French Doors – Photo Courtesy: Paul Flint & Company
French doors are renowned for their aesthetic beauty and their economic and practical advantages. They are easy to install and help you connect your outdoor and indoor space by enhancing the relationship between your interior and your garden.
Here, we look at some of the main reasons why the British love affair with French doors is still so prevalent.
Aesthetically pleasing
Jessie Rabbit on the silver pumpkins outside French Doors of an Inn – Photo Courtesy: Wonderlane
You can customise your French doors in a wide range of finishes such as sapphire blue, emerald green, classic white or almost any colour of your choice. This can help you create a more harmonious look to ensure that your French doors become a new focal point for your home.
French doors generally need very little maintenance and are manufactured with state-of-the-art technology, which means they can remain in an excellent condition for an even longer period of time. Gradual fine lines resulting from long term exposure to sunlight can easily be treated with the occasional application of marine wax, which will keep your French doors pristine.
Maximise light in your home
French doors in Lisa’s dining room – Photo Courtesy: Lisa Hicks
Even if you don’t have a south-facing garden, a large set of French doors will help you increase the amount of natural light that enters your interior, which will brighten up your home. Make your indoor space more radiant and vibrant by bringing the summer into your home. Grow tropical or Mediterranean plants near your French doors and enjoy more warmth and sunshine in your living space โ even when it is cold and frosty outside.
The British climate may not be quite as accommodating as the French climate with regards to summer sunshine and warm temperatures, but French doors will certainly help you make the most out of those long summer days.
Create the illusion of more space
The back room with new French doors and a window in Rebecca’s home in Bishop’s Stortford, East Hertfordshire, England – Photo Courtesy: Rebecca Searle
French doors are convenient for parties and busy social gatherings, whereas single doors generally make it more difficult for multiple guests to move in and out of your garden. Interlinking your interior with your garden is a great way to maximise space and create the illusion of a larger ‘combined’ indoor/outdoor space. Moving furniture or bulky items between your interior and your garden is also much easier and quicker with French doors, particularly if you need to transport a large table from your dining room to your patio for a summer garden party.
When it is cold outdoors, you enjoy a beautiful view of your garden from the comfort and warmth of your home without having to be outside. When it is warmer, bring the natural scent of your garden into your interior and create a bigger, more unified living space for your family and visitors to enjoy.
Promote a safer, more secure home
Outside the French doors – Photo Courtesy: Bryn Pinzgauer
It is no wonder that so many British homeowners have a strong appreciation for attractive French doors. By improving the aesthetic appearance of your home, you can increase its economic value, which is a convenient option if you have plans to sell your property in the future. You can also improve the overall security of your home and help safeguard it from criminals. Rock French doors, for example, include a special Secured by Design specification, which conforms to strict UK security and performance standards.
Dave Potts is an ex-carpenter and now currently a door fitter for Value Doors – the nations favourite uPVC doors, Composite front doors and Rockdoors company. Dave is also an experienced blogger specialising in all things carpentary and woodwork-based.
Lisa Hicks says
Thanks for the photo recognition! We love french doors on the left side of the Atlantic, too. ๐
Sandy says
Sure you do, Lisa! That’s why I featured your lovely room in the post. ๐