Buying Barn Doors: How to Choose the Right One
From style to installation type, learn everything you need to know about choosing a barn door.
A barn door looks good in any style home – from rustic to traditional – and can be used in any room. Unsure how to choose the best barn door for your space? From door placement to available styles, our guide covers everything you need to know.
1. Pick a Placement & Size
Before choosing a barn door, consider where it will be placed in your home. A barn door is perfect for rooms or entryways that don't have enough space for a swinging door. For a stylish touch, consider using one as a door for your pantry, closet, office, or bathroom. Size is another important consideration – common sizes are 28" x 80", 30" x 80", 32" x 80", 36" x 80", 36" x 84", and 42" x 84".
Tip!
Read our Measuring 101: How to Choose the Right Barn Door Sizes guide to learn exactly how to measure for new barn doors.
2. Decide on the Number of Doors
Decide if you want a single barn door or set of double barn doors. Single barn doors are ideal for snug areas, while double selections are a charming choice for homes with more wall space. No matter what you choose, be sure to measure your home to find the option that best fits within your abode.
3. Pick a Core Type
There are two barn door core types: hollow and solid. While not completely empty, hollow options are typically filled with a lightweight honeycomb cardboard interior. Their airy structure is lightweight and easy to move (but does not muffle sound), making them perfect for storage areas like pantries or closets. Solid barn doors are filled with thick particle board material. They are higher quality, more expensive, and much heavier, ideal for insulating rooms and muffling sound. Solid core barn doors are great for bedrooms or bathrooms.
4. Choose a Door Installation Type
Barn doors are available in two installation types: slab and sliding. Slab options include only the barn door. They do not come with hardware, so you can mix and match your barn door with hardware that fits your style. On the other hand, sliding/track selections include the track and rollers needed for sliding your barn door open and shut.
5. Consider Style
From door design to material, these considerations will help you choose the barn door that best suits your style:
Design
Three of the most popular barn door designs are flush, paneled, and glass. Flush barn doors are minimalist in design, making them a versatile addition to any style home. Paneled barn doors offer a more traditional farmhouse feel, while glass options are great for a modern look.
Materials
The most popular barn door material is wood, but barn doors are also available in metal and glass. Consider your home's style before choosing a material to create a cohesive design. Metal and glass doors work well in modern and contemporary homes, while wood complements traditional or rustic homes.
Finish
Pick from four finishes when choosing a barn door: primed, stained, painted, and unfinished. If you want a natural and untreated look, go for an unfinished barn door. To highlight the deep, natural color of your wood, choose a stained barn door for years of beauty. If you intend to paint your barn door in the future, select a primed door so you don't have to prime it yourself. For a completely primed and finished option that is ready for use, a painted barn door is just what you need.
Barn door hardware includes tracks, rollers, and handles/pulls. Tracks live above the doorway and extend along the wall. They are the piece from which your barn door hangs. Rollers help the barn door slide along its track, and handles are the levers pulled to slide your barn door from from side to side.
Some barn doors come with hardware, while others allow you to select your own hardware design. To simplify this process, opt for a single or double barn door hardware kit, which includes each hardware component in the same style and finish.
