What Is a Barn Door and How Does It Work?

Looking to divide up your space in an appealing and unique way? Sick of boring doors, or have an awkward space that doesn’t suit a traditional door? Barn doors could be just the solution you need!

These charming sliding doors fit well in many spaces. They add extra beauty and warmth to your home. But what is a barn door anyway? And what sets them apart?

We’ll answer these questions and more for you in this in-depth post! If you’re looking for:

• An overview of the barn door
• A rundown of how they work
• Different types of barn doors
• Benefits and drawbacks of barn doors
• Places to put a barn door
• Cost and maintenance

Or more general questions, you’re in the right place. Let’s dive in!

Overview of a Barn Door

Barn doors are a stylized type of sliding door, generally used in the interior of your home or office. They’re great for dividing more open-plan homes, so you can choose when you want flow and when you want separation.

These doors are generally categorized by their three key components, the door panel, the hardware, and the installation process.

Door Panel

One of the most noticeable differences between barn doors is often their paneling. These panels can be made from a variety of materials, including wood, glass, metal, or a combination of these.

There are different paneling styles, colors, paints, and decorative features. That way, you can get a barn door that suits your style and needs.

Hardware

The hardware encompasses the handles, tracks, rollers, and locking mechanisms present on the door. These vary in style as well as in the practical purpose that they serve.

You can get all your hardware in one kit or buy the parts separately as you need them.

Installation Process

Many barn doors are easy to install yourself, especially if you’re handy and have some basic tools at home. However, other doors are more complex, fragile, or heavy and require professional installation.

How Barn Doors Work

Barn doors open using a sliding mechanism. There are wheels on either side of the top of the door that slot into a track mounted onto the wall (and sometimes to the ceiling).

The weight of the door holds it in place, and the door slides smoothly to open and close. The same mechanism is used for bypass barn doors (sets of two or more doors that overlap). However, the door is extended further from the wall.

Types of Barn Doors

There are many different types of barn doors out there, so there’s bound to be one for you!

Make sure to keep your measurements, space needs, and aesthetics of the existing room in mind when choosing the perfect door:

Sliding Barn Doors

Sliding barn doors are probably the most popular and basic type of barn door! They have one door and use simple hardware. This lets the door slide from covering the frame to resting beside it against the wall.

You can get simple, wooden sliding barn doors that go amazingly in a pared-down or rustic home. However, this door style is also available in many different colors and materials.

Hinged Barn Doors

Hinged barn doors are not what people usually mean by "barn door" today. However, you might still see them! These doors, as indicated in the name, have hinges – meaning they swing outwards.

These doors may not save as much space as sliding barn doors. However, their wood paneling and dark metal hardware are very attractive. They could be a great choice if you have enough space.

Dutch Barn Doors

Similarly, Dutch barn doors are an amazing statement piece and a cool feature for your home, though they’re also not strictly practical.

These doors are segmented in the middle, so you can open just the top half of the door if you like. Dutch barn doors give an amazing homey and vintage feel to any space!

Bypass Barn Doors

 

As mentioned above, bypass barn doors are doors that overlap. This lets the doors stack neatly on one side, saving more space. You can also open them halfway on either side.

Bypass barn doors are an amazing choice for bigger room dividers and closet doors.

Double Barn Doors

Double barn doors are simply two sliding doors side by side! They’re an increasingly popular option as they often cover a large door frame where hinged doors would not be practical.

Plus, they add a really fun, dramatic flair when you open or shut them!

Z-Frame Barn Doors

“Z-frame” refers to the style of bracing used on these doors. They have a single, diagonal beam running across the door.

Historically, this frame would be used to reinforce the door against the elements or perhaps unruly livestock. However, with interior doors, its purpose is primarily aesthetic.

X-Frame Barn Doors

X-frame is another popular bracing style! With these doors, two diagonal beams are used, forming an X shape.

This style looks classic, appealing, and rustic. It’s also useful as reinforcement for exterior or heavier doors.

Chevron Barn Doors

Chevron barn doors use layered planks in a stacked arrowhead pattern on the outside of the door.

As well as looking beautiful, these doors are more water and grime-resistant than some other types as the layers are tilted downwards.

You can choose simple chevron barn doors, but using different wood grains makes them more interesting and attractive. If you want a bold look, you can get chevron barn doors with various types of wood or painted colors for the panels!

Plank Barn Doors

Plank barn doors usually refer to a simple paneling style of parallel planks of wood making up the door.

You can arrange the planks horizontally for a sleek and classic look. Alternatively, you can stack them vertically for a modern and unique appearance.

Some plank barn doors also have gaps in the planking, which adds a casual, beachy vibe and works well to keep things airy and light. They’re a great option in closets and ensuite bathrooms!

