Things to Consider When Designing a Doorway

Door Placement

• Place doors in the natural path of movement around the home. Doors between bedrooms and bathrooms, and the kitchen and dining room should provide easy access. Think about where you will walk from room to room when designing door placement.

Which Way Does it Swing

• Doors can swing in or out. There is also a third option of a sliding door. The adjacent wall often decides the swing of the door. The door should open against an adjacent wall where it is out of the path of movement. There are some exceptions. Bathroom doors should open out in case of an emergency. If a person passes out against the door it may be difficult to swing the door open.

Door Locks

• Most homes include privacy locks on bathroom and bedroom doors. These locks are controlled only from the inside with no key access from the outside. Consider keyed locks if any of the residents have health problems or other risks where locked doors could pose a threat.

Door Width

• The American with Disabilities Act requires doors with an opening of at least 32 inches in public buildings. This is not required in private homes but is still a good standard. Not only does it allow wheelchairs to pass through the doorway but also makes moving furniture or other large items easier. Designing wider doorways for specialty rooms such as workshops allow even larger items to be moved in and out of the home.