When someone visits your home, what are some of the first things they notice? Your front garden, your lawn, and your front door. The doors of your home, especially the front and back entry, set the stage for the appearance and feel of the entire home.

While sliding glass doors and traditional swing doors are very popular, there are a plethora of alternatives that can add a unique touch to your living and commercial spaces.

Below, we’ll explore some innovative front entry and sliding glass door alternatives. Read on to discover the perfect sliding glass door alternatives fit for your home or business and unlock a world of possibilities!

Advantages of Pivot Doors

Aesthetically Stunning

As in sliding glass doors, Pivot doors are a great way to add a striking visual aspect to your front entry. Because they’re often larger, they’re also a bolder option for your front entry door than a regular hinged door as a sliding glass door alternative.

Wider Entry

Pivot doors are frequently used in larger entries and come in a range of custom sizes. For example, at Panda Windows & Doors, our pivot doors are available in sizes up to 16 by 8 feet!

Versatile

While pivot doors are an excellent option for your front entry door, they can be used almost anywhere in the home. Front door, retail entry, commercial establishments and offices are all great places to use pivot doors.

Voyage Select Pivot Doors

At Panda, we offer a line of Voyage Select Pivot Doors. 10 opulent Voyage Select pivot door designs are each inspired by a famous city. They aim to reflect the culture and feel of the city in the design of the door so that you can bring a piece of your favorite city home with you. We also offer customization options for this unique line of pivot doors.

Folding Doors

Sliding glass doors are a great option for connecting indoor and outdoor spaces, but they’re far from the only option. If you’re looking to blur the line between your indoor and outdoor living spaces with sliding door alternatives, these are another excellent choice.

Types of Folding Doors

Folding doors, also called accordion doors, consist of two or more panels that fold and stack against each other when opened, providing a wide and unobstructed view. Accordion doors are available in various configurations and can be customized to fit any space.

With their smooth operation and elegant design, these sliding door alternatives offer a versatile and inviting connection to your outdoor environment or indoor spaces. Panda’s innovative doors feature a proprietary top-hung design that allows individual panels to stack or fold against one another on either side of the door frame.

Multi-Panel Folding Door

When you think of a folding door that connects the indoors and outdoors, the multi-panel folding door is probably what first comes to mind. Multi-panel folding doors contain several panels that slide on a track and fold on either side of the entryway.

Also referred to as folding glass walls for their ability to occupy entire walls of the home, these doors are similar to the glass sliding door, but rather than sliding together, they fold and stack together. Both sliding glass doors and multi-panel folding doors are commonly used as patio doors.

Though the functions of the sliding glass door and multi-panel folding doors are slightly different, the result is much the same: an easy-to-use entryway that allows for a seamless connection to the outdoors or the rest of the house. Plus, with large glass panels, these doors allow you to enjoy plenty of sunlight and backyard views.

Single Bi-Fold Door

Although Panda does not offer these types of doors, also referred to as concertina doors, these doors consist of only two panels that connect via hinges. Single bi-fold doors are the smallest type of folding door, for this reason, they are often used as closet doors or laundry room doors.

Bi-Fold Barn Door

The bi-fold barn door takes a unique spin on the bi-fold door. It operates the same way as a single bi-fold door but utilizes the rustic look of the barn door. This type of folding door can be used practically anywhere in the home to add a stylish touch. Bi-fold barn doors can also be used to accommodate front entries for a unique aesthetic.

Single-Panel Accordion Door

Single-panel accordion doors are similar to single bi-fold doors. Whereas single bi-fold doors have two distinct panels, single-panel accordion doors have one panel that folds down the middle. These doors can be used for front entryways, but are commonly used for small spaces like narrow closet doors or even room dividers.

Lift and Slide Doors

The lift and slide door combines the functionality of a glass sliding door with an added touch of elegance and resilience. Some of the advantages you get with the lift and slide doors simply aren’t available for regular sliding doors, making these doors an excellent alternative.

Advantages of Lift and Slide Doors

Resilient and Secure

Panda’s Lift & Slide Doors are a great option for a sliding glass door and utilizes a proprietary system of levers and wheels that drop securely into the bottom track. Double-v gaskets located along the perimeter of the panels produce an airtight and watertight seal which provides superb weather resistance and security.

