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Are your buyers seeing double? In many people’s minds, double front doors represent elegance and prestige. Perhaps it’s the idea of a grand entrance that they’ve seen in the likes of the Biltmore Estate or the White House.

I’ll admit, these “houses” make a fairly convincing case for double doors… But should these grand and formal double doors still be used in our (much) smaller, less formal homes? I believe that, in most circumstances, double doors just aren’t worth the hassle. After reading what you may have to give up for these doors, you may find yourself agreeing. Let’s explore.

Formal vs Informal

Today’s plans focus more on informal spaces, where most buyers actually live in their houses, instead of the formal spaces that rarely saw use in the past. The formal foyer is one of those spaces that are used less frequently. The issue isn’t so much the doors themselves, but rather what you might be sacrificing by specifying them. How badly do you want those wider double doors? Enough to sacrifice precious square footage from the rest of the house?

Double doors require adding width to the foyer; anywhere from eighteen inches to three feet. Now multiply that by the length of the foyer and you could be taking up an additional 100 square feet. Not a big deal in the 175,000 square foot Biltmore Estate, but when working with a limited footprint, this could be a deal-breaker.

Instead, we focus a great deal on the informal entry into the home – the one from the garage into the home. This entry is used throughout the day – every day and by every family member. We deliberately avoid entering through the laundry room. While doing so would cut down on square footage, it would also take away the sense of arrival. We believe coming home is a special event – whether from a crazy day at school, fighting 5 o’clock traffic, from deployment overseas and everything in between. If we can create an entry that eases the stress of the outside world, that’s far preferable to walking into a cluttered and noisy laundry room.

Practicality

When the front door is used, typically only one door is opened. In fact, opening that second door tends to be a bit cumbersome (unpinning it from the top and bottom) and not the glamorous entry that we envision. Guests who are unfamiliar with the home never know which door is the operable door and which one is fixed – making the entry slightly awkward. No such issues with one elegant single door!

Security

Double doors are inherently less secure, as one door is tied to a “pinned” door vs. the structure of the house. In a high wind zone, these doors need to swing out to minimize water intrusion from windblown rain.

 Alternatives to Double Doors

If your buyers are still looking for more drama and uniqueness for the front door, there are many options available in addition to the aforementioned sidelights and transoms. For starters, you can use a 42” wide front door. This is especially prevalent in Arts and Craft style elevations. The generous size gives you all the grandness without sacrificing security or ease of operation. You can add glass to the door – clear, patterned or opaque.

Still want more drama? How about an arched topped door – whether pointed elliptical or half round? Did I just hear a collective groan from purchasing agents reading this now? But before you let your imagination run wild with front door selections, consider what specialty door complements the architectural style of the home.

Front doors are our first impression of the home, so we recognize the importance of getting this critical design element right. I would love to hear from you, our readers, and your thoughts on double doors. Are your buyers requesting them? Do you offer them? Do you love them or hate them? Am I off my rocker? Feel free to disagree with me!