What are sidelights?
The front entrance of your home creates the initial impression for visitors and is the most prominent feature visible from the street. Whether you’re building a new home or undertaking major renovations, you’ll want to design an entryway that stands out while reflecting the style of both the house and its occupants.
To achieve the entryway you envision, many factors can be considered. These include the placement of the door, the overall design of the entryway, the type of glass patterns, door color, and the arrangement of windows—all of which contribute to the overall look and feel of your front entrance.
One additional feature you can incorporate is sidelights. In this article, we’ll explain what sidelights are, the advantages they offer for your front entryway, and the best glass styles and patterns to enhance your home’s architectural design.
What is a Sidelight?
A sidelight is a narrow, vertical window positioned alongside a door. They typically come in pairs, with one on each side of a front door. Although sidelights can also be placed next to side doors, back doors, or large windows, they are most commonly found at the main entrance of a home. Sidelights are often paired with transom windows, which are installed above the door.You have likely seen sidelights before, even if you didn’t know their name. They offer numerous benefits to homeowners, adding visual appeal and a distinctive touch to front entryways. Additionally, sidelights are becoming increasingly popular, making them a smart choice for those looking to enhance their home’s value.
Advantages of Installing Sidelights
Sidelights make a wonderful enhancement to homes of any design. They offer numerous advantages for a front entrance, combining to create an inviting space for guests and adding appealing visual detail to the exterior of your home.
Daylight
Sidelights let natural light enter a home through openings beyond just the door itself. Although they can be designed to match the size of a Craftsman, half-view, or three-quarter-view door glass, sidelights are often the full height of the door, allowing even more light to flow inside than typical door glass or windows. This brings warmth and brightness into the home, making the entire space feel more open and spacious. Additionally, increasing the amount of natural light reduces the need for artificial lighting, helping to lower energy costs.
Expanded Entryways
Doors usually come in standard dimensions designed to fit most entryways. However, these standard sizes can sometimes feel cramped or narrow in certain entryway layouts. Adding sidelights, particularly when they match the door's style, enhances the overall appearance of the entrance, making it look larger and more attractive from the outside. The appropriate sidelight arrangement can create the illusion of nearly doubling the size of the entryway.
Improved Visibility
Sidelights provide an excellent way to glance outside at the front yard without having to open the door. They serve as an ideal window for pets or children to look out safely without compromising security. Additionally, sidelights offer clearer, unobstructed views of your landscaping or the scenery from the front porch.
Confidentiality & Safety
When sidelights are made with decorative privacy glass, they continue to let in plenty of light and brightness, maintaining their attractive appeal without compromising privacy. Glass styles such as Swirl and Chinchilla add visual interest while preventing outsiders and passersby from seeing inside your home.
Enhanced Appearance
In general, sidelights offer a significant visual enhancement to homes. They create entryways that appear elegant and open, while allowing additional natural light in and ensuring privacy. Suitable for almost any architectural style or home design, sidelights bring added character and distinctiveness to a standard front entrance.