Abundance of Views and Natural Light

With large glass panels within sliding glass doors, lift and slide doors offer an abundance of natural light, creating a bright and airy atmosphere in your home. Plus, they highlight the beautiful outdoors, like your garden, your favorite tree in the backyard, and your patio.

Optimal Transition

Lift and slide doors provide a seamless transition between your indoor and outdoor spaces. They allow the easy flow of air and movement inside and out, opening the indoors of your home to the outdoors when you need it, then securely locking your home up when you close it.

Versatile

At Panda Windows & Doors, we offer a range of sizes and finishes for our sliding glass door line of Lift & Slide Doors so that we can accommodate your individual taste and specifications, no matter what.

Horizontal Sliding Wall

If you like sliding glass doors but want maximum views with the option of no frames, then our line of Horizontal Sliding Wall Systems is exactly what you need. Our Horizontal Sliding Wall Door System is the top-tier option for maximizing openings.

This door system can maximize views up to 100% with completely customizable parking areas. When open, you can store the panels out of view so your wall is completely opened up.

Furthermore, the frameless option allows you to soak in all the sunlight and views you could ask for when closed, making this door system perfect for patio doors or anywhere you want to enjoy the view!

Operable swing panels can be integrated into this door system for daily use.

Sliding Barn Doors

Sliding barn doors are great front entry door and sliding glass door alternatives for anyone who appreciates the operation of the glass sliding door but wants the added privacy of something nontransparent.

Sliding barn doors typically consist of a single track at the top of the entryway which the doors slide along to open and close. These stylish sliding glass door alternatives can make any front entryway shine. Sliding barn doors are especially popular for anyone going for a rustic farmhouse feel, and can also be installed in the interior of the home.

Shoji Sliding Doors

Shoji sliding doors have a history of over a thousand years in Japan. They’re a simple and elegant sliding door option that usually features a bamboo or wood frame and translucent rice paper that provide privacy while allowing sunlight through. Shoji sliding doors are a unique option for sliding glass door alternatives.

Dutch Doors

For another sliding glass door alternative, Dutch doors are a distinctive and charming option. Dutch doors are divided into a top and bottom section that separately swing, allowing you to open the top half while keeping the bottom half closed.

Not only do Dutch doors add charm, but they’re practical too. If you want to let in some fresh air and sunlight without worrying about pets or small children getting out, dutch doors are an especially appealing option.

Glass Roll Up Door

Similar to a garage door, these unique glass doors roll up on tracks, allowing you to easily open up the indoor space to the outdoor environment as opposed to a more traditional sliding glass door.

Glass Roll Up Doors for Commercial Spaces

Glass roll up doors are increasingly popular in commercial spaces, specifically coffee shops, restaurants, breweries, and wineries. You can find these unique glass doors in any commercial space that aims to blend the inside with the outside, allowing for an easy flow of customers and staff.

The Residential Glass Roll Up Door

However, glass roll up doors are by no means exclusive to commercial spaces. They can be used for sunrooms, garages, greenhouses, and more.

They provide a wonderful partition to your property that allows ample sunlight to wander inside when closed and can open up a large section of your home to nature and fresh air.

Center Swing Patio Doors

Moving forward with more options for sliding glass door alternatives, center swing patio doors, also called center hinge patio doors, typically have an appearance similar to French doors.

They feature two panels that are hinged in the center. One of the doors is stationary, while the other swings along the center hinge and folds inward parallel to the stationary door.

By doing so, center swing patio doors allow you to maximize indoor space when the door is open as another option over french doors.

French Doors: A Tasteful Twist of the Traditional

French Doors are the perfect sliding glass door alternatives for those who enjoy the natural light that the glass sliding door provides but want something a bit more traditional. Also called egress or terrace doors, these elegant doors are a popular option for entryways, patio doors, and indoor use.

French doors feature two framed glass panels that are hinged on both sides. They swing outward like traditional doors and open in the middle. French doors are also a popular option for double front entry doors.

Panda Windows & Doors

If you’re on the hunt for alternatives to sliding glass doors or front entry doors, look no further than Panda.

At Panda Windows & Doors, we offer a wide selection of quality options, each of which comes with its own set of customization options, sizes, and material choices to suit your specific taste and requirements. Regardless of the type of door or sliding glass door alternative you’re looking for, or whether it’s for a commercial or residential space, we’ve got you covered.

Browse our website for the perfect doors, request a quote, give us a call or live chat with one of our helpful representatives. Contact us today!