts and ornamentation should equally distributed.
  • Victorian homes feature lots of elaborate trim, steep roofs, towers and turrets, and vibrant colors. They are asymmetrical in design in contrast to the balance of the earlier colonial style. All those components add up for front doors that emphasize ornamentation. Think leaded glass inserts and elaborate paneling and molding.
  • The Craftsman movement came about as a backlash against the elaborate ornamentation of the Victorian era. Craftsman emphasizes the simple beauty of hand-made items and natural materials. It celebrates simplicity, human labor and natural materials. For front doors, wood, of course, and glass panels with distinctive Craftsman patterns.
  • Southwest style homes grew from the adobe roots of the American Southwest. Think stucco, stone accents, muted earth tones and tile roofs. Southwest style calls for rustic wooden doors that can be made more elaborate with glass and wrought iron ornamentation.
  • The traditional American style is an inclusive category that draws on a wide variety of architectural styles. It features simple roof lines, symmetrical window placements, little ornamentation and small porch areas. Wooden doors with symmetrical wooden panels and glass inserts are a good fit.
  • The modern style features an asymmetrical exterior with clean lines and an industrial sensibility. Building materials include a mix of stone, steel, wood and glass.

Whatever style your home is, the same rule applies — carry that style through to the front door.

Visit our showroom at 1639 E Monte Vista Avenue #L103 Vacaville, CA 95688 or call to set an appointment: (707) 689-5147.