German houses are typically made using white plaster or stucco. The windows open from the inside out like a door. Older houses use a cross-timbered or fachwerk style where wooden beams form an X on the sides of the building. There are normally gates which open up into the yard and lead to the door. There is also generally an entry hall so that residents and guests can change into house shoes before walking inside. There are generally no closets attached to the walls but armoirs and wardrobes are used instead.