35 Dutch Door Ideas With Pros And Cons

dutch door ideas with pros and cons cover

Old-fashioned and chic farmhouse Dutch doors are making a huge comeback, mostly as exterior ones. Let’s consider all the advantages and disadvantages to understand whether you want to try them or not, but first of all

What Are Dutch Doors?

Originating in the farmlands of the Netherlands, these split doors found their way to Dutch settlements in the early American colonies. They’re known by any number of names, including stable doors, double-hung doors, split doors, and half doors. The charming design allows the top half of the door to be opened while the lower half remains shut. Dutch doors are available in single and double styles.

a beach cottage entrance with a beautiful blue Dutch door and cute vintage wall sconces plus greenery on both sides of the door

a beach cottage entrance with a beautiful blue Dutch door and cute vintage wall sconces plus greenery on both sides of the door

a beautiful and welcoming entrance is decorated with greenery, a Dutch door in green, a green grass rug and a hanging lantern

a beautiful and welcoming entrance is decorated with greenery, a Dutch door in green, a green grass rug and a hanging lantern

a blue Dutch door with a creative glass top part and shingles look cool together and make up a cool coastal cottage

a blue Dutch door with a creative glass top part and shingles look cool together and make up a cool coastal cottage

a boho entryway with a stained Dutch door, a bulb chandelier, a storage unit, potted plants and various rugs is a very cool space

a boho entryway with a stained Dutch door, a bulb chandelier, a storage unit, potted plants and various rugs is a very cool space

a bright porch with an orange and black Dutch door, a potted plant, a sconce and a bell plus a wooden rug

a bright porch with an orange and black Dutch door, a potted plant, a sconce and a bell plus a wooden rug

a bright space with a red Dutch door, a planter with a trellis and green rubber boots for a rustic feel

a bright space with a red Dutch door, a planter with a trellis and green rubber boots for a rustic feel

a bright yellow Dutch door, a grey wall and bold fuchsia blooms make this space wow, bright and vivacious

a bright yellow Dutch door, a grey wall and bold fuchsia blooms make this space wow, bright and vivacious

What Is The Purpose Of Dutch Doors?

The Dutch door was originally designed to keep kids inside, animals outside while still allowing for air and light to come through the house. Of course, with our modern life style (unless you actually have farm animals) we tend to want to keep the animals inside too and we tend to crank up our A/C. It’s still nice, however, to have a natural breeze flow through your home on occasion.

a chic entrance with hammered copper planters, a vintage wall lamp and a graphite grey Dutch door

a chic entrance with hammered copper planters, a vintage wall lamp and a graphite grey Dutch door

a chic green Dutch entrance door with brass touches, lanterns and potted plants create a lovely entrance look

a chic green Dutch entrance door with brass touches, lanterns and potted plants create a lovely entrance look

a clean modern beach house entrance with large succulents and a blue Dutch door

a clean modern beach house entrance with large succulents and a blue Dutch door

a cool arched aqua Dutch door, with greenery around and a pretty wall sconce are adorable for ahouse entrance or a back door

a cool arched aqua Dutch door, with greenery around and a pretty wall sconce are adorable for ahouse entrance or a back door

a cozy porch with a bench, a wire bakset and a grey Dutch door for a vintage feel plus a ceiling lamp

a cozy porch with a bench, a wire bakset and a grey Dutch door for a vintage feel plus a ceiling lamp

a cozy rustic entrance with a stained Dutch door, layered rugs, a bench, potted plants and blooms, a wreath in a frame

a cozy rustic entrance with a stained Dutch door, layered rugs, a bench, potted plants and blooms, a wreath in a frame

a cute blue Dutch door and matching potted flowers on both sides that echo with the door to make the entrance welcoming

a cute blue Dutch door and matching potted flowers on both sides that echo with the door to make the entrance welcoming

a farmhouse entrance with a bench, a graphite grey Dutch door and a jute rug plus greenery in a basket is very welcoming

a farmhouse entrance with a bench, a graphite grey Dutch door and a jute rug plus greenery in a basket is very welcoming

Advantages Of Dutch Doors

A rustic Dutch door creates a strong country look and feel, serving as a focal point in country-style kitchens and adding a finishing touch to cottage entries.

If you have toddlers or pets, keeping the bottom half of the door closed will ensure little ones stay safely inside while you enjoy views of the outside world.

