Doors hinged on "wrong" side

[Westholme]

My two front rooms (front parlour and master bedroom) have door hinges such that one must walk beyond the door to enter the main part of the room. If they were hinged on the other side, entry to main part would be immediate and door would be 11 inches from parallel wall when fully open. So why were doors hinged on "wrong" side? Is it to keep heat from the fire inside the room better or for privacy or sometimes both?

 

[a twig]

Gave those partaking in enthusiastic friendship an extra second to pull their trousers up when unexpectedly interrupted?

 

[a twig]

More helpfully it turns out it is indeed a privacy thing - lots of interesting takes here

Why do most doors open inwards into rooms in the UK? Opening against the wall would give the room a lot more space.

Answer (1 of 10): I *think* I know what you mean… The side the door is hinged? Before about 1960/70, doors opened away from the adjacent wall, thus obscuring the room as you opened the door and walked in. Victorian house plan view showing doors that obscured the room as they were opened. Why?...

www.quora.com

 

[erikwoolf]

We had to remove the doors to strip them from paint and install new hinges. We took the opportunity to also change their orientation. However we also changed the position of the light switch at the same time (this was already scheduled work). If you prefer the privacy that the current position offers then you might want to leave it as is. We opted for the more light and airy feeling you get when having the door on the other side of the wall.

 

[Craig89]

I was informed by my joiner that it was indeed for privacy reasons, most importantly in bedrooms. I questioned it as my bedroom doors had been flipped upside down to be hung from the other jamb.

 

[Westholme]

Thanks for the replies. I need to utilise more space along the wall parallel to fully open door, therefore I plan to change the hinges to the "right" side. I hope to gain two feet more space (~3' after for door vs. ~5' before). Even one more foot would be helpful. The doors look to be the same front and back so just flip them about the vertical centre line, I think *. Frames need changing and light switches moved.

* Assuming door still fits frame if flipped.