Renovating
17 Sliding Barn Doors You're Going to Fall in Love With
Ever considered a barn door in your home? You might do after reading this...
Once the sole preserve of rustic agricultural buildings, the humble barn door has been elevated in recent years and we’ve seen it cropping up in homes across Houzz. If you like the idea of using one in your own home, here are 17 sliding barn door ideas to inspire you.
Hide the mechanism
Barn doors usually have an exposed sliding mechanism that can work well as a feature in an industrial scheme. But this is a good example of how to integrate a barn door into a more classic interior by hiding the sliding mechanism behind a slim wall casing, rendering it invisible, and allowing the door to gently slide open and closed as if by magic.
Barn doors usually have an exposed sliding mechanism that can work well as a feature in an industrial scheme. But this is a good example of how to integrate a barn door into a more classic interior by hiding the sliding mechanism behind a slim wall casing, rendering it invisible, and allowing the door to gently slide open and closed as if by magic.
Let the light in
Ideal for north-facing rooms or gloomy spaces, a half-glazed barn door is a great way to create a room division without blocking the light. Choose this option for rooms that could do with borrowing light from adjoining spaces. The glazing will allow sun to pour in from nearby rooms, while still acting as a divider.
Be inspired by sliding pocket doors
Ideal for north-facing rooms or gloomy spaces, a half-glazed barn door is a great way to create a room division without blocking the light. Choose this option for rooms that could do with borrowing light from adjoining spaces. The glazing will allow sun to pour in from nearby rooms, while still acting as a divider.
Be inspired by sliding pocket doors
Paint it a shade darker
Painting your door a couple of tones darker than the wall colour of your room is a smart way to make a quiet style statement. This elegant grey door whispers rather than shouts and is all the more stylish for it.
Painting your door a couple of tones darker than the wall colour of your room is a smart way to make a quiet style statement. This elegant grey door whispers rather than shouts and is all the more stylish for it.
Double up
While barn doors can work well individually, a double set creates a pleasing symmetry and sense of order, as demonstrated in this open-plan living space and study. Good for larger scale living rooms, or to create a traditional feel, they can bring a refined ‘modern-country’ feel.
While barn doors can work well individually, a double set creates a pleasing symmetry and sense of order, as demonstrated in this open-plan living space and study. Good for larger scale living rooms, or to create a traditional feel, they can bring a refined ‘modern-country’ feel.
Add character
The door in this loft conversion is made from upcycled planks, and it brings texture and interest to the room. If you want to create a similar look, ask a carpenter to make you one using recycled boards or try your local salvage yard for an antique door to upcycle.
The secrets of successful upcycling
The door in this loft conversion is made from upcycled planks, and it brings texture and interest to the room. If you want to create a similar look, ask a carpenter to make you one using recycled boards or try your local salvage yard for an antique door to upcycle.
The secrets of successful upcycling
Pick up graphic accents
Although this scheme is predominantly white, the black hardware above this barn door neatly echoes the graphic accents of the lighting and artwork in the room beyond, creating a visual link between the two spaces.
Although this scheme is predominantly white, the black hardware above this barn door neatly echoes the graphic accents of the lighting and artwork in the room beyond, creating a visual link between the two spaces.
Choose a double-width door
Barn doors can be made bespoke to fit any room, so they are useful for creating a large, flexible dividing screen in an open-plan space. By choosing a double-width door like this one, you can create a ‘moving wall’ effect that can effectively zone a space in an instant.
Barn doors can be made bespoke to fit any room, so they are useful for creating a large, flexible dividing screen in an open-plan space. By choosing a double-width door like this one, you can create a ‘moving wall’ effect that can effectively zone a space in an instant.
Maximise shiplap
The vertical timber panels on this barn door create a pleasing visual link to the vertical panels in the room beyond, while offering a subtle contrast to the horizontal panelling on the walls in the foreground. A neat tip for making a small room seem taller, vertical lines will draw the eye up and elongate the space.
The vertical timber panels on this barn door create a pleasing visual link to the vertical panels in the room beyond, while offering a subtle contrast to the horizontal panelling on the walls in the foreground. A neat tip for making a small room seem taller, vertical lines will draw the eye up and elongate the space.
