How Does an Entry Door Complement a Home's Architectural Style?

The Right Proportions

Whatever the architectural style of your home may be, the front door is the first thing visitors look at. When the entry to your home blends in with the architecture, the entry door itself is a welcoming site. If the entry door is too small or too big, or contradicts the style of your home, visitors will get a sense of discord, and the welcoming feeling you hoped to achieve will be absent.
One of the more important factors to consider is size, or more precisely, proportion. An entry door should reflect the proportions of the facade of your home. When your door reflects the height and width of the facade of your home, the entry way is balanced. The roof and sides of your home lead the eye to the door and the door leads the eye outward.
If the facade of the home is long, as in a rambling ranch, a double door with sidelights will pull the two "wings" of the house together. This is an example of balance.

The Location

Where the front door is located also affects its impact on the overall appeal of your home. Bungalows, for example, will sometimes have the entryway located off to one side. This door needs to be prominent so visitors can more easily determine where the entrance is. But bungalows are often smaller, and their facades limited in size. To compliment the coziness of the bungalow architecture, the door should be small, but paneled and brightly painted.
Most doors are somewhat centered to a home's design. When it's the center of attraction, it needs to be a jewel in the architecture.

The Decorative Elements

A door that reflects the geometric elements of the architecture is more likely to compliment your home. Doors are rectangular; this is part of how they work. But doors can be more than their shape.
Victorian architecture is known for its spires and arched windows. The door of a Victorian home should be tall, with intricately carved scrollwork and curved hardware. An arched transom further compliments the architecture, as do sidelights.
On the other end of the spectrum, a mid-century modern ranch home with its clean lines and understated windows needs a door that reflects the linear and geometric appeal of the home's style. A door with high gloss paint and a frosted window or block glass sidelights would do well for the mid-century architecture.