Last Updated on April 22, 2025 by SierraLivingConcepts

Tips for Choosing and Installing Barn Doors

The barn door, which originally served as the rolling door in a barn or stable, has become increasingly popular recently, adding charm and character to modern homes.  These are a brilliant alternative to the traditional swing-open doors for those who want to add a dramatic touch to their home. Combining privacy, interest, and elegance, a barn door can be effortlessly installed to save space and provide convenience in your home. 

Barn doors should not be confused with traditional swing doors, pocket doors, or classic sliding doors. Unlike traditional doors, barn doors do not require hinges and door jambs. The hardware of sliding barn doors is different from conventional sliding doors and is a notable part of the aesthetic. The track of a barn door is placed above the door, and rollers are attached to its top that roll along the track. Sliding or pocket doors move along the tracks that are located at the base of each door, and here the track is hidden. Whether used as a focal point or an unobtrusive space-saving solution, wooden barn doors offer a unique blend of nostalgia and modernity.

In this buying guide, we are aiming to help you choose a perfect barn door that brings both functionality and visual appeal to your home. 

Style and Design Options for Interior Barn Doors 

Barn doors are available in a range of styles to enhance your home interiors. Here are some of the sought-after styles:

Modern Style:

Characterized by sleek lines and a contemporary appearance, modern barn doors often incorporate materials like glass, metal, or wood in lustrous finishes. They might feature minimalist, geometric, or paneled designs with neutral or bold colors to complement modern interiors.

Rustic Style:

Crafted primarily from solid or reclaimed wood, rustic barn doors boast a charming, weathered aesthetic. Embracing natural wood grains and imperfections, these doors showcase simplistic designs and distressed finishes for added character.

Popular Designs

When considering the design of your barn door, you’ll find a wide array of popular choices available in the market. Let’s take a look at some of the popular designs:

X-brace design:

Some barn doors feature single or multiple crossbeams or an X-brace pattern that looks fabulous against an exposed stone wall and a contemporary-style interior.

Z-brace design:

Embodying old-school charm, doors with a ‘Z’ pattern enhance traditional settings

Plank design:

The plank design gives off a very sophisticated look with its minimalist pattern and can blend in with any interior style, be it traditional or contemporary. 

Chevron design:

A barn door can flaunt a chevron pattern in the form of grooved panels or parquetry that can enliven any space

Live Edge design:

Live-edge style barn doors feature natural wood edges that retain the original shape of the tree, showcasing the plank’s organic contours and irregularities. The live edge design infuses a touch of nature and individuality into the door, making each piece one-of-a-kind.

Hand carvings:

With delicate lattice designs and floral carvings, barn doors cater to diverse interior design needs.

Bifold design:

 A barn door in a bifold design can be folded in half when opened. This design comes in handy, especially when there is a space constraint to fit a barn door along the wall. And yes, this type of barn door is fitted with hinges so that it can be folded with ease.

Materials for Interior Barn Doors 

Barn doors are predominantly made with solid wood, incorporating metal fittings and hardware. When these doors entered the urban settings, interior designers began to experiment with a variety of materials.

Solid wood has always been preferred over other materials. The beauty of organic grains of solid wood is unparalleled. Teak wood, acacia wood, mango wood, and rosewood are generally used to make barn doors that will last for generations without losing beauty. Reclaimed wood is an eco-friendly option in furniture making. Wood salvaged from old boats, doors, and windows is often recycled to make barn doors. A reclaimed wood barn door emulates a weathered, rustic look, while sleeker materials like metal or glass offer a contemporary appeal.

Get a Customized Barn Door 

Sierra Living Concepts offers an extensive range of sliding barn doors available in different designs, sizes, and styles, all handcrafted using high-quality solid wood. You can select any barn door from the collection or customize one to add a personal touch to your home. We understand the diverse needs of homes, offering tailored barn doors suitable for various spaces, including homes with high ceilings, narrow entryways or passages, or large rooms.

Uses of Interior Barn Doors

With so many styles and designs, barn doors can be installed to elevate the appearance and privacy of any place you want. They are a wonderful addition to the hallway, mudroom, bedroom closet, laundry closet, pantry, bathroom, home office, and so much more. 

Doors: Barn doors act as distinctive alternatives to traditional doors for the closet, bathroom, office, or pantry, creating a focal point and maximizing space by sliding along the wall. Barn doors can serve as striking front door alternatives, creating an inviting and dramatic entrance to a home. For spaces that require a little more privacy, you may easily add a locking mechanism to prevent the door from accidentally being opened.

Room Dividers: Barn doors serve as stylish partitions between rooms, allowing for flexible space utilization. They can slide open to merge spaces or close for privacy, particularly in open-plan layouts. In commercial settings, barn doors can separate dining areas, create private dining spaces, or act as movable partitions in retail stores.

Headboards or Wall Art: Smaller barn doors or door panels can be repurposed as decorative headboards for beds or as wall art, adding a rustic or industrial element to the room.

Advantages of Installing Barn Doors 

1. Ease of use: Barn doors are easy to install and maneuver due to their sliding mechanism, making them effortless for people of all ages to open and close.

2. Space-saving design: Unlike traditional hinged doors that swing open, barn doors slide along a track, eliminating the need for clearance space.

3. Enhanced Natural Light: Sliding barn doors with obscure glass panels allow ample light to pass through, making your room brighter while still providing privacy.

4. Strong and Durable: As barn doors are constructed mostly of solid wood with metal hardware, these are sturdy and long-lasting.

5. Visual Allure: Barn doors offer a unique design element to any living space. These come in a variety of styles, finishes, and designs that can complement the existing décor of your home

Hardware for barn doors 

A barn door will be incomplete without the proper hardware. A hardware kit for a barn door contains everything from the track and rollers (or rails and hangers) that the door slides along, to the handles and hinges, and locks and latches. Barn door hardware is available in various colors, finishes, and materials, from wrought iron to stainless steel.  

• For a single door, a hanger is placed on either side of a single door panel, allowing it to run along a singular track.  
• Double- or triple-sliding barn doors run along two or more tracks, passing in front of and behind each other.  
• Each door requires its rolling door hardware kit with two hangers on each end of each panel.  

In conclusion, barn doors have evolved from humble agricultural roots to become an iconic feature in contemporary interior design. Their versatility, space-saving design, and aesthetic appeal make them a captivating choice for homeowners seeking a blend of functionality and style in their living spaces.