Similarly, an interior Dutch door can double as a baby gate, keeping crawling infants safely in their nurseries—or out of home offices and laundry rooms.

a farmhouse entrance with a black diagonal stripe Dutch door, black urns with white blooms and greenery and riding boots is very cozy and bold

a farmhouse entrance with a black diagonal stripe Dutch door, black urns with white blooms and greenery and riding boots is very cozy and bold

a farmhouse entryway with a black Dutch door, potted greenery and blooms and a printed rug is a cool and lovely space

a farmhouse entryway with a black Dutch door, potted greenery and blooms and a printed rug is a cool and lovely space

a farmhouse entryway with a checked floor, a printed rug, a light blue Dutch door, French windows and a bench

a farmhouse entryway with a checked floor, a printed rug, a light blue Dutch door, French windows and a bench

a farmhouse porch with a grey Dutch door, metal buckets with a tree, a rug is a cool space with an industrial feel

a farmhouse porch with a grey Dutch door, metal buckets with a tree, a rug is a cool space with an industrial feel

a modern beach entrance with a blue Dutch door and matching pots with succulents, a black wall lamp

a modern beach entrance with a blue Dutch door and matching pots with succulents, a black wall lamp

a modern farmhouse entryway with a black Dutch door and a mosaic black and white floor

a modern farmhouse entryway with a black Dutch door and a mosaic black and white floor

a neutral boho entryway with a gallery wall of hats and woven dishes, a white Dutch door, a stained bench and printed textiles

a neutral boho entryway with a gallery wall of hats and woven dishes, a white Dutch door, a stained bench and printed textiles

Disadvantages Of Dutch Doors

If you live in an area with lots of insects, an open door to nature is an invitation to a buggy house. Installing a retractable screen (discussed below) can help.

Dutch doors are more expensive than standard doors, and they also require more hardware, such as hinges, knobs, and locks. Custom-made Dutch doors from major manufacturers are even pricier (because they’re designed and built to fit a specific opening.

For the best weathertight results, exterior Dutch doors should be professionally installed. Although the doors come prehung in jambs, during installation the door frame may require shimming, and it’s essential to get both halves aligned perfectly to seal out the elements. Professional installation can add to the costs.

a neutral entryway with an elegant Dutch door, a black console table, an artwork and some decor is a lovely and chic space

a neutral entryway with an elegant Dutch door, a black console table, an artwork and some decor is a lovely and chic space

a neutral farmhouse interior with a stained Dutch door that perfectly matches the style and adds coziness to the space

a neutral farmhouse interior with a stained Dutch door that perfectly matches the style and adds coziness to the space

a pretty front porch with a printed tile floor, a stained bench with pillows, a salmon pink Dutch door, potted plants and a rug

a pretty front porch with a printed tile floor, a stained bench with pillows, a salmon pink Dutch door, potted plants and a rug

a rustic vintage entryway is made more special with a wood stained arched Dutch door with a glass insert

a rustic vintage entryway is made more special with a wood stained arched Dutch door with a glass insert

a stained wood Dutch door adds a rustic feel to the all-white kitchen with paneling and makes it more welcoming

a stained wood Dutch door adds a rustic feel to the all-white kitchen with paneling and makes it more welcoming

a stylish black and white farmhouse entrance with a black Dutch door, potted greenery, black wall sconces and layered rugs

a stylish black and white farmhouse entrance with a black Dutch door, potted greenery, black wall sconces and layered rugs

a stylish modern entrance with French windows and a cool patterned black Dutch door plus greenery around

a stylish modern entrance with French windows and a cool patterned black Dutch door plus greenery around

a stylish modern entryway with a navy Dutch door and windows on both sides, with a wooden bench, a refined chandelier and a simple rug

a stylish modern entryway with a navy Dutch door and windows on both sides, with a wooden bench, a refined chandelier and a simple rug

a stylish modern meets rustic entrance with a black Dutch door with a solid glass insert and a rattan chair plus greenery in a woven bag

a stylish modern meets rustic entrance with a black Dutch door with a solid glass insert and a rattan chair plus greenery in a woven bag

an arched Dutch door in black, with brass fixtures, accents the entryway and makes a statement outside, too

an arched Dutch door in black, with brass fixtures, accents the entryway and makes a statement outside, too

an elegant farmhouse porch with a navy Dutch door, whitewashed pots with greenery, a stylish pendant lamp and a printed rug

an elegant farmhouse porch with a navy Dutch door, whitewashed pots with greenery, a stylish pendant lamp and a printed rug

keep your pets at home while having breezes and fresh air inside with a comfy Dutch door, like here, a black Dutch door

keep your pets at home while having breezes and fresh air inside with a comfy Dutch door, like here, a black Dutch door