July 3, 2025

Choosing the perfect timber entrance door can significantly boost the overall appearance and feel of your home. As the main entry point, the front door is often the very first thing guests and those passing by notice, making it a key element in shaping their initial perception of your property.

Whether you’re buying a new front door for a renovation or a new build, it’s essential to consider how it complements the architectural style and exterior design of your home. A well-matched front door builds cohesion with the rest of your property and adds to your home’s curb appeal, helping to make a strong first impression.

From choosing the type of timber, to the colour of the door and the more detailed design choices, such as the hardware, the process can go beyond just a door to customising your entrance door to make an entrance perfect for the character of your home. In this blog, we will address all the above, as well as provide advice on how to maintain your door, explore how timber compares to alternative materials, plus delve into some of the benefits of our timber entrance doors, all to assist you in crafting your ideal timber entrance door.

By carefully aligning your front door choice with the overall style and needs of your home, you can create a lasting impression that’s both stylish and secure. 

Choosing the Right Type of Timber for your Door

When exploring the types of front doors available, choosing materials for your timber doors plays a crucial role in making the correct decision. Four popular options for a timber entrance door are Engineered Redwood, European Oak, Accoya, and Grandis Hardwood. Each offers unique benefits that suit different needs and budgets, making it essential to consider factors like durability, cost, and visual appeal when buying a new front door.

Engineered redwood is a cost-effective, stable option ideal for painted finishes and reliable performance, with a warm reddish appearance. European oak, on the other hand, is prized for its traditional grain and strength, often chosen for its natural beauty and prestige. Accoya is a premium, modified softwood known for its exceptional durability and resistance to weathering through a thorough treatment process, making it ideal for exposed locations. Grandis hardwood offers a smooth, versatile surface that is ideal for both stained and painted finishes, striking a balance between performance and affordability. Your timber choice can also influence the colour of your front door. Some timbers, like European oak, are best showcased with a clear or light stain to highlight their natural grain, while others, like engineered redwood, are perfect for bold paint colours. Whether you’re going for a modern look or a traditional feel, the type of timber you choose will define the style, maintenance needs, and lifespan of your timber entrance door investment.

Designing the Perfect Timber Entrance Door

Opting for Bespoke Timber Entrance Doors

Whether your property is a modern build or a period property, a custom-made timber door allows you to tailor details to your specifications, from dimensions and material to the layout of the panels and the finish. It also gives you freedom in deciding what colour front door best complements your home in the context of the rest of your property, with endless paint and stain options to suit your style. Beyond aesthetics, bespoke timber entrance doors are designed to fit perfectly, improving insulation and security.

It’s all in the detail…

When buying a new front door, incorporating decorative features such as beading, astragal bars, as well as fanlights and sidelights, not only elevates the aesthetic of the timber entrance door, but can also increase natural light and boost property value.

Beading styles are a subtle and powerful way to customise a timber entrance door, adding character and enhancing the bespoke nature of the design, whilst keeping it unique and a representation of your style. Whether you prefer a classic ogee, chamfered, or more contemporary square bead, these details can complement various types of front doors and architectural styles. 

You can also use fanlights and sidelights to enhance the style of your front door, whilst providing an added ventilated glazing element to your entranceway. By complementing the stylish nature of your timber front door with sidelights that line the door vertically, alongside elegant fanlights above the door, the amount of natural light within your house is increased, whilst crucially, these details act as finishing touches to your door and make a truly bespoke piece. 

Another unique detail that can truly brighten up your entrance, whilst being safe and secure, is glazing. If you want your entrance door to be glazed, you can explore a range of glazing options, replicating original designs already in place, or opting for a new design inspired by your preferences and that reflects you and your homes character. Glass can be supplied in coloured, leaded, and stained design options, with or without integral blinds, and can be available in a range of obscure patterns to incorporate a level of privacy if required. At George Barnsdale, our glazing systems allow the window to balance your requirements of matching existing designs and achieving high performance, allowing endless possibilities for you and your glazing options to achieve something just right for you and your front door.    

