Why do front doors in Sweden open outwards?
Most Swedish front doors open outwards. I think the reason for this is mainly because you want to keep snow out in the winter. Doors opening inwards will leave snow and meltwater on your carpet and treshold. One might think that it should be difficult to open the door outwards if there’s a lot of snow outside. Actually, this isn’t much of a problem. Swedish houses are often built on high foundations and it takes a lot of snow to get “snowed in”. There might be a small snow drive on the step outside, but it’s usually quite easy to push the snow away with the door when opening it. Other reasons for opening the door outwards are that it doesn’t infringe on your indoor space, and that it’s easier to get out in case of an emergency. (If many people are trying to get out, they might block the door from inside so you can’t open it inwards.) Drawbacks are that the police or fire department can’t kick the door in. A door opening inwards might also feel more welcoming to visitors. Some apartment
