Choosing among French door styles is one of the easiest ways to bring more light, character, and flow into your home. Their classic look works with almost any architecture, from older Murray bungalows to newer builds. If you’re shopping for replacement doors for your home, here’s how to choose the right French door for each space.
What Makes a Door a French Door
A French door is a door with glass panes running most or all of its length, set in a frame of wood, fiberglass, steel, or vinyl. They’re most often installed in pairs that open from the center, though single French doors with glass sidelites are also common. In a hinged pair, one door is usually the active door you use every day, while the other stays bolted in place until you need the full opening.
Hinged French Door Styles In-Swing Doors
In-swing French doors open into the room. They’re the most common choice for exterior openings in the US because the hinges sit inside, out of reach of intruders. The trade-off is that you need clear floor space inside for the doors to swing, which can limit furniture placement.
Out-Swing Doors
Out-swing doors open toward the patio or deck, saving interior space. Wind pressure pushes them tighter against their seals, which can help in exposed locations. Because the hinges are on the outside, they need security hinges with non-removable pins.
Either way, the doors must be perfectly plumb and square to swing and seal properly, which is why professional door installation matters so much with French doors.
Sliding French Doors
Sliding French doors give you the look of a traditional French door, with wide stiles and rails, while one panel glides past the other instead of swinging. They’re a smart choice where there’s no room for a door swing, and they’re one of several sliding patio door options worth comparing for backyard openings.
Glass and Grille Styles
The glass pattern does the most to define a French door’s style:
- Full-lite: One large pane per door for maximum light and an open, modern look.
- Divided lite: A grid of smaller panes for a traditional or Colonial feel.
- Prairie: A large center pane bordered by narrow panes around the edges, inspired by Prairie-style architecture.
- Craftsman: Glass in the upper portion, often with small divided lites across the top, for a look that complements Craftsman homes.
Grilles can be true divided lites, simulated divided lites applied to the glass, or grilles sealed between the panes, which makes cleaning much easier.
Exterior French Doors in Murray’s Climate
Exterior French doors have a lot of glass, so performance matters in a climate with cold winters and hot, sunny summers. Look for insulated Low-E glass, quality weatherstripping, and multipoint locks that secure the door at several points along the frame. ENERGY STAR rated exterior doors are tested to meet efficiency criteria for your climate.
Interior French Doors
Inside the home, French doors can separate a home office, dining room, or den while keeping the space bright and connected. Frosted or textured glass adds privacy without blocking light, which works well for offices and bedrooms.
Choosing the Right French Door Styles for Your Home
Start with the space: how much room you have for a swing, how much light you want, and whether the door leads outside or between rooms. Then pick the glass pattern that suits your home’s architecture. With the right French door styles, you get a door that looks great and works the way you live.
Ready to explore French doors for your home? Call Murray Window Replacement at (385) 786-6447 or request a door replacement estimate to get started.