Selecting a new exterior door is one of the most exciting home improvement projects – in addition to providing security, the right entrance door can make or break “curb appeal” and can instantly update the look of your home.
Your entrance doors play a critical role in preserving the security and privacy of your home. Doors need to be able to withstand extreme weather and the external environment, while protecting against intruders and unwanted pests.
Of course, your doors should also complement and enhance the overall look of your home. The right front door can even serve as a statement piece and conversation starter!
Below are several of the hottest exterior door trends for 2020, which strike the perfect balance of style and functionality.
1. Bright, Fresh Colors
Statement doors have been around for a while, with many homeowners opting for colors like bright teal or dramatic red. In 2019 it was all about towards dark, moody colors, but in 2020 the trend is towards brighter colors. The best part? It’s easy to update the color of your front door and boost your curb appeal with a simple application of paint!
Turquoise, aqua, bold reds and yellows are all beautiful shades that will give your home an elegant, modern appearance. Pairing a darker front door with a neutral-colored home makes for an especially appealing contrast.
Repainting your exterior doors is a cost-effective way to give your home a colorful facelift, without needing to fully replace the doors.
2. Affordable Alternatives to Wood
Wood is a classic choice for exterior doors, but it is also by far the most expensive material and requires the most maintenance. That’s why many homeowners are transitioning to fiberglass and steel doors in 2020.
Fiberglass is a durable material that combines value with function and performance. These doors can be painted or stained to resemble solid wood, but at a much more affordable price point. They require very little maintenance and their color can easily be changed.
Steel is another popular material for doors that provides excellent security and energy efficiency. Like fiberglass, it is a strong material that is also very affordable for homeowners.
One common type of exterior door has a steel skin with a polyurethane foam insulation core. If installed correctly, this type of door needs no further weatherstripping.
Looking for a more upscale option? Full metal doors in black steel, copper or stainless steel, and wood doors with steel trim are an emerging 2020 trend.
3. Full-Glass Doors
Full-glass exterior doors are skyrocketing in popularity this year. This trend allows for light-filled homes with beautiful views of the outdoors, while opening up interior rooms to any outdoor living spaces, such as a backyard patio.
That said, homeowners should keep in mind that full glass entrance doors are not necessarily the most secure or energy-efficient options. Glass is a poor insulator, which means that it loses heat more quickly than other materials.
When shopping for a glass front door, look for models with several layers of glass, low-emissivity coatings, and low-conductivity gases between the glass panes. Over the long run, the additional cost of these models is paid back many times over in energy savings.
Additionally, keep in mind that swinging doors offer a much tighter seal than sliding types. With a sliding glass door, it is impossible to prevent 100% of the air leakage around the weatherstripping, which is why choosing the most energy-efficient model possible is so important.
If you love the glass trend but security and energy efficiency are major concerns, you can also opt for a door that incorporates glass features, rather than a full-glass door.
4. Eye-Catching Hardware
Changing up the look of your exterior doors doesn’t have to mean completely replacing them! If you are looking for a way to refresh the look of your home without spending a fortune, swapping out your doors’ existing hardware for something new can make a surprisingly big impact.
Upscale metallic details are a hot trend for 2020, and your front door is a great place to showcase your unique design style. Brushed metal, steel and champagne bronze are three trending options for door knockers, knobs and levers.
5. Increased Security
While it may not be a design trend per se, there’s no denying that security is a growing concern among homeowners in 2020. Americans are spending more than ever before on home security systems and cameras, but revamping your exterior doors is probably the best place to start.
Choosing the right door materials is an important step to boosting the security of your home, but ultimately your exterior doors are only as secure as their locks. Each of our door varieties includes appropriate locking mechanisms to protect your home, such as six pin locks and strike-resistant deadbolt plates.
Our Door Installations
Unique Home Solutions can help you select the perfect door for your home and implement any of the hottest door trends for 2020. Our expert in-house installers have been delivering high-quality craftsmanship at reasonable prices for more than three decades.
Here’s what you can expect from our door installation process:
- Most new doors come with a pre-hung frame, usually in wood or steel. The existing door frame will need to be removed from the rough opening before the prehung door is installed.
- The door frame must be as square as possible, so that the door seals tightly to the jamb and swings properly.
- Before adding interior trim, an expanding foam caulking should be applied to seal the new door frame to the rough opening and threshold. This will help prevent air from getting around the door seals and into the house.
- If needed, weatherstripping should be added to further insulate your home. Check the weatherstripping on your exterior doors annually to see if it needs replacement.