The front entryway of your home is the first impression new visitors will have and the most noticeable feature from the sidewalk. If you are planning a new build or are doing serious renovations, you’ll want to create a front entryway that stands out and fits into the style of the house and the people in it.
In order to create the entryway of your dreams, there are many different elements that can be taken into consideration. The placement of the doorway, the style of entryway, the pattern of glass, the color of the door, and the arrangement of windows all are examples of attributes that play into the overall impression you build in a front entryway.
Another element that you can play with is sidelights. In this post we’ll go over what exactly a sidelight is, what benefits it can bring to your front entryway, and the best styles and patterns of glass that can complement your home’s architectural style
What is a Sidelight?
A sidelight is a thin, vertical window that flanks a door. Sidelights often come in pairs, one on each side of a front door. While sidelights can also go around side doors, back doors, and even large windows, they are most commonly found at the front entrance of a home. Sidelights are often used in conjunction with transom windows, which are windows that go above the door.
You’ve certainly seen sidelights before, even if you weren’t quite sure what they were called. They have many different benefits to homeowners, and add a lot of visual interest and uniqueness to front entryways. Sidelights also are rising in popularity, making them great choices for homeowners who want to build equity in their house.
Benefits of Having Sidelights
Sidelights are a great addition to any style home. There are a wide variety of benefits that they can bring to a front entryway, all of which work together to create a special place to welcome in new visitors and create visual interest to the front of your home.
Natural Light
Sidelights allow natural light to come into a home through more than just the door. While they can match the size of a Craftsman, half-view or three quarters-view doorlight, sidelights are often the full length of the door and allow even more light in than doorglass and windows typically will. That allows warmth and brightness to come into a home and make the entire house seem brighter and bigger. And the more natural light that can come in a home, the less you spend on lighting and energy bills.
Bigger Entryways
Doors typically come in a standard size that will fit in most entryways. However, these standard sizes can seem small and tight in certain entryway configurations. Sidelights, especially when done in matching styles to a door, make the entire entrance look bigger and have more curb appeal. The right sidelight combination can make the entryway almost seem to double in size.
Better Views
Sidelights are great for peeking out at the front yard without needing to open a door. They also are the perfect window for furry friends or children to be able to see outside without needing to open the door or risk security. In addition, they give more unobstructed views to your landscaping or view from the front porch.
Privacy & Security
When sidelights are built with decorative privacy glass they still allow in all the light and brightness that make them so appealing without sacrificing on privacy. Privacy glass and glass patterns like Swirl and Chinchilla still provide interest while stopping outsiders and passerby from looking into your home.
Improved Aesthetics
Overall, sidelights provide an incredible aesthetic benefit to homes. They make entryways feel luxurious and spacious while providing extra light and maintaining high levels of privacy. Sidelights can fit into nearly every architectural style and house design, and add more interest and uniqueness to the typical front entryway.
What Types of Glass Can Go In Sidelights?
Sidelights have a wide variety of glass options that can be used. While they can be clear, many homeowners want the glass to have a pattern that adds to the value of the home. For example, a sidelight in an Art Deco styled house might use a pattern like Timber to play on the firm lines and angles in the Art Deco architectural style.
For homeowners who have privacy on the forefront of their minds, then decorative privacy glass can be a great option. This still allows a homeowner to pick a pattern that appeals to them while still maintaining privacy and security. To see our decorative privacy glass options, click on the link below.
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