5 Barn Door Design Ideas: For a cosy rustic theme interior home (2023)

The foyer of this apartment is lined with barn-style doors which conceal pockets of storage. Interior design by HAO Design
The foyer of this apartment is lined with barn-style doors which conceal pockets of storage. Interior design by HAO Design
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Barn-style doors have gained popularity in interior design for their unique and rustic appeal.

If you're all for the rustic or industrial-inspired look in your home, incorporate the design of a barn door. Many homeowners have cleverly used it as part of a feature wall, or even to conceal the household shelter.

In general, barn-style doors can range in price from around SGD 200 to over SGD 1000 or more per door.

5 Barn Door Design Ideas

Barn-style doors have a long history, but their popularity in modern interior design started to rise in the late 2000s and early 2010s. The trend gained significant momentum during this period and has remained popular since then.

Here are 5 homes with barn doors to inspire your rustic theme interiors and home.

Barn Door for Concealed Storage

This Taiwanese family mixed the ever-popular Industrial and Barn interior design styles, allowing some grey area to inject bright, cheerful colours of yellow and green to create a welcoming family home. Pictured above, the foyer is lined with barn-style doors which conceal pockets of storage.

View the full House Tour here.

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Modern Sliding Barn Door

Mixing up the industrial style with barn-doors, rustic-chic looks and other styles might sound disastourous on paper, but in reality, the clash of styles have created a modern, eclectic look for this apartment. Designed by Museum, this home is a bevy of unique style-elements.

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This owner balanced two statement pieces, the sliding barn doors and the hat-shaped pendant lamps, with a simple white palette. Interior design by Linear Space Concepts.

Vintage Sliding Barn Door

This homeowner balanced two statement pieces, the sliding barn doors and the hat-shaped pendant lamps, with a simple white palette. Interior design by Linear Space Concepts.

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This owner kept the corridor bright and airy by using a white palette for the space, but made it unique by designing part of the wall to resemble large crates. Interior design by Space Sense.

Barn Door Style Walls

This homeowner kept the corridor bright and airy by using a white palette for the space, but made it unique by designing part of the wall to resemble large crates. Interior design by Space Sense.

View the full House Tour here.

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Sitting next to bi-fold glass doors in the study of this home, is a wooden barn-inspired door that complements the overall wood accents in the home. Interior design by Lemon Fridge.

Sliding Barn Door for Toilet

Sitting next to bi-fold glass doors in the study of this home, is a wooden barn-inspired door that complements the overall wood accents in the home. Interior design by Lemon Fridge.

View the full House Tour here.

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Traditional American Red Barn With Blue Sky. Image 123RF

History of Barn-Style Doors

The origins of barn-style doors can be traced back to actual barns and farmhouses, where large sliding doors were used for practical purposes such as accessing storage areas and livestock pens. These doors were often made of wood and mounted on a track system for smooth sliding.

In interior design, the use of barn-style doors began as part of the rustic and farmhouse design trend, which emphasizes natural materials, simplicity, and a cozy, warm atmosphere. People sought to bring elements of the outdoors and rural charm into their homes, and barn-style doors provided a perfect solution for adding a touch of that rustic appeal.

Brown log cabin with closed door and broom. Image 123RF

The resurgence of industrial and vintage design aesthetics also played a role in the popularity of barn-style doors. These doors complemented the industrial look with their exposed hardware and reclaimed wood materials.

As the trend gained traction, interior designers and homeowners started incorporating barn-style doors into various types of spaces, including bedrooms, bathrooms, living rooms, kitchens, and offices. Their space-saving benefits and versatility made them a favored choice, especially for smaller homes and apartments.

The popularity of barn-style doors has continued to grow in the years that followed, and they are now considered a timeless design feature that can add character and charm to any interior space. As with any design trend, its popularity may evolve and shift over time, but barn-style doors have proven to be a durable and enduring choice in modern interior design.

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American Farmland With Blue Cloudy Sky. Image 123RF

7 Benefits of Barn Doors

Using barn-style doors in your home can offer several benefits, both aesthetic and functional. Here are some advantages of incorporating barn-style doors into your interior design:

  1. Space-saving: Barn doors slide along the wall rather than swinging open, making them an excellent space-saving option, especially in smaller rooms where traditional swinging doors might be impractical.
  2. Aesthetic appeal: Barn-style doors add a charming and rustic touch to any space. They come in various designs, materials, and finishes, allowing you to customize them to match your interior decor and create a visually appealing focal point.
  3. Versatility: These doors can be used in various settings, from bedrooms and bathrooms to living rooms and home offices. They can also be adapted for use as pantry doors, closet doors, or even room dividers, providing both functionality and style.
  4. Customization options: Barn-style doors can be customized to suit your taste and complement the existing interior design. You can choose from different types of wood, hardware styles, stains, paints, and even incorporate unique features like windows or decorative elements.
  5. Easy installation: Installing barn doors is generally easier than traditional doors. They can be mounted on a track system, making the process simpler and faster, saving time and money on installation.
  6. Privacy and sound insulation: When closed, barn doors can provide privacy and some level of sound insulation, depending on the materials used. This can be particularly useful for spaces where noise reduction is desirable, such as bedrooms or home offices.
  7. Accessibility: The sliding mechanism of barn doors makes them more accessible for individuals with mobility issues or disabilities, as they don't require the same amount of effort to open and close compared to traditional doors.

Overall, barn-style doors offer a combination of aesthetics, practicality, and versatility, making them a compelling choice for enhancing the interior design of your home.

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Part of this article was written by ChatGPT and edited by human writers.

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