Can You Use a Barn Door for a Bathroom?

Barn doors have become a popular alternative to swinging and standard sliding doors. Barn doors are a significant space saver and can work in rustic, modern and even traditional design environments. 

However, a common question that must be answered is ‘can a barn door be successfully used as sliding door to a bathroom’.

Advantages of a Barn Door

Space Saving Barn Doors:

With real estate becoming more expensive and living areas shrinking, why waste space on your door?

A  traditional door can take up to 11 square feet out of a room. For small bathrooms in particular, where you would prefer to fit many floor elements (tub, shower, sink and toilet) a barn door will accentuate the design preserving the square footage of the room.

It is installed on the exterior side of the doorway, and is surface mounted. It does not even require a pocket to be built during framing.

Inclusive Design:

No longer are barn doors exclusive to rustic design spaces. We offer hardware that can be used in traditional, contemporary, modern or minimalistic venues as well.

Emtek Custom Barn Door Hardware is a great example of a hardware system that can be customized by selecting the mounting style, wheel type, fastener style, finishes and lengths.

Disadvantages of a Barn Door

Privacy Considerations:

A major disadvantage of a barn door to bathroom is privacy concerns. Is a barn door appropriate for a bathroom area, or will your household and guest be made to feel uncomfortable?

First thing to keep in mind, is to mount the hardware as close to the wall as possible. This will eliminate excessive gaps between the door and wall.

Next, if the space allows it, use a door that is larger than the doorway. This will lessen the odds of angled views.

Finally, make sure the door stays firmly shut by applying a barn door with lock.  There are many kinds of barn door locks* available in a variety of finishes to suit your overall vibe. This will prevent any unwanted visitors or rouge sliding door mishaps!

Sound and Odor Mitigations:

Since the door is not physically touching the doorframe, there is significantly more airflow through the doorway. This creates a situation where sounds and odors can be easily transferred to the adjacent rooms.

At Trademark Hardware we specialize in hard to find, unique products for common problems. For a bathroom or sensitive area, a popular solution is to apply Pemko’s Barn Door Privacy Seal Set which will create a barrier between the door and frame, thus lessening the airflow.

Additionally, consider your materials carefully. A solid door and high quality seals will ensure a better end product.

In Summary

Can a barn door be used for a bathroom? Sure, however by paying close attention to the little details and with proper planning you will be able to enjoy the benefits of the barn door in bathroom, while lessening the impact of the disadvantages of said barn door.