Will A Barn Door Work Here? How To Decide If A Barn Door Is The Right Fit For Your Space

So you love the look of barn doors. Who doesn’t? And you want to have one in your house, but you’re not sure whether a barn door will really work in your space. Well, you’ve come to the right place to figure that out. Here are the questions you need to ask yourself to figure out if a barn door is the right fit for your home.

Do I Have Room?

This seems like a pretty obvious question, but you’d be surprised how easy it is to assume you have room for a barn door and then find out you don’t. Barn doors don’t take up nearly as much floor space as a swing-door, but they do take up wall space. For a single barn door, you need at least as much space along one wall as the door opening is wide. And for double doors, you’ll need at least half the width of the opening on either side of the door. That’ll give the doors enough room to slide all the way open. You also need to have enough space between the top of the doorway and the ceiling so there’s room for hanging hardware.

Is Everything Level?

Most houses are level enough to hang a barn door, but it’s still something you’ll want to check. Make sure your door openings, headers, ceilings, and floor are all level before you purchase your barn door. If any of these measurements are off, you could end up with a door that hangs slightly ajar or which scrapes the floor when you try to open it.

Is There Enough Support?

Barn Doors are heavy, so you need to make sure there’s enough structural support to hang them. If the wall itself isn’t strong enough this problem is easily fixed. You can simply install a header attached to the wall studs above the doorway. That’ll be able to support the weight.

Will It Match My Decor?

Barn doors can work with just about every decorating style. It just depends on the type of barn door you choose. We usually think of barn doors with a more rustic interior design such as rustic chic, farmhouse, or log-cabin style. And they’re perfect for that. But if you want the doors to have a chic and modern look, just opt for wood that’s smooth and polished with a stain that matches other woodwork in the room. You can even order an unfinished barn door and then paint or finish it yourself to match other decorations.

One Door or Two?

How many doors you use depends on available space, what you’re using the door for, and personal preference. Two barn doors will be more expensive than one, but there are situations where double barn doors will fit your space and design plan better. Click here to read a longer article on this topic.

Is A Sliding Door What I Need Here?

Sliding doors work well for most doorways. If you want a barn door there and you have enough room, then go for it. They’re perfect for a pantry, laundry room, or small office that you want to hide away when it’s not in use. Or for acting as sliding room dividers that let you keep the open feel of your home while offering the option to close off rooms, as in the doorway between a living area and dining room. Plus, barn doors are easy for people in wheelchairs or using walkers to open so they’re handicap accessible if that’s something you need.

Where Will I Get My Barn Doors?

There’s no better place to get your barn doors than Rustic+Modern. We offer doors in a variety of woods and styles, and we can customize them to fit your space. Just place your order through our website or contact us to get started on a custom project.