Styling your entrance door

There is nothing more welcoming than a well thought out, carefully styled entrance.

The entrance door is the first thing people see when they look at a property, so making the right statement is vital. There are a myriad of options and styles to choose from, and the final design will depend on the age and colours of the property, other houses in the surrounding area, and – of course – personal taste.

Here are some of the main things to consider, featuring images and designs from Woodside Designs using Croft entrance door hardware.

Symmetry and Harmony

We have admired symmetry in design for millennia and as a principle it is timeless, evoking a sense of calm, order, and elegance. This entrance is exactly that. The matching shapes and muted tones create harmony, and the hardware pulls the styling together without overpowering the delicate colours and intricate details in the door and surrounding brickwork.

Colour Choice

Don't be afraid of embracing colour. The bright and bold yellow of this door creates a whimsical and welcoming entrance to the property. Adding floral arrangements, ornaments, or wreaths to an entrance door adds charm and personality, and the Polished Chrome doorknob and letterplate match the yellow of the door without getting overshadowed or lost.

Drama and Mystery

Black has been used for entrance doors for hundreds of years and has the power to turn an average looking entrance into a striking and dramatic one. When paired with traditional hardware like the Lion’s Head Knocker in Polished Brass (pictured), a black door is sophisticated choice, bridging the gap between the classic and the contemporary.

Classic Styles

Used for centuries and full of character, a red door is as inviting as it is striking. It is also the perfect backdrop for bringing out the beauty of Aged Brass hardware. Elegant and timeless, a red door with brass hardware is a reliable crowd pleaser, especially for red brick and period properties.

Other Considerations

A door and its hardware are equally important, and both elements need to be beautiful and functional. There are several factors which can affect the finish of some hardware and the longevity of a door itself, and they are important to consider before making any changes. In areas with a lot of sun and heat, a black door may not be an optimal choice; dark colours absorb heat, making the door expand and over time this can lead to shrinkage and cracking. Furthermore, some finishes and patinas degrade more quickly in coastal areas due to the atmospheric conditions. In such areas, we recommend using Polished Brass Unlacquered (PBUL), Polished Chrome (CP), Polished Nickel (PN), or Real Bronze Metal Antique (RBMA); all of which match perfectly with both the ice-cream pastels and the traditional entrance door colours commonly seen by the coast.