9 Concealed Bedroom Door Ideas

More homeowners want concealed doors in their homes, where entrances to spaces like the kitchen, common bathroom and bedrooms blend into the living and dining areas. Why are concealed doors increasingly popular among homeowners?

One of the key reasons is their practicality, especially when homes are smaller, as explained by Megan Zhang, the interior design director of M Atelier.

She adds, “For instance, if your bathroom is close to your dining area, the dining experience feels different when you have a concealed door. A regular door will likely remind you that you’re eating outside the bathroom, which can feel uncomfortable. Additionally, cooling the space is more efficient if you have a concealed door for the passageway to the bedrooms.”

There are many possibilities when it comes to using concealed doors in interior design. Depending on the layout, they can be swing doors or sliding doors. Popular materials used for concealed doors are laminates, fluted panels, mirrors, and wallpaper.

1. Concealed sliding door

Considering your interior design scheme, a sliding door (pictured above)might work better for your space. If you prefer a sliding door, you will require a top-hung track, whether concealed or not.

Make sure to match it with custom furnishings next to it by adopting the same colours, style and finishes. Turn the door into a display area with your choice of artwork that works with the custom finishes. Here, the artwork is framed and placed flush against the fluted panel, a practical finish that lets you easily hold and slide the door.

2. Same paint finish as walls

What would you like to draw attention to? Let your concealed door fade into the background if you prefer to highlight your furnishings and decor. Interior doors that don’t distract bring peace and simplicity to a space, making your prized possessions the focal point. In this case, the door matches the matte finish of the walls for a clean and low-key look.

3. Use the same wallpaper

Hide away your concealed doors with pretty or bold patterns! The stripes also camouflage the vertical edges of the door, making the door almost invisible. To maintain continuity in this space, embellish the concealed door with a custom panel to match the sideboard. Not only does this hidden door closes off the passageway to the bedroom to enhance privacy, it creates a complete and cohesive look for the living area.

4. Cabinet door

A custom feature with storage solutions spanning the entire wall lets you disguise the entrance to your bedroom. It provides a playful element to your interior design while satisfying your storage needs. To make full use of the floor area, you can also knock down the wall to accommodate a wardrobe for the bedroom and transform the back of it into a design feature for the living area.

5. Dark wood finish

Go for the feel of an elegant mystery novel vibe with dark wood-clad walls and concealed doors. Concealed doors like this create the look of a secret passageway, especially when finished seamlessly with the rest of the interior walls. Not only does this create a beautiful space overall, but it also prevents visitors from venturing into your private spaces.

6. Fluted panels

Concealed doors allow a beautiful and seamless backdrop, particularly beneficial in areas like the dining area or study corner within the living area. They affect how you feel in the space, and they give you a background you love when you have online meetings. The customised concealed door blends with the vertical grooves found in the coastal or farmhouse style.

7. Walk-in wardrobe door

If you have a walk-in wardrobe, separating your clothes and bags from the bed area keeps your bedroom uncluttered. Bring it up a notch with a concealed door to segregate the walk-in wardrobe from the bed area and even the ensuite bathroom. This design idea can help ensure a sense of symmetry, balance and proportion that would make a bedroom feel even more restful.

8. Concealed bomb shelter door

Transitional spaces are typically underutilised. When there are entrances to the bathroom or storeroom, these spaces are often overlooked in the overall interior design. Covering the walls and concealing the doors creates a sleek and neat design. Additionally, dressing up the walls elevates the role of such spaces in connecting and pulling together the various spaces in the home.

9. A continuous wall

Traditional doors break up how a wall looks. Concealed doors, on the other hand, ensure an uninterrupted and cohesive look. Using the same material and colour to keep your doors flush with the entire wall lengthens the wall and makes a space look larger. With an entire wall clad in decorative panels, this space is transformed.

Love movies or karaoke at home? Fluted panels are suited for the living room as they enhance sound absorption.

Expert tips

Read on for more expert advice on concealed doors from Megan Zhang, the interior design director of m atelier.

1. Concealed doors don’t have handles on one side, so you would need to touch the door to push it open. Materials like mirrors and wallpapers can sustain fingerprints or stains. Consider avoiding such materials at high-touch points.

2. These doors also come with a door closer mechanism. A concealed door is only ideal if the space is sufficient for it to swing to 90-degrees because the door will close by itself. Concealed doors may be unsuitable for homes with older adults and young children, as closers might make such doors challenging to use.

3. For doors to areas like the kitchen or passageway to the bedrooms, adding a small glass panel so that they can see if anyone is on the other side provides additional safety.

4. Also, remember safety in emergencies. For instance, a concealed door to the bathroom would still need a lock that can be opened from the outside.

5. The custom doors should not exceed a width of 90cm. When doors are too large, they will have a huge swing that feels clumsy to use.

Q & A

Laminates are loved for their aesthetics, low maintenance, and affordability. Eleanor Lim, the marketing director of EDL, shares some tips.

What should homeowners look for when choosing laminates for concealed doors?

Homeowners should choose laminates that match the walls to create a seamless look for concealed doors. Using the same laminate for both walls and doors helps achieve this effect. Solid colours or simple grains are recommended to avoid disrupting the illusion of concealment. Simple grains may be better, as it may be harder to join bold and loud grains.

Is there any difference between laminates for concealed doors and kitchen cabinets?

There is no significant difference between laminates for concealed doors, wall cladding, and kitchen use. However, concealed doors are vertically applied, and homeowners can choose high-textured materials for areas with lower traffic. We usually recommend a more subtle finish for kitchen laminates to avoid trapping grime and dirt.