How to Incorporate Sliding Barn Doors Into Your House Design, Architecture and interiors images

How to Incorporate Sliding Barn Doors Into Your House Design

If you like the idea of using one in your own home, here are some ideas to inspire you – Architectural Article by Houzz

21 Nov 2017

Ever considered a barn door in your design? You might do after reading this…

Barn Doors in Your House Design

Victoria Harrison, Houzz Editor

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 some sliding barn door ideas to inspire you.

How to Incorporate Sliding Barn Doors Into Your House Design

Make a colour statement
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.

Browse photos with more pops of colour

Photo by Tim Cuppett Architects – Browse bedroom ideas

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.

Photo by AV Architects + Builders – Browse dining room ideas

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

Photo by Ramage Company – Search home office and library design ideas

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.

Photo by Christian Rice Architects, Inc.

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.

Photo by elliotwalsh.co.uk – Look for bathroom pictures

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

Photo by Artistic Designs for Living, Tineke Triggs

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.

Photo by Urrutia Design – Search living room design ideas

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.