They look lovely as they are.

I would not do pocket doors because you'll have to rip up that wall and lose any light switches by the doorway (or make the wall extra thick). I love pocket doors! But they work best if thought out before building.

Either remove the doors and fill the holes from the hinges (I'd save the doors if they are at all unique or old though!) or leave them.

How do you live? How do you/would you use your dining room?

You are right, we have a big eat-in kitchen for the first time. The dining room will probably be used for Thanksgiving/Christmas, family events, etc in addition to kitchen table space. I was just wondering how many people actually close the french doors, or do they just look pretty open. The contractor did mention that the lights on the walls would have to be moved over, but that it wasn't a big deal. Just wondering if the pocket doors would leave more space when inside the dining room, or if it doesn't really matter. Thanks all!

Thank you, Rachel, Beckysharp and Fori, It will definitely be a dining room; we have an office upstairs. I think they look pretty, but the contractor said they're in the way when they're open. I never had them before, so I don't know, and right now is the time to break the wall while we are about to begin kitchen construction.

How large is your dining room? What are they in the way of when they are opened? Do they fold back against the d.r. walls completely, or interfere with chairs or furniture on those walls? I think they look nice and I love being able to close off seldom used rooms. They stay cleaner, keeps pets out and kind of makes the space seem more special when you go in there.

If you're never going to close them, I wouldn't go to the expense of pocket doors because they'll probably just stay inside the wall all the time, but if you'll close them, and the french doors are truly in the way, then I'd do the pockets.

Thanks, Olychick -- I have no dining room furniture yet. We moved a few months ago and are using it as a bedroom now while our upstairs level gets new floors. I think the doors fold completely but I have so much packed into the room that I can't try it. As soon as the upstairs floors are done, I'll move the beds out of the dining room and check it out. The contractor thinks they prevent the use of furniture on some of the walls. I just wasn't sure if I got pocket doors if I would ever pull the doors out to close. Maybe - just for show. You're right though -- I don't want the expense of pocket doors if I'll never pull them out of the wall. Who really closes the dining room doors anyway?? That's what I was wondering. Does anyone with french door close them?

I would keep doors of some sort to maintain maximum flexibility. When you have children or television sports loving family members, it's nice to close the doors and enjoy the quiet company of other guests, especially on those major holidays when the house is overflowing with people.

I prefer pocket doors because they don't take up any space in a room and most dining rooms are too small.

How much will it cost to do the pocket doors? That would be a factor! I would be inclined to either leave them or do pocket doors...not bc I would need them or use them but to retain flexibility for resale. So many people don't use a formal dining room (not me...we use ours a lot!!) and doors make it a good office. What are your room dimensions? If I had those doors, I would just keep them fully open against the wall. They might affect art placement, but not furniture if you didn't open and close them.

The only time we ever used our doors to the dining room was when the kids were very little and we didn't want the noise from guests to wake them up. In our reno, we took the doors out and opened our main floor up a bit. Now the kids are 13 and 18 and have friends over after DH and I go to sleep and we sometimes wish we could close the doors to reduce noise (but generally we just grump at them until they move to the basement).

Something to keep in mind: keeping interior doors closed, obstructing airflow, isn't energy efficient. In other words, you might not want to keep the doors closed all the time (although that would look nice). Check out this link.

I would remove them and have a nice open flowing space , we had french doors on our DR when I was growing up the only time they were closed is when my Mom had set the table for a special party and did not want it disturbed.

The closed doors tell the world it is a place that is never used. That would inspire me to re-purpose that room. Great place for a home office. My sister did this and also removed the doors. It was amazing how open and updated just doing that made the entry feel. I would never actually eat in there with the doors closed, and the vision of running children while adults eat..well I see a head or arm going right through that glass. How big is that room? Imagine it full of eating guests...can the doors open easily w/o chairs being sucked in? Pocket doors and actually using the room seem to give you more space, or find a way for the doors to open out into the hall.

One of the doors opens into the adjacent wall, and the other one opens almost against the wall. I don't think the chair would have to be pulled in, but I can't tell without furniture. I don't need it for an office - There's one upstairs. I am definitely going to use it for a dining room, just not sure if it's worth the pocket.... Thank you all

There can be a psychological as well as physical barrier with doors. Since you want to use the space as a dining room, it might be more tempting and encouraging to use the space more often if it flows naturally from the rest of the house, and you can walk in and out easily with dishes, food, etc.

i'd leave the doors there, work out nice interior lighting (on a timer) so it looks like a jewel box, and eat there once a week instead of just holidays.

we eat in our dining room every meal (even when we had an eat in kitchen possibility) but i can understand why others don't. but once a week will keep it from being a crypt or over run with junk mail. nicely lit will keep it from being a cave. leaving the doors is the cheapest choice, once your furniture is selected is soon enough to have them removed, its not that big of a deal.

Over the years, I have found doors on my DR to be very useful, especially when I had cats and young children. Cats? They're nosey, would get up on my beautifully set table, and would lick the butter off the butter plates. NOT happening! Children? At holiday times, most people typically use their best china, silver, crystal. It's very nice to know that it's safely behind closed doors if one has young children.

Thank you, guys. I am going to keep them. Just still deciding between keeping the french doors or changing them to pocket. I didn't even mention the fact that I'm making another opening in the dining room on another wall that leads to the kitchen. So I will then need a pocket door on that end.

Pocket doors only of reasonable. Otherwise French. I prefer solid doors for sound and flexibility with room use.

I wouldn’t do the pocket doors, they’re great for when you don’t have space for an actual door, but the open french doors is a classic and very pretty look.

did you ever go with the pocket doors? i'm debating on installing some to block off my DR from a den that i want to repurpose to a mudroom. I currently have no doors in the space so curious as to the rough cost to install!