12 Types of Sliding Doors for Home Interiors

Sliding doors are an excellent option for maximizing space and adding style and function to your home. They are well suited to modern homes because they come in a range of sleek and sophisticated designs.

Sliding doors can act as room dividers and help you achieve a more open and airy feel in your home. For instance, glass sliding doors allow more light to enter the room and create a feeling of spaciousness.

Below are some of the most popular types of sliding doors for home interiors.

1. Concealed-Rail Barn Doors

Concealed-rail barn doors or “magic” doors work on hidden track systems with two shock-absorbing stops. This creates a floating panel appearance without the need for the installation of upper or lower tracks on the wall or the floor.

2. Traditional Barn Doors

Traditional sliding barn doors work on a visible track system, which can be designed with rustic hardware to create a farmhouse-inspired style. Barn doors also work well in country-style and modern interiors. They are frequently made from reclaimed, natural, or engineered wood and adapt to almost all interior design aesthetics.

3. Sliding Glass Doors

Glass sliding doors are the ideal choice for homeowners to create openness with natural light but with a sleek, modern design. They are excellent for bridging indoor spaces and outdoor patios, decks, or gardens. Sliding glass doors are generally made with clear glass panels but can also be made from frosted, tempered, or laminated glass.

The use of glass opens up the space, making outside views more accessible and allowing more natural light to flow into the house. Studies show that indoor exposure to natural light improves mental and emotional well-being. Sliding glass doors are a great choice to connect a home's interior with nature and natural sunlight.

4. Sliding Bi-fold Doors

A bi-fold door is a type of door that opens by sliding the panels and folding them up. This type of door configuration only needs half the amount of floor space required by swinging doors.

Sliding bi-fold doors are efficient ways to separate rooms such as bedrooms from living spaces in one-story floor spaces. They can also be used instead of sliding patio doors to create a totally unrestricted view of outside spaces.

5. Sliding French Doors

Sliding French Doors blend old-world sophistication with practicality. French doors have traditionally been used as patio doors but are commonly used in home interiors today. Installing French doors as an entryway to sitting rooms or libraries is a great way to bring elegance to a home.

French doors commonly consist of several glass panels with wooden frames and trim. The use of glass allows more light to flow into a space. Eclectic hardware may be added to French Doors to suit modern, rustic, or farmhouse home interior styles.

6. Bypass Doors

Bypass doors are a type of sliding door that allows access to places such as closets and storage spaces without swinging the doors open. Bypass doors consist of two doors mounted one behind the other. They help maximize space in smaller home interiors and are useful as pantry doors and wardrobes to help conceal clutter.

Bypass doors are generally easy to install and maintain, making them a practical choice for homeowners. They can be made from different types of materials and finishes that adapt to fit any design style.

7. Pocket Doors

Pocket doors are a popular choice for home interiors, especially when saving space is the goal. Pocket doors work by sliding horizontally on a track system and disappearing into an adjoining wall cavity. Pocket sliding doors take up very little floor space when opened.

Single pocket doors are great in small areas such as bathrooms, closets, or home offices. Since they don't take up as much square footage as hinged doors, they can easily be incorporated into minimalist spaces. Double pocket doors, which feature two sliding panels, offer a smooth and elegant transition between larger interior spaces.

8. Accordion Doors

Accordion doors are similar to bi-fold doors, as they both fold when opened. However, these doors consist of an "accordion" pattern and are made of multiple panels that fold in on themselves. These doors are often used in home interiors where you want to separate rooms temporarily, such as playrooms or sitting rooms that require occasional separation.

Accordion doors can also be installed permanently using sophisticated materials such as wood or vinyl, offering a flexible but stylish way to divide spaces. It's important to be mindful of the color and placement of accordion doors in your home to ensure they match your overall aesthetic.

9. Shoji Doors

Shoji doors are traditional Japanese doors made from a combination of wood and paper. These elegant door frames bring tranquility to contemporary designs. They feature wooden frames that are filled with translucent rice paper, allowing light to peacefully filter through.

Shoji doors can be installed to divide home offices or libraries. They offer privacy while still enabling an open and well-ventilated feel to an area. Shoji doors could also be used to split a bedroom between two children or to divide a living area from a cozy reading nook.

10. Aluminum Sliding Doors

Aluminum sliding doors look great in home interiors that want to give off a more industrial aesthetic. They look nice when incorporated into modern home interiors, creating a sleek and minimalist style.

Aluminum doors are made of durable materials, which makes them low-maintenance and ideal for busy homes with lots of foot traffic. Aluminum sliding doors can additionally be used in high-humidity rooms such as bathrooms as the material is resistant to rust and corrosion.

11. Multi-Panel Doors

Multi-panel doors can be folded, slid, or pivoted and can be installed in both the interior and exterior of your home. Multi-panel doors add depth and texture to a space and can be made from a variety of finishes and styles. These doors can be made from large glass panels and be used to bring in natural light and views from the outside.

Multi-panel doors can also be designed to divide inside spaces such as living rooms, kitchens, or pools. In cooler areas, these doors can help improve energy efficiency by breaking up spaces and reducing drafts. These doors are both functional and sleek and blend easily with different architectural styles.

12. Classic Sliding Doors

Standard sliding doors are one of the most popular interior designs for home interiors. They consist of two panels that slide along a track system—usually one fixed and one that slides. When they are open, they grant access to a room without taking up much floor space.

Standard sliding doors can be made of glass, wood, or other types of solid materials. These doors work well for closet spaces, pantries, and patio doors. Due to their popularity, they are offered in almost every finish and style possible, making them a versatile choice for any home interior.

Save Space and Elevate Style with Sliding Doors

Sliding doors are a popular choice for interior home design where space-saving and style are equally important. Configurations such as concealed-rail barn doors and pocket doors add elegance and personality to a space. French doors and Shoji doors allow more light to flow into a room, while solid-core doors such as aluminum or bi-fold sliding doors provide more privacy.

Accordion and pocket doors are ideal for homes with limited space and offer a beautiful transition from one room to another. Multi-panel doors and traditional sliding doors will also elevate the beauty and functionality of any home interior. Choosing a sliding door for your home interior will not only save space but also allow you to showcase your personal style.