A barn door is a great way to add diversity to a space in your home – it immediately grabs people’s attention as they enter a room. Unfinished barn doors are a blank canvas, allowing you the opportunity to personalize the door with paints, stains and more – providing a fun and effective accent piece.
The basic premise behind a barn door is to cover an opening between spaces with a door that moves along a sliding track above the opening. Whether in the open or closed position, barn doors always remain in plain view.
Personalizing your barn door
The first decision you need to make in personalizing your barn door is the door style itself. Do you go with a modern slab or a traditional style? Maybe you prefer a more rustic look with an actual barn door feel?
Consider a chalkboard finish that you can write your weekly menu on for a fun and creative look. A whitewashed door has a modern, rustic feel if you are trying to blend the two styles. Desiring a warm stained door? Try doing a two-toned piece with transparent and opaque stains. If you prefer a bright colour, choose an exciting hue with a unique finish, like chalked or metallic. Whatever design you choose, ensure it reflects something about your individuality and personal taste.
The sliding rail system you select also adds to the look of the finished door. There are many options available to give it that special finishing touch. You can go with black or stainless steel, antique or industrial, with a wheel or simple sliding mechanisms, and many more.
And don’t forget to finish the look with the perfect handle – there are countless styles to choose from. Keep in mind the handle needs to be something you can grab onto that will slide the full weight of the door with.
Ideal barn door locations
Barn doors are accent pieces. How you customize your barn door may be impacted by where the barn doors are located. Optimal barn door locations include laundry rooms, pantries, mudrooms, hallways, offices, etc. Barn doors generally don’t lock or seal, so are less ideal for bedrooms and bathrooms, but it’s really a matter of preference.
Depending on the opening size, you can use one or two barn doors. You can use standard doors that come in an 80-inch height, or you can purchase doors that are specifically designed as barn doors, which are available in taller dimensions.
Have fun with your personalized barn door. The beauty of this piece is you can always change the look and feel over time. Have a good understanding of how barn doors work, choose your ideal location and then personalize the door to suit the style of the space.
