Doors With Character, Raised in a Barn
Save Space or Make a Statement With the Great Look of a Barn Door Inside
The origin of sliding barn doors is certainly no mystery; they were mounted to actual barns, which often required large openings. Whether reclaimed, reproduced or created from scratch, barn doors as an interior element have made quite a splash in recent years. Much like pocket doors, indoor barn doors offer a decorative yet functional alternative to standard swing doors, making them perfect for small spaces and statement-makers in grand spaces. Barn doors also make great room dividers, providing abundant flexibility and multi-function to spaces — a critical function for preserving precious square footage in smaller rooms.
Because they are installed on hardware outside door frames, barn door preparation and construction costs are lower than those required to create pocket doors. They can come in any size — replacing a traditional door or occupying an entire wall for a dramatic effect.
Because they are installed on hardware outside door frames, barn door preparation and construction costs are lower than those required to create pocket doors. They can come in any size — replacing a traditional door or occupying an entire wall for a dramatic effect.
Framed planks used to conceal a bedroom add decorative element to this open hallway.
A glass transom on this barn door ensures that light flows from one room to the next, connecting the spaces.
This immense door could have felt heavy and dark, especially since the space looks like it could be a tad underlit, but the translucent paned glass adds a textural element that brightens the overall feel.
This horizontal slat design looks like it might not quite fill the entire door opening, which is a great idea because when closed it would make a perfect room divider or screen. Light can still pass through, but guests don't have to see what's happening in the kitchen when sitting at the dining room table.
Doors can serve several functions, too. Why not make them fun and interactive with a dash of chalkboard paint?
This giant, white lacquered barn door gives what at one time may have been a fairly traditional home an open, airy, loft-like feel.
Perfect for a kitchen, where space is almost always at a premium, this barn door slides open to reveal a bookcase without obstructing any precious floor space.
These floor-to-ceiling high-lacquer doors flanking a relatively small opening from one room to another make a dramatic statement. The oversized scale and hardware make these modern barn doors a stunning architectural element.
I had the barn door that came with the loft I redesigned a few years ago cleaned up a bit, but not too much — I wanted to retain the beat up industrial feel of the metal-clad door. In this case, the opening the door led to had long-since been closed up, so it was purely a decorative element.
I loved the effect so much that I found another similar door in the building and reused it as a swing door for the bedroom!
More: Great Ideas for Pocket Doors
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More: Great Ideas for Pocket Doors
Browse more home design photos