Whether building or upgrading your space, having wide door options would reduce your dilemma. The barn door is trendy due to its style and functionality. This door has a rustic yet modern design and is compact, fitting perfectly in small spaces.
Before deciding on a barn door, it would be best to know what is a barn door in depth. With our comprehensive guide, you can voyage through your choices efficiently.
Contents
The Origin of Barn Doors
Barn doors contain sturdy materials like wood to withstand extreme weather and frequent use. The reason is because they need to be functional and performative in their setting. In agricultural settings, many people utilized barn doors, specifically sliding ones, to close their stables and barns. This sliding mechanism allows for smooth operation when accommodating farm equipment and animals.
The architectural style of barn doors began to shift as people loved the traditional and rustic style. In the 20th century, barn doors expanded their purpose in residential and commercial spaces. Because of this change, they have been fashioned as an effective door solution for many spaces. In this modern era, you can spot a barn door easily because of its mechanism and parts.
Pros Using Barn Doors
Barn doors caught the eye of many due to how outstanding they are. The following are the benefits they offer:
Style Variations
Barn doors have a wide range of design options frequently added in both interior and exterior spaces. They give your space a sense of refinement yet a traditional feel. All you need to do is select the appropriate color, finishes, and material. For instance, you can paint your door entirely white or matte black to match your space’s aesthetic.
Space-Efficient
One of the ideal door options for tight and compact spaces is barn doors. Barn doors slide horizontally when opening and closing as they are installed above doorways using hardware. This mechanism allows you to maximize the space without needing one for door arcs.
Functionality
Barn doors are designed to be functional and easy to use. Since they are installed on the top of the wall rather than the side, closing and opening the door won’t be hard. Barn doors are also built with sturdy materials like wood or metal, making them a strong and lasting performance.
Cons of Using Barn Doors
Like any other door, barn doors come with drawbacks. The following are the cons of using barn doors:
Not Fitted for Uneven Floors
Old spaces, such as traditional homes, usually have uneven floors from unmodern construction. In this scenario, the door will not tightly close or will not stay put. This door will leave an awkward design position in the space and the users. In this case, the door will not offer protection, privacy, or insulation.
Do Not Have Good Sound Insulation
Among the disadvantages of barn doors is that they don’t have good sound insulation. This door might have gaps around the edges and does not have tight-fitting seals, which allows for the sound to pass through. This door is massive and heavy because of its purpose, making it hard to add soundproofing elements.
Installation
Installing a barn door is not as easy as you think, especially if you are a DIYer. The installation process is tricky because you must hang the door evenly on the walls. It should also glide into the track smoothly. When the space and hardware are uneven, you have to make a constant adjustment yourself. Hence, knowing the proper measurement of the barn doors is a must.
Types of Barn Doors
There are a wide variety of barn doors to fit any space. With countless possibilities, here are the types you can choose from:
Sliding Barn Doors
Source: Pinterest
A sliding barn door slides when opened or closed due to the attached metal track. There are no hinges on this door, so you need to adjust the frames to enter your space. With this mechanism, there is a need to add a 1-inch measurement between the door and the wall of the tracker. The overall design of the sliding barn doors adds a statement to the space while ensuring smooth functionality.
Double Barn Doors
A double barn door is two doors that slide side by side. This door can be mounted on one track for simultaneous movement or a separate track for independent movement. Whatever option you choose, they slide along a track, allowing them to move horizontally. Double doors are popular because they operate together to cover a massive door frame, especially when hinges are not feasible. This style and mechanism add a dramatic touch to the space.
Modern Barn Doors
Source: Pinterest
A modern barn door focuses highly on integrating the traditional rustic style with contemporary elements. The modern-style barn doors also highlight the design with clean lines, geometric shapes, and neutral colors. They also have a sliding mechanism that evokes simplicity and functionality.
Interior Barn Doors
Source: Pinterest
An interior barn door is a sliding door designed to be functional and effective in interior spaces. This door type integrates large panels and hardware to elevate the design of the space or make a room division. They even provide versatility and create a design statement, adding a visual appeal while conserving the space in small spaces. There are different barn door types to utilize in interior spaces, such as glass barn doors, mirrored barn doors, modern barn doors, and many more.
Traditional Barn Doors
Source: Pinterest
A traditional barn door functions in agriculture or barn settings, making it an old-fashioned option. This door type is usually constructed with solid wood like oak, wood, and maple, making it durable and long-lasting. Compared to other types, traditional ones have large and robust hinges to support their functionality. It also uses a track and roller system, which makes it easier to open and close.
Barn Door Hinges
Source: Pinterest
A barn door with hinges is a type of door that does not function as one. This door has swinging hinges rather than a track, leading to a more creative opening and positioning. Their sizes are also comparable, allowing a heavier load. Because of their design and mechanism, they are extremely durable.
