Intro to Sliding Barn Doors

It is no secret that sliding doors and barn style doors have quickly grown in popularity and are making a stunning impact in residential and commercial applications.  This Intro to Sliding Barn Door Guide hopes to answer your questions and fill you in on everything you need to know about the popular design trend while providing examples and inspiration.

I’ll highlight various topics about sliding doors based on questions we’re commonly asked such as, where sliding doors are commonly installed, door styles we offer, and things to consider when planning for a sliding door in your home or office.

What are the benefits of sliding barn doors?

• Sliding doors save space by eliminating the room needed for door swings
• They create a focal point and can make a statement for a home or office.
• Unique doors looks great when they’re not in use, so they can be left open and not be in the way
• They provide a contrast of materials and create interest for a commonly boring and forgotten element of the home
• The greatest benefit is that a sliding door is so much more than just a door.  It is functional art!

How do I know which sliding door application will work best for my space?

There are three common applications; single, bi-parting, and bypass doors.  The most common sliding door application is a single door that slides either left or right.  This works great for smaller or standard openings assuming you have enough room for the door to slide in one direction.  This is also a great option for much larger openings assuming you have a wall large enough to accommodate the open door.

Another option is bi-parting doors.  This option is most common for larger openings or applications where you don’t have enough room for a single door to slide.  This is the case in the photos below where the opening is centered and the doors open in opposite directions so that they can be ‘stored’ on either side of the opening.

The final option is bypass doors.  This application is great for areas where barn doors are desired but there isn’t adequate room on either side of the opening for the door to slide.  In this application, the doors overlap and slide over one another so that half of the opening is accessible at any time.  This is a more complicated and expensive solution, but is often times the only possibility if a pair of doors are necessary or strongly desired.

What are the most common rooms or areas for a sliding door?

Although, we’ve installed sliding doors in many different residential and commercial applications, here are some of the most popular areas/rooms:

• Formal Dining/Entry (Shown below with Split X)
• Hall Closet
• Laundry Room (Shown below with Single Z)
• Theatre Room
• Master Closet
• Kitchen/Pantry (Shown below with Split X and built in Chalkboard)
• Master Bathroom
• Offices
• Commercial and Business Applications – Sliding doors have also been very popular in area business for use in offices, exam rooms, break rooms, conference rooms, and even to make a statement in the reception area.

What are the most popular door styles?

The most popular style we produce is the Double Z which is one of the more traditional barn door styles seen on agricultural buildings.  We have a selection of the most common door styles we offer however, you’re not limited to the styles we’ve done in the past.

As you’ll see in many of the example photos, many of the doors we have created compliment the weathered, rustic wood character aesthetic that has become very popular.  However, we’ve also built more modern or contemporary doors which is accomplished using vertical or horizontally aligned boards.  Corrugated metal can also be incorporated for more industrial looking applications.

Other considerations for your door may be to add more functional elements.  We’ve built custom doors to include mirrors, windows, chalk boards, or even slat style privacy doors that covered patio door yet still let light in; the options area really endless.  We’re happy to explore new concepts, designs, and styles.  The door illustrated below was installed in a master suite.  While the front appears to be a normal sliding barn door, when closed, the back functions as a full mirror to be used in the master closet/bath.

Do you want a sliding barn door or have a unique solution in mind for your home?   Jump over to our custom orders page and tell us about your project and make sure to check out our portfolio of sliding doors for more door inspiration.

The first step to getting started with your own barn door is to measure your space.  Need help?  Check out our barn door measuring guide.