8 Clever Door Solutions for Awkward Spaces
Looking for a door to fit a tricky opening? These eight space-smart designs open up a world of creative possibilities
Have a doorway that’s an unusual shape or opens into a narrow space? Don’t despair. From sliding and pocket doors to bi-fold and barnyard styles, here are eight alternatives to traditional designs. Take a look at this selection to see if any would fit the bill in your home.
2. Show your workings
This is the same idea, but with the workings visible, making a feature of the sliding door rather than disguising it.
The simple rail mechanism means these doors are easy to fit to most openings, as long as there’s enough wall space on one side to house the door when it’s open.
Different rail designs are readily available, from industrial, like the one here, to more rustic or antique styles.
Let It Slide: 4 Beautiful Ways to Bring Barn Doors Inside
This is the same idea, but with the workings visible, making a feature of the sliding door rather than disguising it.
The simple rail mechanism means these doors are easy to fit to most openings, as long as there’s enough wall space on one side to house the door when it’s open.
Different rail designs are readily available, from industrial, like the one here, to more rustic or antique styles.
Let It Slide: 4 Beautiful Ways to Bring Barn Doors Inside
3. Perfect the art of partition
Open-plan living is great, but sometimes it’s nice to be able to shut the door on a space. If you don’t want to reinstate a wall but are keen to have the option of a separate space, how about installing a sliding, concertina-style partition like this?
The simple, hinged design folds right back neatly against the wall to create an open-plan space, or can be left half open for a more broken-plan arrangement. If you want to create an occasional office, a play area or a separate space for teenagers, this offers a flexible solution that would work well in many multi-tasking homes.
Open-plan living is great, but sometimes it’s nice to be able to shut the door on a space. If you don’t want to reinstate a wall but are keen to have the option of a separate space, how about installing a sliding, concertina-style partition like this?
The simple, hinged design folds right back neatly against the wall to create an open-plan space, or can be left half open for a more broken-plan arrangement. If you want to create an occasional office, a play area or a separate space for teenagers, this offers a flexible solution that would work well in many multi-tasking homes.
4. Pick a pocket
A pocket door is the ultimate hideaway design, as it slides right back into a slim recess in the wall. It’s a great choice for a small room, or one where the door’s left open a lot, such as between a bedroom and a dressing room, as it doesn’t intrude into the space at all.
If you’re extending or converting a room from scratch, it’s worth thinking about the doorway at the beginning of the project to see if a design like this would be possible.
Find an interior designer or decorator near you
A pocket door is the ultimate hideaway design, as it slides right back into a slim recess in the wall. It’s a great choice for a small room, or one where the door’s left open a lot, such as between a bedroom and a dressing room, as it doesn’t intrude into the space at all.
If you’re extending or converting a room from scratch, it’s worth thinking about the doorway at the beginning of the project to see if a design like this would be possible.
Find an interior designer or decorator near you
5. Go down the middle
Another way of stopping a door from hogging too much space is to have double doors that meet in the middle.
This can work particularly well in a bedroom, to avoid the door opening right next to the bed, or in a small ensuite, where a wide, inward-opening door would compromise space for the fittings, and an outward-opening one would protrude out into the bedroom.
Another way of stopping a door from hogging too much space is to have double doors that meet in the middle.
This can work particularly well in a bedroom, to avoid the door opening right next to the bed, or in a small ensuite, where a wide, inward-opening door would compromise space for the fittings, and an outward-opening one would protrude out into the bedroom.
6. Be bold with a fold
Perfect for a compact bathroom where space for fixtures and fittings is at a premium, this sliding bi-fold door folds down the middle to open and, thanks to its recessed handles, can be neatly pushed right back against the wall.
This style of door would also work well on an airing cupboard or pantry. Ask a carpenter about making something similar and tailoring it to your home.
12 Interior Doors With a Difference
Perfect for a compact bathroom where space for fixtures and fittings is at a premium, this sliding bi-fold door folds down the middle to open and, thanks to its recessed handles, can be neatly pushed right back against the wall.
This style of door would also work well on an airing cupboard or pantry. Ask a carpenter about making something similar and tailoring it to your home.
12 Interior Doors With a Difference
7. Shape to fit
In a room with a sloping ceiling or on an understairs cupboard, consider a cut-to-fit door to accommodate the awkward angles.
You can buy cut-to-size angled doors online, with guides on how to measure the opening accurately. However, while it’s possible to hang a door yourself, a good carpenter will have the expertise and tools to do an expert job
In a room with a sloping ceiling or on an understairs cupboard, consider a cut-to-fit door to accommodate the awkward angles.
You can buy cut-to-size angled doors online, with guides on how to measure the opening accurately. However, while it’s possible to hang a door yourself, a good carpenter will have the expertise and tools to do an expert job
8. Divide and conquer
The modern take on a stable door is a practical choice in a laundry and utility room like this, as it allows fresh air to circulate while keeping pets (and curious toddlers) safely indoors. A pony in the courtyard is optional.
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The modern take on a stable door is a practical choice in a laundry and utility room like this, as it allows fresh air to circulate while keeping pets (and curious toddlers) safely indoors. A pony in the courtyard is optional.
Tell us
Have you used an ingenious door solution in your home? Share your ideas in the Comments, like and bookmark this story, save the images, and join the conversation.
More
Find a specialised door professional near you
This neat powder room is tucked under the staircase behind a sliding door that’s papered to blend in with the rest of the wall.
The sliding function means the door does not open out into the narrow hallway and take up precious space. When closed, the rectangular door also gives the wall a much sleeker finish than an angular-shaped door designed to fit the opening.