Patio Doors for Every Style: Ideas to Match Your Home’s Aesthetic
As per recent research, the global market for patio doors is expected to grow 4.6% by 2032, projected to reach over 59 billion USD. A top choice to add aesthetic value to a home and increase real estate valuation, patio doors are as beautiful as they are functional.
Introduction
To separate your home from its attached exterior space, patio doors are essential in homes that have a deck, backyard, or adjacent patio. Usually made of glass panels supported by metal structures or uPVC, patio doors let in light and create a warm, airy aesthetic.
Creating a seamless transition between your indoor and outdoor space can boost your home’s real estate value.
Understanding Different External Door Designs
External doors are a must-have for every home whether it is a small flat or a two-storey house. These connect your house to your backyard and allow natural light to flow unobstructed. For open-plan living, a modern aesthetic, and beautiful decor, having an external door is essential.
What Are External Doors and Why Are They Important?
By installing an external patio door that seamlessly opens up to your backyard, you can get the following benefits:
- Easy flow of natural light leaving the interiors less reliant on artificial lights that can be taxing on our power bill.
- Installing patio doors gives a modern touch to a home.
- Increased real estate value with better aesthetics.
- Improves ventilation by creating open spaces that allow natural airflow.
- Being fairly tamper-proof, these add a layer of protection to your home.
- With durable uPVC options, these are both low maintenance and customizable.
Popular Types of External Doors
Some of the top choices for patio and external doors are:
- Sliding patio doors that are built with glass panes mounted on tracks.
- French doors are hinged external doors that open fully.
- Bifold doors, also called accordion doors, contain multiple connected panels that open and fold.
- External stable doors, also called Dutch patio doors, have a hinged design which is fairly similar to French doors. However, these parts are horizontal instead of vertical thus creating a more rustic decor.
Other designs used for patio doors are:
- Pivot patio doors open and close by pivoting on hinges, creating a unique look.
- Garage-style patio doors slide up and open vertically, similar to garage doors creating a modern, industrial vibe.
- Corner patio doors, though very expensive to install, create a statement look with the design having two or more doors opening at a 90-degree angle.
Choosing the Right Patio Doors for Your Home
Patio doors can look out of place if they do not match your home. Hence, when selecting an external door for your home, it is important to keep the decor and vibe in mind.
To match your patio door with your decor, you can try the following:
Sliding Patio Doors for Modern Homes
Fairly easy to install, sliding patio doors are a mix of utilitarian design with a modern aesthetic. With overlapping panels and large glass panes, sliding external doors take up very little space, are energy efficient, and create a well-ventilated space. When built with toughened glass and uPVC external doors, these can last years with very little maintenance.
Being versatile and affordable, these are one of the most common designs.
French Patio Doors for Classic Elegance
Containing hinged panels that either swing outwards or inwards based on the space available and preference, French patio doors are an elegant, timeless design. Often, instead of a single panel, the glass can be fitted into small panels called mullions. This adds to the charm of having French doors at home.
Bifold Patio Doors for Contemporary Spaces
Also called folding doors and accordion doors, bifold patio doors have a compact design of two or more panels that fold and stack. This creates a seamless transition from the house’s interior to the patio, deck, or backyard. With an open space, a sleek, and contemporary aesthetic, bifold doors offer unhindered expansive views and maximum space for entry and exit.
Usually having a multipoint locking mechanism, bifold doors are one of the most secure and efficient designs for external doors.
External Stable Doors for a Rustic, Cozy Space
If you want to have a rustic charm for your space, an external stable door, also called a Dutch door can be an excellent option. Unlike patio doors that are completely made of glass, with just a supporting structure, Stable doors or Dutch doors provide better privacy, are pet friendly, and require very little maintenance. To add, these offer better soundproofing than completely glass doors.
How to Match Patio Doors with Your Home’s Aesthetic
For people who have a deck or patio attached, a patio door becomes a must. With the right patio door, you can elevate your home’s look and its real estate value as well.
