How to Upgrade Your Home’s Aesthetic with Barn Doors

Barns have been a feature of American and European homes for centuries. While there are fewer farms now than there were a hundred years ago, barns haven’t gone anywhere. That’s because barns don’t have to house farm animals to be practical, they can be stand-alone buildings that add charm to any property. Plus, incorporating the existing features of a property can be more sustainable and cost-effective than tearing it down.

This appreciation of the barn aesthetic has led to a larger trend where homeowners transform their barns into a “barndominium,” a portmanteau of barn and condominium. Rather than having a barn act as merely an aesthetic addition to a property that can double as outdoor storage, the barndominium transforms an existing barn structure into a livable space. 

However, many people don’t have a barn on their property but still desire that rustic or rural-chic look. If that’s the case, you can easily upgrade your home with barn doors.

What are Barn Doors?

Barn doors are large, sliding doors that traditionally consist of two large wooden panels, known as double barn doors, attached to two rollers that slide along a metal track above the entryway. Barn doors lie flat against the wall on the outside of the opening and do not require hinges or a door jamb to function.

Fortunately, barn doors can be used to upgrade just about any home or commercial space, providing both function and an elegant or rustic aesthetic, inside or out.

Benefits of Barn Doors

Space Saving Solution:

Barn doors are an excellent space-saving solution, especially in smaller homes and apartments. Unlike traditional hinged doors, which take up floor space when opened, barn doors slide along a track mounted on the wall, freeing up valuable floor space.

If you like barn doors for their space-saving design, but don’t exactly love the look of them for your home, we encourage you to check out our large selection of sliding and folding doors for commercial or residential use.

Increased Privacy:

Barn doors are great for creating privacy in rooms, such as bedrooms, bathrooms, living rooms, and home offices. They provide a solid barrier between rooms and can be locked for extra privacy. Plus, when the room is not in use or additional privacy isn’t needed, the doors can easily be opened to increase ventilation, natural light, and an easy flow from room to room.

Energy Efficiency:

Barn doors can also increase the energy efficiency within a home. If you have a whole house fan or air conditioner running, you can open up the doors to increase ventilation throughout the whole house. On the other hand, if you want to trap the cool or warm air within a room or living space, the barn doors can be closed to reduce air leaking into other parts of the home.

Plus, exterior barn doors can do wonders for improving energy efficiency if you choose glass barn doors or barn doors that go in front of other existing doors. Glass barn doors allow sunlight to easily penetrate the home during the winter, reducing the burden on your HVAC system. During cool summer nights, you can open the doors to allow the cool night air to naturally cool your home without air conditioning.

Increased Property Value:

Barn doors are a unique and stylish addition to any home, and they can increase the property value of your home. The addition of barn doors can transform uninteresting spaces into attractive, eye-catching ones, driving up the value of your home or commercial space.

Stylish:

We’d be remiss if we didn’t further stress how barn doors can add style and character to a home. Not only are they practical, but many choose these doors simply because they look good. A barn door can be simple in design or dramatic in style. All of this depends on your taste and your characteristics.

Versatile Design:

The custom barn door comes in a variety of styles, colors, and materials, making them a versatile design element that can complement just about any décor. If you have a small entryway you can even choose single barn doors rather than double barn doors. Whether you prefer a rustic, chic, or modern look, you’ll be able to find a custom barn door that fits and accentuates your aesthetic.

Types of Barn Doors

Barn doors have evolved past the traditional farm aesthetic of old, although some homeowners may appreciate a farmhouse-style barn door, there are many other types of barn doors, each of which lends a unique aesthetic to the space. Below are some of the most popular types of barn doors and the materials you can use to upgrade your home’s aesthetic.

Solid Wood Barn Doors:

Solid wood barn doors are made from natural materials, and they come in a variety of wood options, including pine, oak, and maple. These types of barn doors are very traditional, they offer a warm, rustic feel and are a great choice for homes with a rustic or farmhouse style.

French Barn Doors:

Glass barn doors, also called french barn doors, are a great way to let light into a room. They are a common option for patio doors or room divider doors. Similar to traditional french doors, french barn doors combine the elegance of the french door with the practicality of barn doors to present a perfect hybrid that can fit into any space.

French barn doors can be frosted to add privacy or clear to allow light to flow in while keeping noise out. They are a popular choice for contemporary or modern-style homes, and they come in a variety of finishes, including brass and stainless steel.

