How to choose the right door
Use our guide to find the right statement-making door for you
Exterior doors
From glorious wood and sexy metal to a door painted in a hot hue, here's your choices:
* Wide doors Regular doors are 830mm wide but if your current door has enough room on either side to accommodate a wider frame, 950mm door can make a real impact. Full-height glass side-lights can also help to flood a gloomy hallway with natural light.
* Solid woods Oak used to be a hot favourite, but rich golden Iroko and striking American black walnut are increasingly becoming the popular choice. Jeld-Wen is using engineered woods for added strength and security, and Urban Front’s solid wood doors have a steel reinforced core to prevent warping.
* Simplicity ‘A modern door can create a cool contrast, even on a Victorian or Edwardian home,’ says Nabil Assaf, of Urban Front. ‘Concealed hinges and subtle stainless-steel inlays help keep the look modern but minimal.’
* Pivot doors ‘Bespoke pivot doors are popular as they can be made wider than they are tall,’ says Mark Dyson of Enclosure Architects. ‘There is no “bending moment” when the door opens, which takes the strain off hinges, so pivot doors can be made up to 4m wide.’
PAINTED DOORS
For red-brick and Georgian houses, Farrow & Ball’s director Sarah Cole suggests using Black Blue (£44.99 per 2.5l) – it’s neither truly black nor blue and gives a smart look. Midnight Blue is elegant on a white-fronted period house.
For something classic, green or grey works well; go for gloss on a townhouse or matt in the countryside (Carriage Green, Studio Green and Off-Black are currently Farrow & Ball’s most popular shades.) ‘For more complex colours, deeper tones work better on front doors,’ suggests Louise Smith, colour and design manager at Dulux. ‘My favourites are Cocoa Blush 1 or Maraschino Mocha 1 for a decadent look and Tarragon Glory 5 or Red Stallion 4 (£16.99 for 2.5l) for a more intense look.’
Chosen by House to home
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