Barn doors have been popular for a while, but are they still worth considering installing?
That’s our topic today.
If you have a tight space or want an easy door solution that the average DIY enthusiast can install, a barn door might be a good choice for you. “Sliding barn-style doors can add character to your interior décor. If you want a stylish door alternative, barn doors are a unique and eye-catching option,” says Sarah Fishburne, director of trends and design at Home Depot. She also notes that barn doors are a viable option for narrow or compact spaces that may not have enough room for more traditional door types. While fan-favorite barn doors do have benefits, what other factors should you consider when deciding which door is best for your space? Let’s take a look today.
What You Need to Know About Barn Doors
“Choosing the right sliding barn door for your home depends on your personal style and the architectural design of your home,” says Fishburne. “No matter the material or style, adding or replacing a door can really define a space.” While barn doors seem synonymous with the farmhouse-style homes that have become increasingly popular over the past decade, Fisburne assures that there are plenty of other barn door styles to choose from that offer a more classic, modern, or traditional feel. “Don’t forget that the track color will make the door feel one way or another,” she advises. “There’s even matte gold hardware available now that can reflect both a modern feel or the Art Deco trend.”
CCJH offers barn door hardware kits in stainless steel colors in addition to matte black.
Barn Door Installation Considerations
While learning how to install a barn door is a relatively easy project, Fishburne advises that an attention to detail is paramount in order to ensure the door works safely and effectively. Here she provides a few more helpful tips for installing barn doors:
Space: Depending on whether you opt for a single sliding door or a double, you’ll have to make sure there is suitable clearance next to the door opening for the door or doors to slide completely open. Of course, a double door will need clearance on both sides of the opening.
Location: While placement of outlets, heating and cooling registers, and light switches are important factors to be aware of, they don’t necessarily need to be deal breakers if they’re potentially in the path of your future barn door. Simply hiring an electrician to relocate them can resolve the issue.
Measurements: “A sliding barn door should be tall enough so that there is about a 1/2-inch of space between the bottom of the door and the floor when it’s hung on the metal track,” says Fishburne. “It should also be wide enough to completely cover the entryway with an inch or two of overhang on both sides and about one inch at the top.”
Reasonableness: Whether this door can really be integrated into the current decoration style of your home is also an essential factor that you need to consider.
（Customer feedback PIC）——Reasonable use of space and high adaptability！
Barn Door Alternatives
If a barn door isn’t right for you or your space, there are other style alternatives that can create a sleeker look, provide an interesting storage solution, seamlessly slide into the wall, or fold accordion style.
Bifold Doors: “Bifold doors are made of two small panels that fold into each other as they open,” explains Fishburne. “These doors are installed on a track inside the closet frame.” She suggests using them in places where space is very limited. You can customize them to suite your decor and even opt for brighter paint to make them pop.
Bookcase Doors: “Bookcase doors, also known as hidden doors, are a sophisticated option for medium-size to large rooms,” says Fishburne. “The built-in shelving offers extra storage and display space, and many are designed to sit flush with the frame for a seamless design.” If you’re looking for a door that can actually enhance your space instead of just acting as a necessary element, a hidden door might be the ticket.
Pocket Doors: These doors can be completely hidden to keep the space feeling open and airy. When they slide out and into action, they can instantly define a room or space. For example, an office that’s built into a tucked-away nook in the bedroom can be completely closed off when the work day has ended. Similarly, a messy mudroom can be hidden from view when guests drop by after a particularly messy post-soccer-practice equipment drop and opened back up to the main living quarters when the space is put back together—or moved to the laundry room.
Sliding Doors: If you’re looking for a door option that will provide a modern look with a sleek finish and is easy to install, sliding doors might be what you’re after. “Like bifold doors, these are installed on a track in the closet frame,” explains Fishburne. “However, the door shifts to the side inside the closet instead of folding open.” She recommends opting for sliding doors in smaller rooms that aren’t able to accommodate doors that open out and away from a closet.