Materials and Finishes
Some materials are better than others when it comes to durability and affordability. Previously wood and aluminium were the only materials used to create external doors. However, natural wood is prone to rot as well as wear and tear. To remedy this aluminium doors were introduced. However, due to high thermal conductivity, these offer poor insulation. They are also prone to scratches and dents and are fairly expensive.
To address this, durable uPCV doors were introduced. Being resistant to moisture, corrosion, pests, and natural wear and tear, these are a durable option. Further, these are also environmentally friendly due to being a recycled material. uPVC external doors are also weather-proof and energy efficient, making them the material of choice for external doors in Northern Ireland.
Further, uPVC doors can have a matt, textured, or glossy finish which you can choose as per the look you want to maintain.
Colour Selection for Patio Doors
Neutrals like warm white, beige, or gray are popular choices since they suit most styles. However, you can also pick a dark gray or black to provide some contrast and create a modern vibe. You can also pick a colour that matches your decor for a more unique look.
Design Features to Consider
Whether you opt for a bifold patio door, French doors, or external stable doors, they should have some basic design features to be ideal:
- Efficient designs for user comfort.
- Thermal efficiency, which creates thermal isolations for energy-efficient homes.
- Allows ample natural light to reduce the need for artificial lights.
- Being hardy and having high durability (PAS24) which ensures that the doors can withstand an attack.
- Acoustic Isolation to ensure that your home remains quiet even if it is noisy outside.
- Uses eco-friendly, recycled, and sustainable materials.
Features to Look For
To elaborate on that mentioned above, features attached to every house need to be durable and functional and not just for show. When it comes to external doors and patio doors, the most important features to look for are:
Functionality
The patio door installed should be useful. For families with pets, having exterior stable doors can be a useful feature since you can leave a portion open for them. While external stable doors have that classic, rustic vibe, they will not match most modern aesthetics.
If you want to have a modern aesthetic but have very little space available, bi-fold or sliding patio doors will serve you better than French doors. Evaluate your needs against the designs available and choose the most efficient design.
Energy Efficiency
If you have an old or wooden patio door, it could be contributing up to 30% more energy losses. Hence, it is always important to upgrade to more energy-efficient designs.
The patio door that you install should provide proper thermal insulation. To add, it should allow maximum flow of natural light to ensure well-lit interiors. This combination helps save on energy bills and adds an eco-friendly touch to the house.
Security Features
Being glass, most patio doors look sleek and delicate. However, with durable Grade A uPVC or aluminum and toughened glass, patio doors can be made strong enough to withstand attacks from intruders and tough climatic conditions. Further, these come with multipoint locking systems making them tamper-proof and safe.
Cost
While this will vary as per the design and material that you opt for, make sure that you are paying for quality design and materials.
Maintenance Requirements
If wood is the material of choice, then it will require fairly frequent upkeep and will not last as long. By opting for aluminum and uPVC, you will have a durable yet elegant alternative that requires minimal maintenance and can withstand extreme weather like storms and heat waves.
Technological Advancements
Space is a valuable commodity in present times. From Corner Patio Doors to Pivot Patio Doors, bespoke elegant designs are coming up which add value in terms of both visual appeal and utility. Further, current designs are being kitted out with the latest technology so that you can enjoy better security and comfort.
Popular Trends in Patio Doors for 2025
To keep up with design trends, 2025 is predicted to see a rise in the below:
- Sleek designs
- Eco-friendly materials
- Stress on better security features
- Holistic designs
These will be applicable for daily household features like patio doors as well, calling for well-designed, secure doors.
Installation Tips for Selecting the Perfect Patio Doors
To ensure that your patio door matches your house perfectly, you can do the following:
- Understand your design style.
- Go through the models available for patio doors.
- Opt for completely glass doors for better flow of light and external stable doors for better privacy.
- Consider the available materials.
- Look into the structure, design, and features of the product that you are looking into.
Pick the external or patio door that suits your needs and your home.
Conclusion
Patio doors are a must-have if you have a backyard. External doors in Belfast and Northern Ireland are very popular in most homes. However, if you have an old wooden patio door, it is time for an upgrade.
Get a sleek, energy-efficient design with aluminum and uPVC external doors, and add a modern touch to your property.