Barn Doors for Bathrooms
Source: Pinterest
A barn door made for bathrooms is a practical and aesthetic option to give a unique appearance and save space. This door option has a track mechanism allowing them to slide. They also come in a wide range of styles, finishes, and colors to give the area a modern appeal. When installed correctly, this door can provide privacy and security.
Barn Doors for Garage
Source: Pinterest
A barn door for a garage is a traditional yet custom door offering design and functionality in one. This door type is built to be durable and sturdy, especially if it’s made with high-quality wood or metal. They also include a track system that allows the door to slide while opening and closing. With their design, they do not require extra clearance in the space.
How to Choose the Perfect Barn Door for Your Space
The following are the considerations when choosing a barn door for your space:
Choose a Location and Size
Before choosing a barn door, it would be best to select where you would place it. For instance, when the area is small and compact, the barn door will perfectly fit. Additionally, you must understand the barn door’s measurement so the door will align with the space. To understand how to do a measurement, you can follow our comprehensive guide. This guide will help you determine the proper sizes, such as 30 inches x 80 inches, 42 inches x 84 inches, and more.
Understand the Installation Process
Barn doors can be installed using two types of installation processes: slab or sliding. The slab installation comes with the door itself, allowing you to mix and match the hardware to your liking. In contrast, sliding installation comes with fixed hardware, such as tracks and rollers.
Consider the Space’s Style
Depending on your space’s style, you can narrow your barn door design options. The common materials are metal and wood; metal adds an industrial appeal to the space, while wood adds a traditional feel. Barn doors also contain 3 finishes: primed, stained, unfinished, and painted. They also have various styles, such as sliding, hinge, or glass.
Choose a Door Type
Barn doors have two core types, which are solid and hollow. Solid barn doors are made with solid materials, making them heavier, more expensive, and better quality. Hollow doors are filled with cardboard interiors, making them denser and lighter. Solid doors are ideal for bathrooms and bedrooms due to their excellent sound insulation and privacy. In contrast, hollow doors are best for pantries and closets due to their lightweight and unmuffled sound.
Complete with Hardware
Barn doors always include hardware for installation. Knowing the purpose of this hardware will allow you to install the doors quickly and maneuver them efficiently. Most of the time, track, roller, hardware kits, handle, or pull is all you need.
FAQs about Barn Doors
1. What is the purpose of a barn door?
The purpose of a barn door is to conserve space because it slides along a track instead of swinging open. This makes them suitable for small spaces. This door also provides both partitions and practicality in a space, making the space cohesive and clean. Apart from their ability to save space, barn doors also offer a rustic feel because of their farmhouse, modern-inspired design. Barn doors can be used in a wide range of settings, not only in farms but in closets, bathrooms, or bedrooms. So, they are made to be versatile and stylish both indoors and outdoors.
2. What is the difference between a barn door and a sliding door?
Barn doors and sliding doors both operate the same as they both slide along a track. However, these two doors are still different in style, function, and use. The barn door usually has a rustic or vintage feel because it often contains metal accents or wood paneling. In contrast, sliding doors are more adaptable in terms of design, as they can be made with metal, wood, or glass, which offers a sleeker look.
In addition, barn doors are used as a decorative design because they suit the spaces with industrial or rustic themes. Sliding doors are more practical as they can be used in both indoor and outdoor areas like openings, closets, and patios.
The hardware of barn doors and sliding doors is different, as barn doors’ hardware has exposed hardware. However, sliding doors have an option if the hardware is visible or hidden. So, sliding doors might appear uniform and minimalistic.
3. What are the disadvantages of barn-style doors?
Barn doors are one of the best doors on the market, but they also come with a few disadvantages. One of its disadvantages is that it has poor soundproofing because it leaves gaps around the edges, making it possible for sound to pass through. These gaps can also lead to a lack of privacy as sound, light, and activity can be seen.
In addition, barn doors also require wall space for the track to slide, which can be problematic for small and tight spaces. Because of its intricate style and hardware, installing this door can be quite hard and expensive.
4. What would you use barn doors for?
Barn doors are among the most versatile door options because they can be both used indoors and outdoors. Some of its most popular uses are in bedrooms because they can give the room a sense of space and openness. Barn doors can also be used in bathrooms because they can offer privacy while saving space. This would also be a great fit in kitchen and pantry areas because it provides division without taking up a lot of space.
Takeaways
Are you ready to indulge your space with a barn door? Barn doors truly give a different ambiance to your space. So, when it comes to barn doors, there are countless possibilities we can offer.
At Mannlee, we have a wide range of barn door types in different styles, measurements, and colors. Make an appointment with our team of experts, and we’ll assist you in finding the ideal barn door options for your space.
