Why Choose an Entry Door With Side Lights

Don’t underestimate the impact your front door has on your home’s curb appeal. It is, after all, the first thing guests or prospective buyers will see when they enter your home. If you want to add a bit more flair to your exterior, you might want to consider installing an entry door with sidelights.


Sidelights are narrow vertical windows that are installed on both sides of an entry door. What are the advantages of installing one?

Improved Natural Lighting

Adding sidelights helps indoor natural lighting. Combined with natural sunlight from a vinyl window installation, sidelights can help brighten the mood inside your home and give the illusion of a larger interior.

Seeing Who’s Outside Without Having to Look Through the Peephole

The viewing angle from a traditional peephole is awkward, at times making it difficult to tell who’s at the door. But, if you have sidelights installed, you can simply lean sideways to see who’s at the door.

Choosing a Door Style

Remember: when it comes to exterior design, consistency is key, which is why your front door’s design should complement the other parts of your exterior.


Here’s an overview of the most popular entry door styles:


  • Traditional doors – Sidelights are usually paired with traditional doors, which raised panels and patterns.
  • Craftsmen doors – As the name suggests, this front door is found in Craftsman homes, which emphasize simplicity. However, Craftsmen doors are also quite versatile, as they complement a wide variety of architectural styles.
  • Modern doors – Modern doors feature one large panel of glass or a few small panels in the center of the frame


Don’t forget to choose a door frame material that can handle your area’s climate. The same rule applies when choosing a vinyl siding installation.


Here’s a tip: to find out which door frame materials are best suited to your area’s climate, consult a local contractor. Since they’re familiar with the local climate and building codes, they can make better recommendations.


Timberland™ Exteriors, an A%20-rated contractor with the Better Business Bureau®, offers professional exterior services, including siding replacement and storm damage restoration services. To get a free estimate, call us at these numbers: 651-439-1760, 218-849-6675. You can also leave us a message here. We serve homeowners in Detroit Lakes, MN, as well as the surrounding communities in Minnesota.

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