Modern Barn Door Styles Guide for Your Home

There are many stylish and modern barn door styles on the market. Homeowners will find barn doors in a range of materials and at various price points.

Barn doors fit perfectly in houses, apartments, and offices and are an ideal space-saving solution. Choose a reclaimed wood style or an ultra-modern frosted glass model for a barn door that matches your personal style.

What Is a Barn Door?

A barn door is a type of sliding interior door. Sliding barn doors are different from standard hinged doors in that they don't need hinges or a door jamb to work. Instead, a barn door lays flat against the wall and uses two rollers attached to the top to slide along a track when it is opened and closed.

What Are the Advantages of a Barn Door?

Barn doors are a great option for homeowners looking for stylish modern interior doors. They also offer several practical benefits:

Space Savings

Many homeowners choose barn doors as they require less space than swinging or hinged doors. According to the National Association of Realtors, sliding doors such as barn doors can add up to 14 square feet of floor space as they don't need space for the door to swing open.

Easy to Open and Close

Barn doors glide effortlessly along their tracks to open and close. This makes it much easier for individuals who struggle to grip a handle to go in and out.

Easy Installation

Installing your own doors at home can be complex, but not with barn doors. Installing a barn door is as simple as fixing the track to the wall.

Top Modern Barn Door Styles

It’s easy to find the perfect modern sliding barn door. Choose your favorite style and color and customize it with modern barn door hardware.

Concealed-Rail Barn Doors (“Magic Doors”)

Concealed-rail barn doors, AKA “magic doors,” offer the space savings of a traditional barn door with the intriguing difference that they use a hidden rail system that makes it appear as though the door is hovering or floating across the wall. This cutting-edge configuration is ideal for homeowners who want to add an air of mystery to their homes and impress visitors with their impeccable taste.

The Smart Pro 2h Polar White Magic Belldinni Modern Interior Door is an excellent example of the concealed barn door style. The minimalist design, invisible hardware, and neutral coloring mean that the door blends seamlessly with white walls for a discreet, almost invisible effect.

Stile-and-Rail Barn Doors

The superb craftsmanship involved in making a stile-and-rail door like the Avon 07-08 Vetro Pecan Nutwood makes them unparalleled in terms of quality, durability, and sturdiness. They may also be more sound-resistant than other barn door designs.

Apart from their practicality, stile-and-rail barn doors are also aesthetically stunning. Many people love their high level of crisp detail, sleek lines, and defined panels. Slide-and-rail doors should definitely be on your shortlist if you're looking for a sophisticated, high-end look.

You’ll find different design options when shopping for stile-and-rail doors. Variations include the number of panels, materials, and placement of the different components. These barn doors are a wonderful option for classic homes, historic remodels, or even new builds with a more traditional feel.

French Barn Doors

A French barn door such as the Palladio 5 Lite Vetro Bianco Noble combines a traditionally rustic barn door design with sleek, modern glass panels. The French style maintains its country feel while embracing the chic and elegant touch that glass adds to a door. Because French barn doors allow light to pass through, they're a wonderful choice for spaces where you want a free flow of natural light.

Choose regular glass or even frosted glass for a more contemporary touch as well as privacy. Add the finishing touches with a modern rail and hardware.

Flush Barn Doors

A flush door like the Optima 2H Veralinga is a simple door design with straight, flat lines on both sides. Flush doors sidestep paneling or bevelling, offering a sleek and modern look that fits seamlessly into minimalist homes and modern office complexes.

Consider a flush door if you're searching for a more discreet door. A flush door will sit side by side with other parts of your home you want to highlight like plants, artwork, or soft furnishings. Flush doors are also often a more economical option, making them perfect for families on a budget.

Key Considerations When Choosing a Barn Door

Keep the following in mind when considering a barn door:

Wall Space

A barn door doesn't need open floor space in front of it like a swinging or hinged door. However, it does need enough wall space to open the door fully. For a single bar door, you'll need to calculate a space at least as wide as the door itself. With double barn doors, you'll need a door-width space on either side of the doorway.

Where to Install a Barn Door

Because barn doors sit on a rail and aren't attached to the frame with a hinge, they tend to leave a small gap on either side of the frame. This means they offer less soundproofing than traditional swing doors. Take this into account when considering a barn door for your bedroom or bathroom.

Barn Doors and Small Children

Children may be able to open barn doors as they don’t need to reach a handle. Keep this in mind if the door is destined for a room you especially want (or don’t want) young children to enter.

Choose a Modern Barn Door for Your Home Barn doors inject a unique touch of personality and class into any room in your home. With the wide range of styles on the market, your barn door can be a statement piece or a functional yet beautiful addition.

The adaptability of barn doors means that it’s easy to find one that fits seamlessly into your home's design style. If you’re looking for an interior door that offers a modern design, rustic appeal, and a unique style, a barn door is an excellent choice.