Sliding Glass Doors:

If you’re looking for a sliding door to let the light in, but want a different design than french barn doors, consider sliding glass doors. Sliding glass doors are a fantastic alternative to sliding barn doors.

Sliding glass doors are much more versatile than sliding barn doors and can much more easily fit into the aesthetic of a home. If you want to learn more about sliding glass doors, browse our multi-slide glass doors or lift and slide doors.

Metal Barn Doors:

Metal barn doors are a great option for homes and commercial spaces with a more modern or industrial style. They come in a variety of finishes, including black, white, and silver, and they are durable and low-maintenance. With metal barn doors, a steel interior barn door can also be an option for that rustic, industrial appeal.

Reclaimed Barn Doors:

Reclaimed barn doors are made from salvaged materials, such as old barn wood or metal. They offer a unique look and feel, plus they’re environmentally friendly. If you have an old barn on your property that needs to be demolished, consider reclaiming the wood from the barn to incorporate it into your barn doors.

Uses of Barn Doors

If you want to properly upgrade your home’s aesthetic, you need to know how many different ways you can use barn doors in the home. While we haven’t listed every possible way to use barn doors, below are some of the most common ways.

Interior Barn Doors

Barn doors are no longer a feature that’s exclusive to entryways in the home or commercial space. Below, we’ll go over some common uses of interior barn doors, like the various types of interior sliding barn doors. An interior barn door can add character and personality based on your preference and location.

Main Bedroom Barn Doors

Adding an interior barn door to the main bedroom is a great way to improve the ease of entry to your private space while maximizing natural light and ventilation.

Main bedroom barn doors can be hand carved, painted in murals or frescoes, or studded with stone or glass to add decoration. You can also opt for a traditional interior barn door to add a rustic feel to your bedroom.

Closet Barn Doors

Interior sliding barn doors are a fantastic option for anyone looking to upgrade their closet doors and increase the available space in a room. This makes the interior sliding barn door the perfect addition to small spaces or a great option for anyone who wants to add an additional point of interest to a room. Adding barn closet doors will also free up wall space to add shelving or spaces for artwork. While a sliding barn door is great for closet applications, Panda focuses on custom window and door systems fit for interior, exterior, and entryway installations not including closet doors.

Room Divider Barn Doors

Though many homeowners love the look of an open floor plan, it’s extremely useful to be able to segment off rooms and add privacy to a space. Remodeling is expensive, and sometimes you may want the option to keep an area open or closed to the rest of the home.

If that’s the case, then room divider barn doors are the perfect option. These interior sliding barn doors do not require a door frame to function. The metal track can be installed directly into the ceiling to segment spaces and make them more private whenever you wish.

If room divider barn doors don’t quite fit your style, but you still want to partition a part of your home, consider folding doors. Folding doors are extremely versatile, modern, and durable. They can be used for the interior or exterior of the home and work great as room dividers. 

Exterior Barn Doors

Front Door

Using barn doors as your front door is an easy way to make your entryway feel more inviting and open. You can opt for a traditional sliding barn door or a hinged barn door.

Also, some homeowners choose to install barn doors in front of their entryways with an additional door behind them. This way, they can act as shutters to protect your door from break-ins, and storms, and allow you to control natural light levels in the home. While updating your front door, maybe have a look at updating the interior as well with an interior barn door!

Back Door and Patio Doors

A sliding barn door is a great choice for back doors and patio doors, especially if you want to soak in your backyard views and natural light with glass barn doors. Similar to multi-slide patio doors, barn patio doors seamlessly slide open and closed to open your home up to your patio, back porch, or backyard to let the fresh air in and allow people to easily move in and out of your home.

Garage Doors

You can think of a garage as a modern, layman’s barn. Instead of keeping livestock in your garage, we keep our cars, tools, and other equipment. But like a traditional barn, your garage has a wide opening that makes it the perfect place to attach your barn doors. Rather than having an uninteresting garage door, why not transform it into something that adds additional character to the home?

Choosing the Right Doors

Choosing the right doors for your home can be exciting, but also can be taxing. There are many options when it comes to choosing a door, whether it’s an interior barn door or an exterior sliding glass door. Every home and commercial space has its own aesthetic, and every homeowner has a specific vision in mind. A barn door can add that final touch to your vision of what the perfect living or work space is.

If you want help from professionals in choosing the best doors and windows for your home, reach out to our team at Panda Windows & Doors. We are always happy to work with new customers and provide any additional customization to our products.