Glass Barn Doors

If you don’t want full separation between two spaces, glass barn doors are an awesome choice. They are made of either a single sheet of glass in a frame or several different panes of glass.

You can also opt for frosted or distortion glass if you’d still like some privacy. These doors are amazing at keeping your home feeling light and open while still dividing a space.

While the above are the main categories of barn doors, there are even more out there! No matter your needs, a barn door is likely to be a great solution for your home.

Benefits of Choosing a Barn Door

There are many great reasons to choose a barn door! It’s difficult to boil it down to a few simple benefits, but our top picks have to be:

Space optimization

Having a door that doesn’t need to swing outwards is such a space saver!

Incorporating barn doors allows furniture and other bulky items to be placed with more freedom.

This is very useful for small spaces like closets and half baths. It lets you use the full space without feeling cramped when you enter or exit.

Versatility

Barn doors allow you to choose just how open you want your space to be! They look seamless when shut, natural when open, or even part-way open.

Aesthetic appeal

These doors are an attractive addition to any home! There are so many different styles to choose from, so they match with almost any aesthetic and are always an eye-catcher.

Functionality

Barn doors are also practical for everyday use. They’re simple to use, well suited to purpose, and quickly become an unconscious addition to the flow of your home.

Are There Any Drawbacks?

We love barn doors, but there are some drawbacks to think about, just like with any product. However, you can solve most of the issues with some creative thinking!

Sound Dampening

Perhaps the most common concern about barn doors is that they are less sound proof than standard doors.

This is true to an extent, as there has to be a slight gap between the door and the wall for them to function.

The difference is small. You just need to make sure you get the right-sized barn door. You can install it yourself or hire a professional to do it

Utilizing door sweeps or using the door in carpeted rooms also works to further minimize noise transmission.

Hardware Noise

Barn doors do make a slight rumbling, rolling noise when opening or closing due to the sliding mechanism.

However, it’s a trade-off for the sound of doors slamming – which is worth it to many, especially if you have kids (or teens) at home!

Many hardware kits also feature soft close options and low-noise wheels.

Unlevel Houses

Unfortunately, barn doors might not be the best choice for you if your house isn’t level. This can cause the doors to roll open or shut on their own.

Luckily, it’s still possible to use barn doors in an older or unlevel home! Just take extra care to hang them in line with the discrepancy, or get them custom-built.

Alternatively, you can just get a simple latching mechanism that will keep them in place.

Where Can You Use a Barn Door?

In short, you can use a barn door in any interior doorway you like!

Some doors work better in certain places. However, some rooms are definitely more popular than others. Here are the most common places to install a barn door:

Bedroom closet doors

Barn doors are so great for bedroom closets! The sliding feature saves space in the bedroom. It also keeps wall space on both sides of the closet opening.

Depending on the closet size, you can choose double or single barn doors for this use. For small closets, even bi-fold doors can be used.

Bathroom entryways

Barn doors are also excellent for bathroom entryways. Along with their usual benefits, they also allow for greater ventilation – minimizing moisture buildup.

While you can use them for any bathroom, they’re better for dividing on-suites and hallway restrooms.

If your living space has a central bathroom, think about adding noise dampening. A locking mechanism can also help with privacy!

Kitchen pantry access

A barn door for your kitchen pantry has many practical benefits. It saves space and can slide shut easily, even when your hands are full. Plus, barn doors look great in kitchens.

Barn doors give such a homey, warm, and welcoming feel to any kitchen.

Media room dividers

Barn doors are a great choice for any room that you want to be partially closed off from.

If you want some stylish distance from the video game sounds or girls' night in the other room, a barn door is a great choice.

Home office entry

Barn doors are a great choice for a home office. They help create peace and quiet without making you feel isolated from the rest of the house. They also work well to close off messy rooms, like home offices and laundry rooms. This is helpful when you have guests or just want to hide the clutter.

Maintenance of Barn Doors

Barn doors don't require any more regular or expensive maintenance than any other door. It is a slightly different process of course though!

Day to day, you can dust your barn doors gently with a duster or microfiber cloth – but that’s all they’ll need regularly!

If the doors get dirty or you are deep cleaning, use different cleaners. For wooden barn doors, use a light furniture polish. For metal doors, use an all-purpose cleaner. For glass doors, use glass cleaner and a streak-free cloth.

Make sure to take extra care with painted or treated doors and to always follow manufacturer instructions!

It’s also key to regularly clean and maintain your hardware to keep your doors rolling smoothly.

As well as dusting, you can clean your hardware with a damp cloth and vinegar or all-purpose cleaner. You can lubricate the moving parts with WD-40, or even a dab of olive oil!

Want to add a unique touch to your home? Discover the versatility of barn doors today!