6 Reasons to Install a Dutch Door in Your Home

The vintage charm of a Dutch door has graced many homes throughout the world for centuries. With the innovative touch of modern craftsmanship, there are many reasons to purchase a new Dutch door for both your interior and exterior spaces.

Top 6 Reasons to Install a Dutch Door 

1. Let’s in light and fresh air
2. Stylish alternative to baby and pet gates
3. Adds an interesting and attractive design element
4. Visual Connection and Privacy
5. Versatility
6. Let the Outdoors Inside

These doors can be used throughout your home according to your needs and design ideas. Whether you’re looking for an exterior Dutch entry door or an interior Dutch barn door, you are sure to find the perfect door at Rustica.

What is a Dutch Door?

A Dutch door, essentially, is a door divided in half horizontally. Over the years, this type of door has also been commonly referred to as a stable door, a split door, or a half door. The division creates separately hinged top and bottom doors that can swing open independently of each other. The top door contains a latch that can slide into the receiving end of a latch on the bottom door, allowing a homeowner to easily move between traditional and split door functions when desired. The history of this door goes all the way back to 17th-century Holland, where families wanted to be able to maintain privacy but also be able to open up their homes to fresh air, light, and neighbors.The design made its way to America and became widely popular in the New Jersey and New York area during the Colonial Era. Today, craftsmen offer a wide variety of Dutch doors, including those with solid panels, top and bottom windows, retractable screens, French-paned glass, steel framing, and many more design features and functions.

What is the History of Dutch Doors?

The Dutch door got its start in Holland back in the 17th century colonial era before the screen door was invented. At this time, Dutch settlers wanted a way to let light and fresh air into the home without leaving their house completely open to the outside world where wildlife and unwanted visitors could get in. The Dutch door seemed like the perfect solution, with its half-open-half-closed design that gave homeowners and their families the best of both worlds. While the Dutch door got its name because of where it originated, this type of door quickly became a hit in other parts of the world, too—including the Americas. Farmhouses used them to keep air flowing throughout the home while preventing farm animals from coming inside and children from getting outside. In other parts of the world, they became known as double hung doors, a stable door, a half door, or a split door; but the idea for them all came from the Dutch door. Now, an interior Dutch door or exterior Dutch door has become compatible with many more styles than the rustic farmhouses they were once popular in. Modern Dutch doors have allowed homeowners to play with styles that can be incorporated into any type of space—from an industrial New York City loft to an England-inspired shabby chic home.

What is a Half Door Called?

When the top and bottom halves of a door can operate separately, calling it a half door makes sense. However, these doors are technically referred to as Dutch doors. But this doesn’t mean that everyone calls them this. In fact, this particular style of door has many different names, which vary depending on where you are.Much like when Dutch doors were first brought over to North America, it is common for these doors to be referred to as double-hung doors in New England. As you travel south towards New York and New Jersey, they’re called their more common name of Dutch doors. Throughout the rest of the US, you’ll find these doors by either of these names.On the other side of the pond, throughout much of Europe and especially the Netherlands and Ireland, this door style is known as stable doors, half doors, or Dutch doors.Dutch doors or half doors fit perfectly with the growing farmhouse design that many people are now incorporating into their homes. Like a barn door, this door style offers a "country chic" look, complementing different design elements both inside and outside the house, including distressed furniture, florals, rustic barn wood, shiplap, etc.The split door concept works for both exterior and interior doors. Opening the top half of the doors acts as a window, whether it is to the outside or simply just to another room. While a half door option can be used for exterior doors, they require additional installation work to ensure weatherproofing. Therefore, this door style is more commonly used for interior doors, since they do not need extra weatherstripping and alignment to keep the elements out.

Can You Cut a Door in Half to Create a Half Door?

The beauty of half doors is that the concept allows you to benefit from two different door styles with a single unit.Given the complexity of half doors and the fact that they often have to be custom ordered, they can be a bit pricier than other door designs. However, it is possible to cut a factory door in half horizontally to create a half door. Being able to make your own Dutch door could be incredibly helpful for interior doors (and can serve as an excellent baby gate on nurseries) where you may not want to pay for a brand new door. But, before you do, there are some essential things to keep in mind.For starters, consider whether you want your half door as an exterior or interior door. Choosing to DIY a double hung door is much easier with an interior door. Exterior doors will require additional weatherproofing to keep out elements like wind and water. Dutch doors as entry doors also require additional security measures in comparison to their interior counterparts.Secondly, you’ll want to consider two important things about the door that you will be cutting. First, you want to think about the panels in your existing door design. You’ll want your horizontal cut to work with the existing panels. Having a break in your panels too high or too low can create an awkward vibe or make using it uncomfortable. You will also want to consider whether you are working with a door slab or if you already have holes for the doorknob in the slab. You’ll want the doorknob to be on the bottom portion of the door. Again, this could make the door awkward to use depending on where it is located, so be sure to confirm that your existing door will work.It’s also important to consider the material of your existing door. To DIY a half door, your best option is a solid door made of wood. While it is possible with a hollow-core, aluminum, or steel door, it can get a bit more complicated. You’ll also need to make sure you use the right tools, as you will need a special metal cutting blade to get a smooth edge.Next, it’s important to remember that half doors require special hardware. Most stock doors come with two factory hinges. For the top half of the door to securely swing separately from the bottom half, you’ll need to make sure you have at least four hinges that can support the weight of your door. You will also need a latch to secure the top and bottom halves together into a single panel as needed. If you are working on an exterior door, you’ll need to add an extra deadbolt to the upper portion of the door for extra security. You'll keep the doorknob and lock on the lower half of the door. Also, be sure to include a latching mechanism for the top half to keep fingers from getting pinched between the two halves should the top swing shut. You can often find all of the hardware you will need in a kit, helping simplify the process a bit.Also, keep your vision for the finished product in mind. If you want half glass doors, consider working with a manufacturer, like Rustica, that can customize your door design while matching your exact specifications. If, on the other hand, you are working with a solid door and are comfortable with power tools, then DIY may be the option for you. Either way, you’ll want to make sure that your door is hung correctly in the frame.

