Above the entrance, there is an arched gable access hatch to the attic, which is called an arkengab. The hatch leads into the attic where straw was stored. Simultaneously, the arkengab had the function of providing greater protection in the case of fire, giving the residents more time to escape the house. The fire hazard was great in that the houses were mostly made of reeds.
Another characteristic detail is the green, black and white bricks above doors and windows. The three colours symbolize birth, life and death. In Hannes Hus, a museum in Sønderho, it is possible to see how a typical Fanø house was furnished and decorated. With curved gables that are pulled above the roof surface, various houses built in the 1860s and 1870s are clearly inspired by Dutch architecture. The roofs are made from slate or brick and the windows have sills.