Bring it up to date
If you want the warmth of wood but not the rustic texture and finish, choose a light-toned door with wide horizontal planks like this one and opt for a lightly-oiled, glossy finish. A slim aluminium handle bar also adds a contemporary update.
If you want the warmth of wood but not the rustic texture and finish, choose a light-toned door with wide horizontal planks like this one and opt for a lightly-oiled, glossy finish. A slim aluminium handle bar also adds a contemporary update.
Introduce warmth to a white scheme
A dark-wood barn door like this one instantly brings warmth, character and interest to a minimal room scheme, and it can be all the décor you need to make a statement. Choose a door with an aged patina or visible woodgrain, as shown here, to provide the contrast to crisp, white-painted walls.
10 ideas to add warmth to your bathroom
A dark-wood barn door like this one instantly brings warmth, character and interest to a minimal room scheme, and it can be all the décor you need to make a statement. Choose a door with an aged patina or visible woodgrain, as shown here, to provide the contrast to crisp, white-painted walls.
10 ideas to add warmth to your bathroom
Create a bright backdrop
In a room where your sliding door is going to be very much on display, painting it a bright shade means it can take the place of artwork or other accessories, so consider your shade carefully. This cherry-red door covers a lot of the wall space behind the dining table. By painting it such a bold shade, it makes it look like a moving piece of art.
In a room where your sliding door is going to be very much on display, painting it a bright shade means it can take the place of artwork or other accessories, so consider your shade carefully. This cherry-red door covers a lot of the wall space behind the dining table. By painting it such a bold shade, it makes it look like a moving piece of art.
Go smooth
While wood panels are traditional for a barn door, a single panel of wood veneer will bring this look right up to date. A door like this slots neatly into a pared-back scheme.
While wood panels are traditional for a barn door, a single panel of wood veneer will bring this look right up to date. A door like this slots neatly into a pared-back scheme.
Screen a pantry
Using a barn door as a larder door lends an unusual twist to a kitchen and will instantly bring a dash of country style to your culinary space. Practical as well as beautiful, a sliding door will glide neatly to one side rather than opening up into the room, freeing up valuable floor space. This makes it a very neat solution for a small home.
10 ways to add kitchen storage without completely renovating
Using a barn door as a larder door lends an unusual twist to a kitchen and will instantly bring a dash of country style to your culinary space. Practical as well as beautiful, a sliding door will glide neatly to one side rather than opening up into the room, freeing up valuable floor space. This makes it a very neat solution for a small home.
10 ways to add kitchen storage without completely renovating
Use your door to colour block
If you’re a fan of colour blocking, why not take it one step further and use your door to create a bold square of pure colour as beautifully demonstrated here? Not for the faint-hearted, this creates a strong statement, but for those bold enough to try it, the payoff can be a bright and cheery living space.
If you’re a fan of colour blocking, why not take it one step further and use your door to create a bold square of pure colour as beautifully demonstrated here? Not for the faint-hearted, this creates a strong statement, but for those bold enough to try it, the payoff can be a bright and cheery living space.
Be consistent
If you want to slot a barn door into your scheme as effortlessly as possible, consider toning in the colour of the door and tracking material with the walls, windows and rest of the doors – as demonstrated here. This way, it will fit quietly into a room rather than standing out.
If you want to slot a barn door into your scheme as effortlessly as possible, consider toning in the colour of the door and tracking material with the walls, windows and rest of the doors – as demonstrated here. This way, it will fit quietly into a room rather than standing out.
Try the unexpected
In a utility room, or an area of the house that isn’t used as often as a living room or kitchen, you can be a little braver with colour and introduce a juicy shade like the zingy orange shown here. Set against fresh white walls and contrasting with the light turquoise cabinets in the room beyond, the orange makes the scheme feel lighthearted and fun.
Would you consider a barn door in your home? Let us know in the Comments section.
In a utility room, or an area of the house that isn’t used as often as a living room or kitchen, you can be a little braver with colour and introduce a juicy shade like the zingy orange shown here. Set against fresh white walls and contrasting with the light turquoise cabinets in the room beyond, the orange makes the scheme feel lighthearted and fun.
Would you consider a barn door in your home? Let us know in the Comments section.
A barn door is not a shy and retiring piece of décor, so there’s definitely a case for going all out and making a feature of it by picking a bright and cheery hue that will lift your spirits every day. Try a sunshine yellow shade like the one on this bright door.