With the hottest season of the year comes some of the peskiest summertime bugs—mosquitoes, bees, wasps, ticks, and biting flies. It’s scary enough to see those insects out and about when you’re in your front or backyard, but the last thing you want is to see them inside with you. A screen or storm door is the perfect solution to keep out bugs, especially if you live with kids or animals who are constantly going in and out of the house.
There are a number of different screen door styles to choose from depending on your lifestyle and the aesthetic of your home, but one thing’s for sure—screen doors don’t have to be inconvenient to assemble or stick out as an eyesore. There are plenty of screen and storm door styles to fit your home, whether it’s modern or farmhouse. Read on for some screen door styles that will be perfect for your home this summer—both because they’re cute and adept at keeping out those insects.
1. Sliding Screen Door
If you don’t like the sound of screen doors slamming whenever someone leaves the house, you might want to install a sliding screen door. These are placed on a sliding door track for a chic barn door style that is also functional. A white sliding screen door is ideal for blending in with white siding or standing out against brick.
2. Match Your Front Door
If you live in an area with lots of trees and wildlife, you might need a screen door to protect your house from bugs when your front door is open. But it’s also upsetting to think that your screen door will cover up your gorgeous front door and any decor that you might have hanging on the front. But if you’re in a DIY mood, it’s easy enough to find a wooden screen door and paint over it to match your front door. If your front door is blue, paint your screen door blue, too. You can even carry that blue color throughout the rest of your front porch or front yard by accenting it with a blue mailbox, blue pillows on porch chairs, or blue planters. The possibilities are endless.
3. Dutch Screen Door
Looking for something a little more rustic and unique? A Dutch screen door might be the answer. Dutch-style doors are unique because they open in two pieces, with the bottom and top separated. Dutch doors sometimes come with screen doors or windows, allowing light to easily filter into your home. If not, though, a Dutch screen door made of metal can maintain that rustic look and let kids and animals move easily between the indoors and outdoors.
4. Magnetic Screen Door
If you don’t want to spend time installing a screen door this summer only to take it down in the winter, a magnetic screen door might be an option for you and your family. Magnetic screen doors work on fixed, sliding, metal, and wood doors and feature a seam with magnets in the middle. These doors open with a gentle nudge so kids, dogs, and cats can move through them with ease—no door handles necessary. It’s as effortless as walking through a curtain of beads. The mesh is still heavy-duty and keeps your house safe from bugs. These doors attach easily with hook and loop backing and are just as easy to remove when screen door season is over. If you prefer, you can keep the door up year-round since the mesh is durable enough to withstand the elements—including autumn winds and winter frosts.
5. Doggy Screen Door
If you have a pup who can’t decide if they prefer to be inside or outside, a screen or storm door with a doggy door attached could help. Pet doors come in all different sizes, so you’ll be able to find one that fits your German Shepherd or toy poodle. The mesh will close immediately after your dog enters the house, keeping your home safe from other unwanted visitors.
6. Victorian Screen Door
Why should your front door steal the show? If you want to give your screen door some old-fashioned charm, you can install one that is decorated with ornaments, florals, and other swirling designs to give it the appearance of a picture frame. If your house already has some historical charm—or you’re just looking to add something a bit more old-fashioned to your otherwise modern house—this might do the trick.
7. Japanese Sliding Screen Doors
In Japan, some traditional households install paper screens known as shoji. They can be used as doors, windows, or room dividers and are usually made of translucent sheets laid on a wooden frame. This is a very unique style and helps filter light since the sheets are translucent. Some are even decorated with designs such as flowers, mountains, and birds. While it may be difficult for traditional shoji to withstand the elements in a state with harsher winters, you might consider adapting this look to fit a traditional screen door.
