Don’t have one but would not want one because I HAVE spent time with them (my sister’s house). Have you spent much time actually using one? If not, find a parade home with them and open and close them a few times. Imagine going to close it in middle of night, or when you are in a hurry to use the toilet, etc. Pay attention especially if your desire is for one without any type of handle. Run the tap, go back into the bedroom, and close the door and listen.

I know some people do but there is no way I would ever put a sliding barn door on a bathroom or any other often-used room. They are not that quiet to operate, especially as they get bigger and heavier (and older) and with a large door if unsecured at bottom end (as they usually are) they tend to move/wave about more. They let light escape. As for sound, probably depends on your routines and how heavy a sleeper your partner is. I get up hours before my husband and no, I would not trust a barn door to dampen the sounds of the faucet, shower, electric toothbrush, etc for my husband still sleeping in bed.

On an office or den where you prefer to leave the doors open most of the time? Even a master closet. Sure, if you like that look. But I am one of those who says nay to barn doors on bathrooms.

it is a novelty.

I would not want one on a bedroom or a bath, but have one on our walk-in pantry. We used the same door style as the rest of the house hung with a barn door rail. Yes, it is a trend and easily redone if we want in the future. Must say it is really easy to use and I like the extra hardware in our space.

We put one on our laundry room to free up some otherwise unusable wall space. Even through some people consider them "trendy" or a "novelty" they are useful in some situations. Our's works great. I don't think I would use one as a bedroom door, but might consider one for a master bathroom, depending on the situation.

No privacy. No sound reduction. Might as well not be a door there.

When it's open it covers the adjacent wall, so that nothing can be on the wall...when it's closed, it's not...!

Don't do it!

In most situations I really do not like them. More of a trend that is likely to disappear soon. Had a client install one recently on their main floor powder room, as the door is at least 1" or more from the wall their is no sound privacy and the installers had to rig something up so the door could be latched from the inside to prevent someone else from inadvertently opening it while someone was in there.

I’m a big fan of barn doors but not for bedroom or bathroom applications. I’m going to have a double barn door in my house. It’s going in the kitchen for our pantry. I’m totally exited for my trendy doors!

Barn doors are bad, but especially for bathrooms. They don't block noise, smells, light or moisture. They're also noisy. Just use a regular door for the bathroom use the barn door for a room that doesn't need privacy.

I have a sliding "barn" door leading down to my basement. It really was the best use of the space in my floor plan situation as there had previously been a regular swing door it it was a hazard in its particular location. Would've been a worse hazard to change the direction of the swing, and it was not possible to replace it with a pocket door in that location. So, barn door it was. (I'm attaching a photo, ours doesn't look like a barn door, but it is larger than the opening) It doesn't give the privacy most would prefer for a bedroom or bathroom... but I have seen some that do! We have a neighbor who has one for her main floor powder room, and I don't know what kind it is, but it sort of slides into place so that it's all shut like a normal door, the track isn't just straight like most. Hers was very nice. Mine is loud as all get out though. I mean, I have a large home, almost 6,000 square feet, two floors plus basement... and it doesn't matter where you are in the home, you know when someone has opened or closed the basement barn door. That reason alone would make me not want a barn door for a master bathroom since my hubby wakes up much earlier than me on the weekdays. Now, in our situation, I would still go with my barn door again in a heartbeat. It solved a real problem for us that was much more important than a loud door... but they are noisy when you slide them. It really does seem to echo through the house.

I’d consider using them for a walk in closet or something similar. Definitely not a space that should be locked or needs total privacy.

If it wasn't a waste of money, I would remove the sliding barn doors from our barn. The best use of sliding barn doors is on Trading Spaces (the show where you remodel your neighbor's house), assuming you secretly hate your neighbors.

Almost any other workable solution is better.

Hi MIndy,

We have a barn door for our one and only bathroom in our tiny NYC area condo and we love it, no problems. Quiet, efficient, the millennials (who is the majority in our building) always oooh & aahh over it when they come over, etc.

Barn door is not "going away" or "trendy," contrarily, it's very much desired.

