Which Way to hang Doors

DavidJonas

Probably seems obvious and I thought so too, but I wonder if I'm missing something.

We have a knocked through lounge & dining room, but we are going to restore the partition.

In each room the door opens into the room. Surely it would make more sense for them to open against the wall? This would mean moving the light switches, but for downstairs rooms this makes sense, surely. Then you can walk right into the room. You aren't standing in a little corridor with the door on one side and the wall on the other side. It must maximise room space ??

Because I was sure and then I started thinking about other peoples houses and I can think of plenty that do open in. Upstairs likewise. There seems to be no rule at all !

So now I wonder whether I am missing something. Doors in corner of rooms to open against the wall or not ?

leveller2911

Generally speaking room doors always opened into a room because otherwise if they opened outwards the door would obstruct the hallway.

The door would be hung so that when you opened it and began walking into the room anyone who was in bed could make themselves look decent before you could see them. It was a privacy thing, your granny wouldn't want you to see her in the buff would she.

Now of coarse builders/designers don't care they just try and give the impression of space so having the door open against a wall gives the impression that the room is larger than it really is. Personally I would hang the door so it opened against the wall so when you open it you maximise the space , unless Granny lives with you and she has dementia.

davehills

Hang the doors whichever way works for you. As Leveller says it makes sense for them not to open into a hallway.

Biggles

You mean, it would make more sense for the hinges to be on the same side as the wall? Probably, my downstairs rooms do, but the bedroom doors have the hinges away from the wall, which is what leveller2911 said. This dates from the 20s, so it could be the way things were done then. But I certainly wouldn't want to go moving the light switch to change them around.

Leif

leveller2911 wrote: »

Generally speaking room doors always opened into a room because otherwise if they opened outwards the door would obstruct the hallway.

I think you misunderstand the post. Doors in my house are usually in the corner, and in most cases the hinges are on the opposite side of the door to the wall, so the doors opens into the room, rather than against the wall. I think the poster is asking why the hinges are not such that the door opens against a wall. I hope that makes sense.

The answer is I asssume because the door can open fully, whereas opening against the wall would mean the door would partially obstruct the doorway, restricting the furniture you could get into the room.

drummer_666

I've hung my doors so that they open against the wall, unless light switches are on that wall.

If you're going to be replastering, or perhaps wallpapering even I'd move the light switches, but not otherwise!

And yes, it is an old fashioned thing that a lot of doors used to open into the room, for privacy if people were dressing etc

wallbash

nd yes, it is an old fashioned thing that a lot of doors used to open into the room, for privacy if people were dressing etc

Exactly right , have changed a lot of doors , makes more sense to open along a wall ...... we are not so shy these days ??

DavidJonas

Okay, makes sense then.

I meant the hinges, wouldn't want a door opening into a hallway right enough.

I suppose they probably will only open to 90 degrees, but since that is where the wall is anyway not much loss.

Will have to think about the handles maybe, wouldn't want the door banging on a new finish.

Whole room will be repapered etc so can move the switches.

Many thanks. Didn't think about the new furniture so maybe will wait until that is in and do the doors last.

spacey2012

The other reason for the "traditional way " of the door opening in to the room is if you have a fire in a room, the pressure will keep the door closed as opposed to blow it open and kill everyone in the house in the resulting flashpoint expansion in to air, or flash over.

Sometimes our elders had a bit more common sense than we gave them credit for.

Biggles

DavidJonas wrote: »

Will have to think about the handles maybe, wouldn't want the door banging on a new finish.

A doorstop on the skirting board will prevent that.

cyclonebri1

I would always arrange the hinging so that the doors opened flat against the wall. Seems to waste space other wise. It's also more natural, imagine french doors that hinged at the centre;);)

OP, just move the switches, (assuming you are capable):T:T