6 Reasons to Install a Dutch Door

With so many available options, it’s easy to see why there are many reasons for purchasing a Dutch door.

1. Let’s in Light and Fresh Air

21st-century homeowners can reap the many benefits of installing a Dutch door just like homeowners in the Colonial Era. The best part about this type of door is that it serves the role of both a window and a door at the same time.Dutch doors are extremely practical, whether you want to let air flow through your home while cooking in the kitchen or simply wish to enjoy a pleasant breeze. Let natural sun rays brighten up your living room or enjoy the sound of cicadas on summer nights. Whatever your reason, Dutch doors are the perfect solution to let natural light and fresh air into your home while still maintaining privacy.

2. Stylish Alternative to Baby and Pet Gates

Dutch doors are also great for parents. Open up the top portion of your door to keep your eyes on the kids in the yard. Or, keep them playing safely indoors while opening the top half of the door like a window.Pet owners can also enjoy the benefits of Dutch doors. Enjoy the view while keeping pets inside or outside. Dutch doors are also perfect for keeping other unwanted critters from entering your home, which is especially helpful for homeowners with farm animals in rural areas.  A Dutch door can also be installed as an interior door, allowing parents and pet owners to section off parts of their homes. The door functions as a pet or baby gate so that both animals and children can play within certain boundaries indoors while homeowners still have the ability to see and hear what they’re doing. The Dutch door design is perfect for playrooms, living rooms, dining areas, laundry rooms, and offices.

3. Adds an Interesting and Attractive Design Element

Dutch doors are truly unique. Though their style was extremely popular in 17-18th century America, not many homes are currently built with this feature. Many homeowners turn to sliding barn doors or French doors for design aesthetic, overlooking the value that other vintage doors can bring to a home. A Dutch door will stand out in both its beauty and functionality, especially because there are so many available design choices when choosing a modern Dutch door.  Rustica offers a beautiful selection of quality Dutch interior and exterior doors at affordable pricing. Each is handcrafted with distinct design and functionality.  

4. Visual Connection and Privacy 

The beauty of modern Dutch doors is that they allow you to stay connected to the space outside the door without sacrificing privacy or sightlines. This is especially beneficial for those who need separation between spaces but don’t want to feel entirely closed off. For example, Dutch doors are great for separating a kitchen from an entertainment space. If there’s a movie night happening, you can easily pass food and snacks through the top of the door. If the entertainment room is dark and someone is still busy in the kitchen, they can still stay connected to the film and those watching it, but keep kitchen noises and light out with the door half closed. A similar scenario is if you need to keep kids/pets out of an area, such as in an office or kitchen, but still need to keep an eye on them. Say an important call comes in—you can easily close the top half of the door while giving yourself complete privacy from the other room. While you can achieve a similar benefit with a glass door, a  window doesn’t give you the same connection, openness, and privacy that a Dutch door can. 

5. Versatility 

Perhaps the greatest benefit of Dutch doors is their versatility. While there are plenty of other useful types of doors, none are quite like the Dutch door. This is because they have multiple functions. They can be fully closed, traditional doors when you need it to be for privacy, a stylish pet/baby gate, and a fully opened window alternative. What other door can serve so many functions? The Dutch door's versatility lies in the ability to control the top and bottom sections of the door independently of each other. This allows you to manipulate the function of the door in a variety of ways. Furthermore, Dutch doors can  be interior or exterior doors, as well as single or double doors. This versatility allows you to choose the perfect type of Dutch door you need for the space in mind. If you’re working with a larger opening, such as a kitchen opening, double Dutch doors will give you the freedom of separating the wide space without sacrificing open interactions between rooms. In this way, Dutch doors can easily serve whatever space you need them in, whether that space is small or large, interior or exterior. 

6. Let the Outdoors Inside 

An exterior Dutch door creates an openness that even an open window can’t achieve. This is because you can still fully interact and feel connected to the outdoors with a Dutch door, making it perfect for areas that you want to feel connected to.  Examples of such areas include the patio, backyard, or garden. Dutch doors make great patio doors, as you can easily int