Sliding Doors Open a World of Possibilities

Slide right into a more flexible living space with these renovations

Walls and doors are losing popularity in the era of open-plan living, but what if you could have the best of both worlds? Imagine a space that is open to the rest of your home—or closed off—depending on your mood. Enter the sliding door: a feature that takes up minimal floor space and blends into its surroundings when not in use, becoming an architectural detail in the home. Whether you prefer the rustic feel of a barn or the simple elegance of French doors, these Sweeten homeowners will inspire you to create a home with disappearing borders.

A classic barn door separates the living room from the bedroom in Zoe and Arvid’s apartment combination. Painting the door white to match the nearby walls allows it to blend into the background, while black hardware adds contrast with a modern twist.

While not in use as an entryway, a pair of sliding doors gives Larry the option to watch a game on the TV in the adjoining lounge from inside his office. The doors also increase the flow of natural light into the windowless room.

The sliding doors in Ana and Leo’s open-plan apartment connect the dining area to the office when open, and transform the office into a guest bedroom when closed. In lieu of a traditional door, the oversized panels allow them to combine both rooms into one big space.

Replacing a barn door with three store-bought doors together in the dining area (and painting it in the same color as the surrounding walls—Hamilton Blue by Benjamin Moore) makes it possible for Lauren and Ross to hide the study when they want to create a more intimate space.

Looking to create a flexible living space, Margery and Jim planned to separate the guest bedroom from the kitchen with a pair of sliding doors. Instead of going for a simple set of barn-style doors, the couple’s general contractor fused together two salvaged French doors the couple found at an estate sale and built them into a pocket door. When opened, the entire wall disappears. Magic!

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Ready to get started on your renovation? Read our post on what to keep in mind when hiring a general contractor.

Sweeten handpicks the best general contractors to match each project’s location, budget, and scope, helping until project completion. Follow the blog for renovation ideas and inspiration and when you’re ready to renovate, start your renovation on Sweeten.