At Pella Windows & Doors of DFW, we can install stylish and practical French doors on the interior or exterior of your home from the best manufacturers around. Call today for a free consultation!

The French doors were nearly 300 years ago. During the Renaissance period in France, architecture was all about proportions, symmetry, pillars, and domes. First, architects designed French windows, and you may be asking, "What are French windows?" They're made with square panes of glass like French doors, but the windows are smaller, and they don't open to allow fresh air inside. Then, sometime between the 16th and 17th centuries, French Doors were born. These single, double, or center-hinged doors could open outward and were fashioned with square glass panels from top to bottom. Originally, they were made from wood and wrought iron. Today, French doors are made from aluminum, vinyl, steel, or fiberglass.

What do French doors look like? They are usually installed as double doors that open outward into your patio. The square glass panes cover the entire door so that sunlight can pour into the interior of your home. On warm, breezy days, French doors can swing open, effectively blurring the lines between your interior living space and your outdoor patio so that fresh air can enter your home while creating a bigger area to gather with friends and family.

This unique design allowed natural light to permeate the home and created a way to let fresh air inside on hot days. Since electricity was not even a thought at this point, French doors were both practical and stylish. The trend quickly spread throughout France, and after about 100 years, homes in England began sporting French doors. Today, they can be found in old and new homes worldwide.