Wow, thank you for the great feedback! I think I have been officially talked out of the sliding barn door option. I agree that the design and beauty does not outweigh the annoyance it will utterly cause in my situation. I may look into the pocket door option for the locking ability and ease of use. This is for my master bath and it is practically in the corner of the room, so there is space for a swing door, but then it does make that corner unusable as the swing door takes up much more space. I have lived in a rental home in Phoenix where it was a completely opened arch doorway to the master bath and although really attractive and modern, it was a nightmare with the light and noise every single morning, so I want to avoid that. Thanks again for your feedback!!!

Considering mirrored pocket door (mirror facing inside of bathroom) now....

We have a barn door between our bedroom and bath adit works fine. Privacy is not an issue with a separate toilet room with a real door (only place privacy is an issue for us. It wasn't that we just had to have a barn door, but it eliminated door swing issues and a pocket door would have made outlets and switches beside the sinks problematic. Also all ourdoors are 8' and that seemed a bit cumbersome for a pocket door. It operates easily and quietly but, honestly, it stays open most of the time. Just no reason to close it.

I've since added art to the right of the door.

We have one on our powder room, and it works fine. It is nearly as effective as a regular door. But- if it were in a bedroom, the sound it makes might be a problem. Our powder room is in such a position that any perceived loss of privacy isn't an issue. I wouldn't want one for our master bath. Ours is bigger than the opening, and fitted very carefully.

I know that they are a hot trend, and soon to be passe, but we planned for one before they were hot, and ours is an antique door, with antique hardware. We like the look, and it gets raves from all of our visitors.

We are putting one on the walk-in pantry in our new construction. Honestly, I think it will remain open 99% of the time, and it is more for the aesthetic than the need for a door. Could probably get away without having a door there if we wanted to. Will probably paint it a fun color, like red or blue.

I’ve only ever had them on our barn. They cover large openings, and work fine there most of the time. Occasionally, they irritate the heck out of me, though. Because of that, I would never want one inside my house for any normal interior door opening.

I stayed in a hotel that had a barn door dividing the bathroom from the bedroom. In terms of sound, it was as if there was no door at all, just open concept with the shower and toilet next to the bed. Unbelievably impractical.

Obviously you can tell from the comments that it depends on the application. We have one on our pantry as well, because a pocket door would have been way more work and dollars and a regular door would be hitting our dining table. Love it.

Janelle, exactly the same reason for us too. A single barn door can be cheaper than a pocket door, give you a stronger wall, and allow you to put electrical boxes in the wall. Plus the barn door does not swing wide, interfering with circulation in the space.

Our powder bath door and entry to garage door are across from each other. A huge hazard when both doors open. We solved the problem by installing two 18" wide barn doors that latch in the center. The doors look great and solved
our problem.

With the doors open.

Have one on a closet. We used some spacers when it was installed so that we could have a piece of art on that wall.

Mindy,,,I have both (actually 3,,,,i did a slider across my master closet). I never close this door. or the water closet doors. we just aren't in there at the same time. husband works nights, so it's not an issue in the morning.

I did a pocket door w/one lite, frosted, for the entry door (this would be the best option if you can squeeze in a pocket door.

looking out of the door across to my master closet:

I found an old door on craigslist, painted it and mirrored the glass. door hardware and slider hardware, eBay,,,$60.

for the water closet I found some raw wood, solid doors, painted them and added glass. used antique hardware and the slider from eBay. If I told you how much I paid for all of this you wouldn't believe me,,,but I could sell them for well over 1K.

and the one or two times these were closed, they offered plenty of privacy. these are thick wood doors w/heavy glass inserts, and it fits pretty close to the wall.

We are currently reconfiguring the entry closet in the foyer of our own home. We have the opportunity to use a barn door or pocket door. We chose the pocket door. It took less than half a second to make the decision.

If you do use one get soft close open and close. When looking nylon or ? some form of plastic wheels quiet them down. The problem is they are slow and yes have privacy depending on their location.

I hate the and have installed and everyone loves them so do as you please. A good way to eliminate the gap you can simply rip wood into 1x3/4 and install on door edges. What this does is close the gap made by your base moldings. When closed it is the basically like a solid door.

We stayed in a hotel once with a barn door on the bathroom. We did not like it; let's just say that the door does nothing to stop sounds or smells, and isn't that why you want a door?

I would accept (note I didn't say welcome) a barn door on a pantry or a closet ... but not on a "real room".