These elements offer an elegant frame for your entryway and allow you to choose exactly what colour front door fits your home’s style, creating a bespoke finish that is unique to you. 

Choosing the Right Hardware for your Entrance Door

Choosing the right hardware for your timber entrance door is key to achieving both a stylish and unique finish. From classic or modern door handles and high-security locks to elegant knockers and letter plates, hardware options can dramatically influence the look and feel of your front door.

When buying a new front door, determine what colour best enhances and compliments the hardware.

Choosing the Best Colour for your Timber Door

Your front door is the first thing people see, and the right colour can change your home’s kerb appeal, set the tone for your interior and even reflect your personality. At George Barnsdale, we have a wide range of paint and stain options to protect your timber entrance door, all while being sustainable through our four-stage finishing process.

Many people choose timeless colours like blues, greens or classic blacks to match traditional architecture. Others opt for muted greys, off-whites and pastel colours for contemporary homes. Through our colour systems, RAL, NCS and British Standard, you have hundreds of options to choose from. We also offer a bespoke colour matching service if you want to match a specific colour from your windows, façade or interior design.

Colour psychology plays a part in door choice. For example:

  • Red is bold and welcoming, making it a great choice for homes with character.
  • Green is calming and traditional.
  • Blue is trustworthy and secure.
  • Black is sophisticated and elegant.
  • Yellow and light teal are becoming popular for a modern twist.

To give you even more flexibility, we have our dual colour option where you can choose different colours for the inside and outside of your door, so your entrance can make a statement from the street while fitting in with your interior décor.

According to a recent report by Window Base and Tommy Trinder, despite the growth in varying colour options, 72% of timber products are still painted White, with only 15% of them being dual-coloured. But, with the finishing options available to you, the possibilities for creating a front door that is unique to you and your home are endless. 

How do our Timber Entrance Doors Benefit you?

Security Features

At George Barnsdale, we take pride in ensuring our products come with the highest possible security standards. When it comes to our timber entrance doors, they are fitted with robust AV3 multi-point locking systems, providing advanced protection and security to your door. An AV3 secures the frame at multiple points, helping to significantly reduce the risk of break-ins and can be adapted to meet individual customer requirements. We take extensive measures to ensure the highest security performance in our products. Our entrance doors are security tested to PAS24, and they also meet the requirements of Secured by Design and Part Q to ensure they adhere to UK security standards.

Design Choices

We also offer full flexibility in design when it comes to our timber entrance doors. Need to replicate an existing design for your conservation project? Or have a glazing design in mind that you want to bring to life? We can work with you to design a front door that looks great and adheres to the safety and security standards required.

Sustainability Benefits

We take a proactive approach to ensure we protect, conserve and minimise the potential for pollution and environmental impact when manufacturing our timber doors. All our timber is responsibly sourced from certified forests, ensuring minimal environmental impact. Our entrance doors are built for longevity, reducing the need for frequent replacements and lowering overall carbon footprint.  

Keeping your Timber Door Looking its Best

Proper maintenance is key to preserving the beauty and longevity of your timber entrance door, ensuring it continues to perform. Regularly monitor the moisture content of the wood to prevent swelling or warping, and keep the surface clean to minimise algae and dirt build-up, especially in shaded or damp areas.

It’s also important to check that the paint or finish remains in good condition, as this protective layer shields the timber from the elements, an easy task if you’ve chosen a George Barnsdale timber entrance door, with a high-quality coating. Finally, inspect the door for any cracks or signs of wear, addressing them promptly to prevent further damage. 

Through proper maintenance and monitoring, our timber front doors will extend their longevity and life-span, providing maximum cost-efficiency and sustainability, whilst ensuring your timber entrance door stays aesthetically pleasing.  Please refer to our extensive maintenance guide for any further details.