The Dated Front Door Style That's Keeping Your Home Stuck In The 90s

If windows are the eyes to the house, then the front door is the warm hug that welcomes guests with its embrace. You might flip through magazine pages or admire show-stopping front door design ideas from your favorite HGTV stars, then turn to your own porch and wonder, "What gives?" Even if you repaint and reorganize, something might still feel off about your front porch. If you're still searching around for an answer, maybe it's that rounded front door glass! Oval lite doors were extremely popular decades ago, but today, they can really date a home and drag down its curb appeal. "From my experience over the years designing exterior remodels, there is one update that packs a HUGE punch when it comes to instantly transforming the exterior of [a] home, and that's replacing a front door that's dated or not the right style for the home," says interior designer Cyndy Aldred (via The Creativity Exchange).

While there's nothing wrong with these old front doors, getting rid of that dated oval lite design can instantly transform your front entryway and help you achieve a more sleek, modern look. If your own design goals aren't enough to motivate you, a fresh front door could also be the key to motivating future home buyers. Here's why modern folks are ditching the oval front doors and alternatives you can use to freshen your front porch.

This door design became widely popular in the 1990s, but you wouldn't be likely find it on any modern new builds today. Oval lite doors likely became popular because the unique design, textured glass element, and sometimes ornate details felt special to consumers at the time. This glass allowed some light to enter the space while also allowing a modicum of privacy. Eventually, these doors became so popular that it felt like everyone and their neighbor had one, so they lost their original charm.  

Today, the oval lite front door is considered an extremely dated look and not the door style that should be facing the curb if you want to make a good first impression. Some people might still like that their oval glass front door allows natural light to flood in, but the textured — and sometimes even frosted — glass panel adds fuzzy light at best and makes the home feel even more dated. While rounded and oval shapes in general can still fit into modern interior design, an oval window is not the most efficient for letting in natural light, with a narrow top and bottom that squeeze out the sunlight. This combination of factors can lead to a home that's not just dated and dingy to you but also less appealing to potential home buyers. 

You don't have to break the bank to revamp your home's exterior. Cyndy Aldred writes on her website, The Creativity Exchange, "Solid fiberglass doors are now more widely available and there are a lot more mass producers of doors of all materials than ever before. Solid fiberglass is usually less expensive and can look just like solid wood when painted." If ovals are out, what front door style is in? Well, smooth and clear or opaque glass panels are the types of exterior doors that experts recommend to amp up your curb appeal. A solid door with a narrow sidelight window or a door with rectangular glass is much better at providing that bright, fresh look. Try a glass door with one large sheet of opaque glass for a super modern, urban look or a grid-style front door for a more traditional, cottage-like appeal. 

If you're stuck with an old oval lite front door, there are plenty of other creative ways to give your front entry a much-needed refresh. Consider some unconventional colors to paint your front door or try a window cling or faux stained glass to cover the dated oval design. For a more dramatic transformation, upcycle the old door by cutting out a rectangle around the oval portion and inserting a fiberglass façade. In the end, it's okay if you must keep your oval door, as vintage trends tend to make a comeback eventually!