Sliding Barn Doors vs. Conventional Swinging Doors

Published: April 01, 2021

By the Estate Millwork Design Team | Craftsmen since 1997

Sliding barn doors are a great way to add personal style and functionality to any room in your home. Not only are they fairly easy to install, barn doors can be customized to fit your needs and free up valuable floor space that would otherwise be needed for conventional swinging doors. Sliding barn doors are great for both small and large spaces, whether it is to free up space that would otherwise be blocked when a swinging door is opened or be left open in larger spaces to create a comfortable flow from one room to another.

The Advantages of Sliding Barn Doors

Style

When it comes to style barn doors are incredibly stylish right now and can be easily customized to fit the style of your home. These doors first came to popularity during the rise of the "shabby chic" style when homeowners were incorporating a lot of rustic décor and furniture into their homes. It is very easy to see how sliding barn doors can fit into this style, what you may not realize is that sliding barn doors come in a wide variety of styles that can be customized to fit your taste.

Functionality

Sliding barn doors are extremely functional, they are easy to open and close so a child or an adult with their hands full can easily open or close the door. Another functional plus of these barn doors is that they slide along the walls and allow the doorway to be completely open and unobstructed giving you uninhibited access which can make a room fell larger.

Space Saving

Maybe the biggest reason sliding barn doors have become so popular is the ability of these doors to fit into small spaces. Where your conventional swinging door requires extra room in front of or behind the door way to swing open, and this can block hallways and potentially damage walls. Since sliding barn doors slide along the wall they do not require that extra space for it to swing open, making them ideal for small apartments or homes where you may need to open and close doors to get through a hallway. Barn doors slide neatly out of the way and are less likely to be in the way preventing another door from opening or closing.

Frequently Asked Questions

What size barn door do I need?

A barn door should be at least 2 to 4 inches wider than the doorway opening on each side and 1 inch taller to ensure full coverage when closed. The exact dimensions depend on your track hardware and mounting preferences. Estate Millwork builds barn doors to any custom size.

Can barn doors provide sound privacy?

Solid wood barn doors offer better sound dampening than hollow-core alternatives, but they do not seal as tightly as hinged doors because of the gap between the door and wall. For bedrooms and bathrooms, choose a thicker door and add a door guide at the bottom to minimize gaps.

What hardware do I need for a barn door?

You will need a sliding track system, rollers, a floor guide, and mounting hardware. The track length should be at least twice the width of the door opening. Estate Millwork doors are compatible with standard flat-track barn door hardware kits available at most home improvement stores.

Design Tips for Barn Doors

Verify that you have adequate wall space beside the opening for the door to slide fully open. You need clear wall space equal to the width of the door on the opening side.
Choose a wood species and finish that complements your existing trim and flooring. Barn doors make a bold visual statement, so consider whether you want the door to blend in or serve as a focal point.
For rooms that need ventilation, consider a louvered barn door. The angled slats allow airflow while still providing visual privacy and the rustic charm of a sliding door.