French doors remain a very popular choice for connecting spaces visually. They also work well when flexibility is desirable, so that the areas can be separated, if required.This makes them ideal as an access point to a conservatory or a patio, for instance. However, there is no need to stop at these, most common, applications. French doors can be installed on their own, as a matching pair or as part of a series. They are constructed with a hinged door frame which holds one or more transparent panels, called lights by door makers.

The lights are usually made from glass, but other materials are used by some manufacturers. When a pair of French doors is fitted, they tend to be hinged at either side so that no central mullion is required in the middle, where the doors meet. This can make for an appealing, open look whether the doors are open or shut and provides a wider access point through the open doorway. Select doors with slender window joinery in order to maximize the available natural light and to diminish their visual impact.

French Doors In A Row.

Two or three pairs of French doors that are arranged in a row, or a series, can look stunning in a room that you use for entertaining. If your dining room, for example, overlooks an attractive garden view, then arranging French doors across the length of one wall is a great idea. This can make you feel as though the wall itself is made from glass. When the doors are opened, it can allow for a cooling breeze that will make guests feel that they are dining al fresco.

Double Door Spaces.

Rooms that have twin access points that lead from one space to another look great with French doors fitted, facing one another. If you can view from one room into a second and on to a third, the whole effect is to make a home feel like it is open plan. Without interrupting the eye line, all you have to do to make the room shut off from noise is to close the doors, which is a big advantage over open plan living. Internal French doors, like this, can offer a lot of flexibility with a home’s layout, without the need to shift walls around.

Balcony Doors.

Balconies are real feature of a home. Even on a cold day when you won’t want to step out on your balcony, you will still want to get the most out of the feature. A French door, which allows you to oversee your balcony, without heading outside makes the best choice of access. Set off your French door balcony with a pair of floor to ceiling drapes, so you don’t compromise on the privacy of your room.

Connected Living And Dining Rooms.

If you have a dining room and a living room that have design cues that connect their décor, it can be a shame to shut them off from one another. The answer is to install French doors that mean you can pick up on the connected designs. If one of the rooms has more natural light than the other, French doors, again, will help spread the light around between them.

Corners.

Another good place to use French doors in a home is in the corner of a room. French doors tend to be used parallel to one another, in a row, but by setting them at right angles to one another, in a corner you can create a stunning look. Even if you have already used the more traditional look of a few French doors in a row, why not extend the design around the corner? Twin aspect French doors, like windows, make the most of the sun as it moves across the sky.

Picture sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8.