Take it from us: Updated doors offer a number of benefits, ranging from better insulation to stylish home design. However, replacing all the doors in your house can feel like a huge undertaking — and not to mention a significant investment. But which should take precedence: form or function? The good news is that you don’t have to do it all at once!
Avoid overwhelm by prioritizing your door replacements in order of importance. To decide where you should begin your door updates, ask yourself the following questions:
Which doors are most important?
The answer here will depend on your home’s layout, but a pretty safe bet across the board is that any door that insulates your house is a top priority. Exterior doors protect you from the weather and unwelcome guests, and so making sure those are in tip-top shape should be your first stop.
In addition to keeping out rain and wind, exterior doors help keep your heat (or air conditioning) in. You’d be surprised how much wasted heat seeps through an old or poorly fitting door! The proof will show up on your energy bill each month.
RELATED READ: 6 Easy Ways to Increase Energy Efficiency In Your Home
Which doors make a difference from a design perspective?
Get more bang for your buck by first upgrading the doors that will enhance the overall aesthetic of your home. Doors can add style and personality both inside and outside, so choose the areas that tend to get a lot of eyeballs on them.
Your front door is an obvious example of this, as it can make or break your entire curb appeal! Adding an interesting sliding barn door to a downstairs dining room or home office can also pack a big design punch. Replacing a solid door for glass? French doors can open up an entire room. The point here is to zoom out and consider the overall design appeal as well as functionality when making your decision on which doors to replace first.
RELATED READ: 5 Timeless Perks of French Doors
Which doors will make the biggest immediate impact?
One way to assess a door’s overall effect is to pretend you’re a guest arriving at your house. Walk up the driveway, use the powder room, sit in the living room and take it all in as if it were the first time. What do you notice first? Maybe it’s the side door used upon entrance; maybe it’s the door leading to the screened porch.
Remember that upgrading smaller doors can still make a profound difference in your day-to-day life. A pantry door may seem insignificant at first, but think about how much time you spend in your kitchen! The same holds true for primary bedroom closets and laundry rooms. High-touch areas should be high on your list of priorities.
Hopefully, this list has given you the jumping-off point you need to start listing the priorities on your door replacement list. After you’ve made your list, go ahead and find a style you love!
