Should your front door have a window? It’s a question as old as time itself. Or as old as doors, maybe. At the very least, it’s a question as old as windows. There are a few factors to consider: the durability of a door with windows, the amount of privacy you may be sacrificing with a window, and how a window will affect the lighting in your foyer. On top of that, there’s the question of style: should a front door have a window at all, and if so, what shape is the window? How many windows? Could the entire door, perhaps, be a window? Here at ETO Doors, we want our customers to make the most informed purchase they can, so let’s go over some things everyone should consider when deciding whether they want their front entryway door to have a window or not.
Security and Durability
One of the most important qualities of a front entryway door is durability. A solid, strong door — a door with fortitude — is important if you value a sense of security. Safe to say, most of us do. Not only does a solid, durable door protect you and your valuables from anyone with ill intent, but it protects from the normal, typical threats of the outside world as well. Inclement weather and all its associated hazards, stray baseballs, and confused birds stand no chance against a solid core wood door. With a window, you might see some different results.
Introducing glass to the mix means you might suffer a bit more from the elements. Hail stones or debris tossed about by tropical storm winds may leave some nasty dings in your pretty wood door, but a shattered window will leave you with even more to worry about. And in the event of a break-in attempt, thieves usually have an easier time getting through glass than solid wood or other materials. Of course, not all door windows are made equal, with some less conducive to the threat of burglary than others. Rest assured, our doors are the most secure and sturdy on the market, glass or not, and at ETO, we offer windowed front doors with decorative iron grills, a great option for those looking for a windowed door with a little added security.
Natural Light
Now that we’ve addressed some possible cons, let’s talk about something that many of us would consider a major pro: light. A front door window will allow natural light into your entryway and foyer, brightening up the space. Those who have lived in homes or apartments with few windows can confirm — a lack of natural light can feel downright dim. What’s better than getting a taste of that sunlight before you even get to walk outside?
The amount of natural light your door lets in depends on a few things. The shape and size of your window matters, with smaller windows — like those usually seen toward the top of front doors — letting in a bit more light than the massive windows that can cover most of a front door’s area. The type of glass used is also important. While perfectly clear glass will let in direct natural light, frosted glass, which has a matte texture and isn’t easy to see through, will diffuse natural light, resulting in more even and comprehensive lighting in the interior space. For the maximum effect, top-to-bottom frosted glass is ideal, and certainly makes an impression.
Privacy
Windows go two ways. It’s really great to see what’s going on outside your front door. Any visitors can be identified. Any goings on in the neighborhood are in view. And, from a security standpoint, what a window sacrifices in physical durability, it makes up for in its potential for warding off would-be home invaders and other hooligans who generally wish to go unseen. Of course, you might worry that if you can see out, anyone outside can see in.
We’re really proud of our windowed doors here at ETO, so we want to be clear: you don’t have to give up your privacy in order to have a door with glass. The most obvious solution is the aforementioned frosted glass. Not only is frosted glass striking, as you’ll notice in modern design examples like our Moderno door, but it’s essentially opaque. It lets just enough light in for some desirable atmosphere, and just enough out to let people know you’re home in the evening. Does frosted glass count as a window? We’d like to think so, but we’re open for debate.
If a transparent window is still your desire, but you still want the potential for absolute privacy, it’s not difficult to mount curtains or blinds on the inside of a wooden door, allowing you to invite the sun inside during the day, and shut out the world at night.
Styles
Windowed front doors come in many different styles, and anyone should be able to find one that suits their taste and needs. We have several windowed wood doors in a variety of styles, and those looking for a modern chic look or a classic large window with a decorative iron grill should feel especially well served. Our windowed doors come in all common door dimensions, and we even offer double doors and dutch doors with window options.
Just like the rest of our offerings, we use quality mahogany, alder, fir, or walnut, as well as more affordable composites, in the construction of our doors, with gorgeous wood stains available as well.
