Is the Barn Door a Trend, or Here to Stay?

What is the Attraction? Why Barn Doors Are a Hot Trend.

Is the Barn Door a trend, or is here to stay? They are here to stay, and in a big way. Not only do they have function, but they look super cool, and utilize multiple types of style to fit almost any décor. Recent studies have shown that these contemporary, yet rustic sliding doors can help sell a home almost 60 days faster, and a higher price point. A recent study done by Zillow Of all the terms analyzed in the study, “barn doors” brought in the highest dividend, with homes whose listings mentioned this type of door, selling for an average of 13 percent above expected values. This design concept is clearly resonating with today’s homeowners.

Most consumers enjoy the bold, upscale look they get, while extremely functional at closing off larger spaces on command. The wonderful thing is that they are easy to install, and are extremely flexible in terms of size, material, and style. The tough part is choosing which door way makes the most sense for your home. Sadly, they may not be the best choice for every home. While they can add character, its important to understand where installation may not be worth the investment or the door may be impractical.
In addition to their powerful visual appeal, barn doors can also be an effective way to partition open spaces. Many homes today have two larger rooms, such as the kitchen and living room, connected by a wide opening. While a barn door added to the spaces will likely stay open, it can act as the perfect feature to suggest special separation. Although the concept rooted in tradition, these doors often have a modern twist.

But not every home is ideal for a barn door. Rooms where wall space is at a premium may not be a good fit since the door requires extra wall space to slide open. Privacy is also a consideration. Like pocket doors, barn doors aren’t great for sound isolation and so probably shouldn’t be used for a children’s area that either gets loud or needs to be quiet for sleeping kids.

Barn doors can also be noisy to open and close, depending on the type of hardware used. A track system with rubber rollers instead of metal to keep the noise of moving doors to a minimum.
There’s also cost to consider. Taken together, the price of the door, hardware, and installation can add as much as $4,000 to a project, but it is oh so worth it!

Builder and Carpenter Featured: Mulloy Builders, LLC., and Carpenter Derik Spicknall