Everyday we enter and exit our homes four to five hundred times through doors that make an impactful statement about us and prevent unwanted intruders from breaking in. But these door can do much more than that: they also serve practical functions preventing intrusions on our properties and adding style.
Wooden doors have traditionally been the first material of choice in most cases, but plastic and aluminium doors are becoming more and more popular, to the extent that they could soon overtake wooden doors. Two reasons can account for this trend. Firstly, plastic and aluminium doors are cheaper than wooden ones. Wooden doors are made of natural material, which cannot completely meet the requirements of all climate zones. Plastic doors are a mixture of materials in each zone; therefore, plastic doors are suitable for any region. Secondly, unlike wooden doors, plastic and aluminium doors are easy to take care of. Works can be done only once or twice a year. In the worst case, we can simply buy another plastic or aluminium door. In conclusion, plastic and aluminium doors could very soon become the new standard because they are cheaper and easier to maintain.
Origins
Of all the features one can come up with for a house, doors are perhaps the most complex. They are a physical embodiment of social norms and values. They keep intruders away. They help space such as different zones with different functions to be divided into subzones, and ventilation drafts and noise are kept out; some of them are fire barriers, too.
For millennia, we have seen ancient Egyptian doors as extremely stylised, symbolic signs of wealth and status – not to mention providing access into the afterlife.
As the eras evolved along with man, door design transformed prior to settling in on the design movements we see presently. The homeowner of today may still have a plethora of doors and entrances to choose from, so a desire to create a dreary, stone entrance and embrace minimalism could result in a wooden or fibreglass door; a door of steel, iron and glass for the classic modern look; or perhaps a combination of all four for an ultimate statement; a bold use of colour; or an abundance of sleek metallic hardware.
Materials
From the ornate door carving of Egyptian tombs to the sleek cottage doors of today, design and invention have significantly shaped home door design. Door design continues to be enriched by creative imagination and technological innovation in recent years. Sustainability, smart technology, and style-customisation have enormously revolutionised the door designs.
With the increasing variety of available modern materials for doors, such as uPVC or composite, aesthetic concessions are no longer necessary, allowing doors to be stained or painted, glazed or have double-glazing to enhance their energy efficiency. Panelling adds visual interest, splitting up an otherwise plain unit and helping to recede it.
The hardware (knockers, handles, locks, latches, hinges, and so on) contributes to it, too. These days, particularly as consumers become more concerned with ethical issues in trade and industry, many homeowners are specifying FSC certified timber for their doors, both new and replacement. Other possibilities include beingvel (a variant on rebating), etching, staining and more. However they are made and whatever is done to them, doors are the essential elements that define one side of your home from the other; the inexorable sinews that run through that body making it the tangible, beautiful thing that it is – the welcoming place where you live. They aren’t just stylish: they’re your style.
Styles
Named for the classic door style they can enhance, traditional doors would be at home in many different architectural styles and they lend a traditional look – an elegant timelessness that you can further accentuate by using colour, making your frame choice and other features such as large glass panels to allow in plenty of natural light.
The separate top halves, which open independently from Dutch doors, add architectural interest and complete many exterior architectural styles while arched doors with rounded top edges add architectural appeal and compliment many different exterior architectural styles whether traditional or contemporary styles. Dutch doors, in addition to adding charming character to many homes, are simply timeless further complementing the charm and character to many homes as well.
They carve a design into them if they want that kind of decoration on their home. In contrast, contemporary styling tends to be simple rather than decorative. These modern-style decorations may still be available, but will not be as warm nor as energy efficient as those modern fibreglass doors. Modern fibreglass doors provide homeowners with the best of both worlds. They can have designs carved into them so that they are decorative, yet they won’t sacrifice energy efficiency when they do that. The same materials and processes that make them energy efficient also make them strong and durable.
Functionality
Over time, doors have served as a way to safely keep out intruders and separate one space from another; they also provide status/wealth signals; they mark the way into the home at funerals; they are a sign to head into the home; they are markers placed along the funeral route; and now are an outlet to display our individual flair – now we decorate them our way.
With the rise of minimalism and technology, the door designs in modern times pay more attention to the feature of biometric security and practicality. The emergence of the smart lock, which uses one’s fingerprint or face for biometric security and allows access without the need for keys, has become the favourite among homeowners who seek better safety without adding any ornament to their doors.
Doors can make a great first impression on your guests or visitors and provide an essential first impression for homeowners and their returning guests. A variety of styles enables homeowners to find a style that fits their home and their style – from classic to modern, there is surely one to be found.