Why Door Sidelites Are Perfect For Your Next Door Project

Choosing the Right Sidelite Color, Style & Material

• Color

  When picking a sidelite color, you will either want to match the door or the trim of the home. If you have more of a traditional door, such as woodgrain, black or white, you can go either way. If you have a door that is an unusual color, such as bright blues and greens, it’s typically a better choice to match the trim of the home.

• Style

  Style is a personal choice, but there are a few guidelines to take with sidelites. Usually, you will want to match the shape of the sidelites to that of your windows to create a clean and uniform look for your home. For houses that are more symmetric, you don’t want the sidelites to be disruptive unless you’re going for that type of look with your door. To help them stand out further, sidelites should frame the door in the same way a frame borders a window.

  Another style element is choosing if you want sidelites to the left, right or top of your door. For double-doors, homeowners sometimes opt for just a top sidelite, also known as a transom window, since the door is already quite wide. In situations with narrow doors, they may go for sidelites on each side to give the door a bigger, grander appearance. If you’re really getting creative, you can try out only having a sidelite on one side of your door.

• Materials

  Sidelite materials will vary based on the style you’re going for with your home. Usually, sidelites will match materials with either the door or the trim of the home. Materials used do impact energy efficiency. Wooden doors and sidelites are traditionally better insulators than steel and fiberglass. Window choice also factors into energy efficiency.

Cost

Sometimes there’s no getting around the fact that sidelites increase the cost of a door project. These costs can be further inflated if you need custom fitting or door frame work. The good news is you can offset this cost by making efficient choices in other areas of your project. For example, if you’re set on sidelites you can go for a cheaper, less ornate door. As a good rule of thumb, keep your budget in mind and try to find good compromises between cost and quality.