How To Choose The Perfect Closet Door
Built-in closets are a wonderful space saver. When you design your home, leaving niches for closets is a must. However, when it comes to interior décor, you can be stuck choosing the right closet door. It might come as a surprise, but there is a rather impressive variety of closet doors on the market. Let’s take a closer look.
- Bifold Doors
Bifold doors can come as a two- or four-panel design. The panels are connected using hinges. These doors come in a variety of sizes, the most common being 4, 5, and 6 feet.
Bifold Door Pros:
- These doors take up less space than the regular swinging doors do when open.
- The folding doors are lightweight and easy to install
- Bifolds usually come with a moderate price tag.
Biflold Doors Cons:
- Bifold doors don’t open completely so the size of the closet opening is reduced, hindering the access to the items inside.
- These doors lack durability and might require regular maintenance.
- The bifolds are easy to move out of position so they might need adjustment.
- Double Doors
Double doors can be a good choice for large openings up to 6 feet tall. The construction is simple. The two swinging doors meet in the middle. Each door can have a separate latch so one can be opened without touching the other.
Double doors pros:
- These doors can match the design of other doors in the house creating a perfect décor.
- The structure is simple and the materials are durable so these doors can last a long time.
- The doors don’t require complicated installation.
Double doors cons:
- The doors need to swing out into the room so they take up a significant amount of space.
- There is a limited number of materials you can use to make such doors. Forget about glass and mirrors.
- Pocket Doors
These are sliding doors that slide into a special niche in the adjacent wall when opened. These doors are a wonderful choice for small rooms that can’t accommodate swinging doors. They are usually used for small closet door openings.
Pocket Door Pros:
- Pocket doors save plenty of space by eliminating the swinging matter.
- These doors can be made out of the same materials as the rest of the doors in the house, providing a matching décor.
- The doors look neat and provide good access to the items inside the closet.
Pocket Door Cons:
- Pocket doors are hard to install. They require a special opening for the sliding.
- The structure of such doors is not always sturdy enough to avoid regular maintenance.
- Bypass Doors
Sliding bypass is a common way to design the closet doors. Such doors consist of two standard panels suspended from two rails, one in front and the other one in the back. They allow one door to slide in front of the other when opening.
Bypass Doors Pros:
- These doors save space since they don’t swing out or into the closet.
- The doors can be made out of a variety of materials, including the ones to match the rest of the interior doors.
- The doors are durable and can last a lifetime.
Bypass Doors Cons:
- The doors may slide off the racks and need adjustment. However, this is not a common problem.
- You can’t open the whole closet at one time. You only get access to half of it so the items in the middle may be difficult to reach.
- Mirror and Glass Sliding Doors
Bypass and pocket doors can be made out of glass or have a mirror attached to the front. This is a common choice for people who want to have a full-sized mirror in their bedrooms. These doors usually have an aluminum frame.
Glass (Mirror) Sliding Doors Pros:
- Such doors complement a contemporary interior design.
- They make the room appear larger and brighter
- These doors don’t swing out so you don’t have to think about installing furniture out of the door’s way.
- Glass sliding doors collect less dust.
Glass (Mirror) Sliding Doors Cons:
- Such doors may be more expensive than the other types.
- The mirror doors are more delicate than their wooden counterparts are and require more care when operating.