Our house was custom designed and built by the first owner. As we continue on our renovation plans to make the house work better for our needs, I have had issues with the front exterior door. What criteria or building code or common sense determines whether the door swings inward left hand (hinges on the left if you are on the outside) or right hand (hinges on the right side) ? I had always thought that it was determined by making sure the light switches are just inside the side of the handle (door needs to be open just a little to turn on lights) and when the door was not centered in the space, that the opening was to the larger volume of the room or hallway. What is the general concensus on how to make the right choice ?
Although there is no set rule for which way a door should swing, Sarah designs her doors to swing so that they can fold close to the wall. In other words, they should open to the larger space. The placement of light switches in relationship to the door opening is secondary to being able to enter with ease and without feeling squished up against a wall.
