Doors 101: A Homeowner’s Guide to Popular Types of Doors and Designs

Open sesame.

Doors typically aren’t the first thing you think of when you’re planning a home renovation, but they are more important than you think. They don’t just separate rooms – they can also tie the overall design together while meeting practical needs like accessibility and space optimisation.

To choose the right door for your home, you’ll need to consider both the type of door opening mechanism and the design, both of which we’ll cover below:

Swing door

With its use dating back to ancient times, the swing door is perhaps the most common door type in the world. It features 2-3 hinges located at one of the vertical edges of the door, and can either swing outward or inward towards you.

While they come in a variety of designs, they require a fair amount of space (“swing space” or “swing clearance”) to open. That means they aren’t ideal for cramped, tiny spaces, or for homeowners who want to maximise their available floor space, like those living in tiny condos or 2-room BTO flats.

Popular swing door designs:

French doors

Whatever your choice of home aesthetic is, a set of French doors is sure to add an elegant touch to it. This versatile door design typically comprises a double-leaf door with glass panes built into a wooden frame, which allows natural light to flow through to create a bright and airy interior.

Louvre doors

No door is as nostalgia-inducing as a louvre door. Be it from your childhood home or from old pictures, this door design is typically seen in transitional, traditional, or retro-style homes.

It’s also a great door choice for your bathrooms, as the gaps between the blades promote ventilation and prevent moisture buildup.

Arched doors

With curves getting back in trend, it’s only natural for arched doors to rise in popularity. Note that such doors typically need to be custom-made, making them more expensive than a regular door.

Saloon doors

Saloon doors are probably something you’d associate with cowboys and the Old West, which is why you’d usually only see them in retro-style homes. Still, they’re an eye-catching feature that allows light and air to pass through without compromising on privacy.

Sliding doors

As the name suggests, a sliding door opens horizontally by sliding along a track located at either the bottom or top of the frame.

Compared to a swing door, it does not require any swing clearance, but the tracks may require regular maintenance to ensure it runs smoothly.

Additionally, as one panel slides behind the other when opened, it means that one side of the door remains closed off at all times. That means limited access – not ideal for those who require the extra room for mobility aids like walkers and wheelchairs.

Popular sliding door designs

Sliding glass doors

Sliding glass doors are perhaps one of the most used types of doors in Singapore, and for good reason. They’re versatile, inexpensive, and come in a variety of designs – with fluted glass doors being especially popular.

They let light pass through and keep the space airy while simultaneously demarcating spaces. It’s especially useful for those who want an open concept kitchen but are also keen on containing cooking fumes.

Barn doors

Historically used by farmers, barn doors have since become a modern day feature in a lot of homes. While its weathered wood design typically makes it the go-to choice for farmhouse-style interior, it’s also versatile enough to be used in Scandinavian or industrial-look homes as well.

Shoji doors

Singaporeans love Japanese-style homes, and the shoji door is one of many things they’ve fallen in love with. While traditionally made with rice paper panels, the ones in Singapore are made with PVC or frosted glass for extra durability.

Bifold doors

Bifold doors are a variant of your traditional sliding doors where it opens along a track. However, instead of a single panel sliding behind the other, they have two panels folding into each other upon opening, which leaves the entire entrance unobstructed.

Accordion doors

Accordion doors are built similarly to bifold doors, just with multiple panels (instead of two) folding up one side when opened. Due to the smaller width of the individual panels, they don’t take up much floor space when opened, thus making them a great addition to small homes.

Pocket doors

Pocket doors are another type of sliding door that disappears into a recess when opened, allowing homeowners to fully maximise the floor space in their home.

The downside, however, is its maintenance. Potential issues include the door coming off the track or noisy movement, and fixing them may require you to remove the door entirely to reach the track.

Tic tac doors

Also known as a ‘push-to-open door’, a tic tac door can be opened with a simple push – similar to the click of a ballpoint pen. As it doesn’t require a handle for you to grip onto, it allows you to easily open it even if your hands are full.

Additionally, the sleek, clutter-free design allows it to blend seamlessly into the wall it’s mounted on – the perfect choice for a concealed door!

Swivel/Pivot doors

Few doors are as grand as pivot doors (or swivel doors). Rotating along a pivot located at the top and bottom of the door leaf, they’re a stunning feature that can be opened easily.

However, such doors tend to be costlier than your average hinged door. And due to its larger-than-average width, it may not be feasible for them to be used in most HDB flats – unless you live in a huge executive apartment or are planning to do extensive layout changes to accommodate such a feature.

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