5 Sliding Door Ideas for Modern Interiors

Incorporating sliding door ideas into modern interiors is a great way to refresh your space. Sliding doors are more traditionally thought to be used as patio doors, connecting indoor and outdoor spaces. When installed as interior doors, sliding doors act as room dividers and help you achieve a more open and airy feel in your home.

The best part about using sliding doors as interior doors is that you can play around with using different track systems, materials, and patterns. For instance, adding decorative grilles or using tinted glass on a sliding door will give an instant pop of character to your home's interior.

The following are our top picks for interior sliding door ideas that are both stylish and modern.

1. Pocket Doors

Pocket doors are inspiring contemporary homeowners to experiment with fun ways to break up spaces in their home's interior. A pocket door slides into a compartment within the wall when open, where it remains until the next time it's slid closed.

Pocket doors are ideal for living areas where saving space is paramount, both conserving wall space and eliminating the need for the floor clearance that is required by swing doors.

The following are some places to install a pocket door to refresh your living spaces:

As a laundry room partition that maximizes space when slid open, giving you easy access to all your laundry room accessories, when closed, a pocket door will neatly hide clutter, like clothes or cleaning supplies.
To use as a utility closet door, saving space and concealing items such as mops, brooms, step ladders, etc.
To divide your bedroom from an ensuite bathroom, giving you privacy when the door is slid shut and an unobstructed layout when the pocket door is slid open.
To seamlessly join indoor living spaces, such as a kitchen or living room, to a mudroom. This will help to regulate indoor temperatures and improve energy efficiency by reducing heat loss and keeping the doors open only when needed.

2. Sliding Barn Door

A sliding barn door goes well with modern farmhouse aesthetics, which blend rustic styles with contemporary components. A sliding barn door works by using a sliding mechanism with a track that is mounted onto the wall. When opening, it slides parallel to the wall.

Regular sliding barn doors have exposed track systems, often with wheels on either side. A concealed-rail sliding barn door features a concealed sliding system with dual shock-absorbing stops. This creates a floating panel effect without visible wall or floor tracks.

Barn doors are often made out of wood because of its natural aesthetic appeal. However, insulated steel and fiberglass doors are more energy efficient, and you can also find barn doors made from these materials. There are also many hardware options available for barn doors to suit any interior style.

Below are some great places to install a sliding barn door to add personality and functionality to your home's decor:

To divide a large walk-in closet from your bedroom. This ensures smooth operation, maintaining a clean, organized flow between spaces.
To separate your home office from living spaces, such as your dining room or family room. For larger openings that lead into a home office, such as in an open loft, consider using double barn doors to break up the spaces. Some of the best home office door ideas include sliding barn doors that serve as a stylish statement and stunning focal point in your home office.

3. Bypass Doors

Bypass doors are practical for tight spaces such as compact closets, bathrooms, or small home offices. A bypass door is a sliding door that opens horizontally, with one door sliding in front of the other parallel to a wall. Bypass doors are a beautiful way to split up spaces in a chic and modern way.

Here are some great places to install a bypass door (large or small) that will save you space and add style to any area of your home:

As a partition for your bedroom's closet, adding flair and better accessibility to your wardrobe.
To divide a small bathroom from a living space, creating privacy while closed, saving floor space, and adding style to a room. Consider pairing with blinds or drapes for added light control and privacy.
To split up a small home office from a living area, where space is limited.

4. Sliding French Doors

Sliding French doors are elegant doors that fuse old-world sophistication with functionality. They are characterized by having multiple glass panes and are a popular choice, offering a timeless and formal beauty to your home’s interior. French doors complement classical and elegant aesthetics, but also go well with modern farmhouse and mod-ranch interior design styles.

A sliding French door is a creative way to separate the following spaces:

As a grand opening from a living room or kitchen that leads into a dining room, exuding traditional charm.
As a large kitchen pantry division to organize snacks and other pantry goods.
As doors that open into a home library. Add tinted or frosted glass to inspire curiosity from onlookers, but enough privacy to keep your nose nuzzled in a book.

5. Sliding Glass Doors

Sliding glass doors are making their way from outdoor spaces to indoor spaces, adding an instant upgrade and refresh for a home's interior. A sliding glass door, when used intentionally, is a modern and light-promoting method for dividing up living areas in your home.

Here are some fun and innovative places to install a sliding glass door in the interior of your home:

To divide a kid's playroom, creating a light and airy feel and visibility between two rooms such as the kitchen or living room. Use low-E glass to maximize energy efficiency as well as natural light.
To split up a kitchen from a dining room or a living area to contain cooking smells, or to leave doors open when you want an open layout.
As a divider for a small home office located off a living area to help maximize space while allowing natural light to flow in. Combine with drapery panels for privacy and style.

The Best Sliding Door for Your Home's Interior

Sliding doors are a contemporary and creative method for dividing living spaces. They offer a unique balance of functionality and style. Installing a sliding door will elevate your home's beauty in seconds.

Here's a rundown of some of the best sliding door ideas for modern interiors:

Pocket doors offer a stylish and fun way to break up spaces in your home's interior. They are excellent for maximizing space and giving you easy access to utility or laundry rooms.
Sliding barn doors captivate the ideal blend of rustic charm and modern elegance. These doors are great for dividing large walk-in closets or home offices from living spaces. Their hardware options are plentiful, with designs to suit different interior styles.
Bypass doors are ideal for separating small rooms, such as closets, bathrooms, or small home offices. They are chic and good for minimalist home design.
French doors have a timeless beauty that will offer a formal and sophisticated division for rooms such as a kitchen that leads into a dining room, or a home library.
A sliding glass door has a modern and sleek design that will refresh your home's interior. It can be used as a divider for a kid's playroom or for a small home office.

No matter what your style, add one or more sliding doors to your modern home's interior. You will be delighted by how fast a few sliding doors breathe new life into your layout.