Split the door and double the style.
Maximalism lovers suddenly can’t get enough of whimsical decor—and it’s easy to see why. It’s one of the most expressive ways to showcase your personality at home. To embrace the trend without veering into tacky territory, designers are leaning into vintage-inspired details that add a distinctive touch to newer spaces, and one standout feature is the Dutch door.
These split doors are loved for their practicality, letting fresh air flow through while keeping pets and kids safely inside. While they’re most commonly found in farmhouse-style homes, they bring a playful, unexpected charm to any home.
Anything out of the norm will bring more character into your space, and while swapping out your doors isn’t exactly a small investment, it’s a meaningful way to create a space that truly feels like you. Keep reading to find 12 Dutch doors that’ll inspire you to make the split-door swap.
In this colorful kitchen by Sunday Supper Club, founder Heather Phillips painted the Dutch door leading from the breakfast nook to an outdoor dining area a darling pink, specifically Benjamin Moore’s Monticello Rose. It’s a romantic touch to the space and entices you to come outside.
The playroom in this home, designed by Curated Nest, can be accessed via a Dutch door. This door style is perfect for a space like this, as it allows kids to play inside without being fully closed off from their parents.
In this guesthouse by designer Alison Pickart, one of the bedrooms boasts a Dutch door that leads to a balcony outside. It makes it even easier to test the weather before getting dressed for the day and provides the perfect opportunity to relax outdoors before crawling into bed.
Designer Lori Anderson Wier put a Dutch door leading to the outside in her client’s walk-in pantry. It perfectly fits the modern farmhouse aesthetic and allows for easy access outside in case the client needs to pick herbs from the garden. Plus, it allows more of the stunning view to be seen.
In designer Kate Marker’s own home, the Dutch door opens inside to a central mudroom area for the family, making it easy for groceries, gym bags, and backpacks to be dropped off without needing to come inside. It’s also a way to get fresh air while keeping the dog from getting out.
What’s more whimsical than an arched front door? An arched front door that’s also a Dutch door. Designer Christine Zeiler made this one even dreamier with the latticework in the glass.
In this kitchen designed by Sondra Ganz and Marnie Wright, their client wanted an open cook space that held a better connection with the living area and the outdoor views. She also has a thriving vegetable garden in the backyard, just past the sauna. A Dutch door helps to prioritize this openness and connection to the outside.
To make this tiny home feel larger, designer John Wooden created a flow from the outside to the inside through windows and other openings, one of which is this Dutch front door. The rondel glass creates a bit more privacy, while the shelf that remains outdoors encourages frequent use.
Designer Heidi Caillier and her husband, along with two of their close friends, purchased a beautiful lakeside vacation home together, and they wanted to keep the cozy cabin theme. One way Caillier did this was by painting the walls and Dutch door a rich blue, creating a monochromatic look that felt perfectly playful yet elevated for a getaway.
If you love the idea of a Dutch door but don’t want bugs to get in or precious pets to get out, do what designer Jeffrey Alan Marks did here and have it open into an enclosed entryway. This way, you can leave the top part open as you’re working inside and want some airflow.
Designer and homeowner Emily Janak and her husband installed a Dutch door in the dining room and kitchen leading out to the patio, which has an alfresco dining area too. While it fits their cabin aesthetic, it’s also practical, as it allows the parents to keep an eye on their kids while preparing the open-air dining area.
Paint your Dutch door a color that draws attention to this whimsical feature. In this kitchen, designer Jenny Wolf painted the door a moody blue, matching the lanterns above the island. It turns it into a unique element of the space.
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