Dutch Door

Adding a Dutch door to your home’s entry will bring instant personality, historic charm, and can even help create better airflow. What’s not to love? We’re also sharing our Dutch door hardware sources and so much more.

You’ll find all the details right here! We’re covering the history of these doors, which modern upgrades to look for, and the pros and cons of adding this timeless door style to your home.

The front door is your home’s first chance to make a lasting impression. It should make a statement! One of the easiest ways to add curb appeal to your home is a Dutch door! It adds so much charm and feels inviting.

This charming type of door is the best of both worlds. Opening the top allows fresh air to pass through without bustling leaves and debris entering your home. It feels warm and welcoming.

I love sharing about the small details that make a house feel like a home. Don’t skip these posts: Brass Door Knobs, Exterior Copper Lanterns, and Exterior Door Handles.

Curious about the lake cottage behind this cute dutch door? Stop by for the full before and after tour and get all my favorite lake house decor ideas! You can also find my favorite Year Round Front Door Wreaths here.

Use the drop down Table of Contents menu to easily navigate this post.

What is a Dutch Door?

A Dutch door, (also known as half or split doors) is simply a door that is split in half. It has a split personality – it’s open and inviting on the top while protective and private on the bottom. When connecting hardware is locked, the two pieces function as a single, solid door.

These doors were designed in the Netherlands in the 17th century to keep animals out and children in. Dutch settlers brought this charming style to the United States in rural homes of New York and New Jersey.

While this door is deeply rooted in history, it adds a lot of function to modern homes.

Exterior dutch doors are ideal for entry, side and back doors. They can be really practical allowing a fresh breeze and rays of sunshine to wander in, while keeping children and pets inside and debris like leaves, outside.

It’s a functional and beautiful baby gate! They also allow you to interact with delivery men and woman without worrying about letting animals escape.

They can be used in greenhouses or garden sheds to keep animals and rodents out while allowing a nice breeze to come through.

An interior Dutch door is perfect for spaces you want to deter children and pets from entering, but want to remain open to allow light to pass through or to simply making the space appear larger. They work well for a laundry room, mudroom or office.

Solid wood installations are best for interior use or covered exterior installations because wood expands and contracts with weather.

Dutch doors are often custom made-to-order, and range widely in price and quality of materials.

The interior of our door is painted in Benjamin Moore Silver Gray – it’s the prettiest soft blue gray paint color.

Dutch Door Pros and Cons

Like any feature in your home, it’s important to consider the good, the bad and the ugly before making an investment.

Pros

• Adds charm
• Creates a welcoming entry
• Adds a historic element to any age of home
• Adds value to your home
• Brings more light into your home
• Keeps pets inside and unwanted creatures out

Cons

• Bugs can be a concern. We tend to open it during the day time where bugs are minimal. If bugs are an issue in your area, you can certainly pair it with a screen door.
• Because they have more hardware, they are more susceptible to maintenance issues.
• There can be issues with insulation and warping because the weight of the door can cause balance issues, because the door openings can create gaps around the frame.

Frequently Asked Questions

Of course, the type of door you’re using and the shape and style of the door will matter. For more details on turning your front door into a Dutch style, check out this comprehensive tutorial, and this one is excellent for an interior Dutch door.

• Door Bolt (12 finishes available)
• Keyed Round Lifetime Brass Knob with Rectangular Rosette 
• Hinges
• Deadbolt (used on upper half)

We chose polished brass for the hardware on our door shown throughout this post!

Where to Find Dutch Doors

Unfortunately, while we wanted to love our custom made door, we can’t recommend the manufacturer due to a few issues. However, here are a few places to begin your search!

• Find a selection of exterior Dutch doors here.
• Check with your local door businesses and support local!
• Find an artisan woodworker to custom make one to your specs here.

Would you consider a dutch door to create a welcoming entry? I’d love to hear from you!

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