Barn Door Designs & Ideas to Transform Your Home

Barn doors aren’t just for barns anymore. They’re a design statement, elevating an average room to a space filled with personality and charm. And reclaimed wood brings even more uniqueness to the table. Not sure if this style is right for you? We’ll cover different types of barn door designs and creative ways to use them in your home!

Types of Barn Door Designs

There are many different barn door styles you can choose from, including traditional, modern, and eclectic. At VWFI, we specialize in the classic look, using our reclaimed barn wood.

K-Brace

Half Z

Our reclaimed wood can be used to create any of these designs in single or double doors. On top of that, you can customize them further by adding trim, applying paint, or staining them a different color.

We also have real, authentic barn doors from our demolitions across the tri-state area. If you want a piece of history in your home, we can clean and install them on your property.

Benefits of Using Barn Doors for Homes

By incorporating barn door designs into your home, you can level up your space in so many ways.

• Aesthetic Appeal: Barn doors enhance the visual appeal of any room, especially when made with reclaimed wood. They can be designed in rustic, farmhouse, industrial, or modern styles.
• Shows Your Personality: Let your style shine with unique barn door designs that wow every guest.
• Frees Up Space: Sliding barn doors for homes can go in tight spaces where a regular swinging door would take up too much room.
• Versatile Design: You can use barn doors in any room, big or small. They can be functional or just a design statement, adding architectural interest to blank walls and doorways.
• Easier Movement: Without a swinging door in your way, it’s easier to move larger items in and out.

Considerations Before You Install

Here are some things to remember before you install a barn door in your home.

First, your barn door needs to work well, and that requires good hardware. A quality track and handle helps the door move smoothly and quietly, even years later. So while the barn door design is important, don’t forget about the hardware.

Another crucial piece to remember is that you can’t just install a barn door anywhere. You need to have space on one side of the opening at least the size of the door itself, so you can slide it open fully. For a double door, you’ll need space on either side. Make sure there’s nothing on the wall it will block (like outlets, light switches, or anything else essential).

Next, remember that barn doors are heavy—up to 200 pounds—especially when they’re made of reclaimed wood. To mount them securely, you need to attach the metal track to a header board, which is then attached to the studs in your wall.

When picking your design, make sure the door is a bit wider than the opening, so it’s completely covered when shut. We recommend an extra inch or two on each side, an inch on the top, and a ½ inch gap at the bottom so it doesn’t scrape the floor.

Another thing to remember is that barn doors for homes are not as private. They are not soundproof and may need some additional latches or locks if you’re using them for a bathroom or bedroom. Similarly, they don’t insulate very well and let heat escape.

Lastly, sliding doors need a level floor. If your home is at a slant, the door will not stay shut, so you’ll need a latch to keep it closed.

Choosing the Right Wood and Hardware

The type of reclaimed wood you want for your barn door depends on the style you’re going for. Our inventory changes frequently, so contact us to see what we have available. All our vintage wood has a gorgeous patina, showing its age and history. If you want barn siding with the original paint, we can do that. Or we can brush it clean so you can stain and paint it to match your vision.

Make sure you’re choosing wood from the right supplier. You need it to be cleaned, fully-dried, and odor- and bug-free before it’s ever installed in your home.

Next is hardware. We can offer hand-forged iron tracks and handles to complete the look. Trust us—these custom details make all the difference. We offer a beeswax or powder-coated matte black finish to all our iron products. Want a custom color or bare steel? Just let us know, and we can work with you!

With our large variety of one-of-a-kind vintage wood and hand-forged iron hardware, we’re the best choice for those who want to try something new in their home.

Creative Ways to Incorporate Barn Door Designs

With so many barn door designs and ideas to choose from, it may be hard to pick a spot in your home. To help get your wheels turning, here are some places to install an interior barn door.

Pantry or Closet Door

Since barn doors let sound escape, we prefer to use them on pantries or closets rather than busy rooms. These doors are a stylish way to hide a messy interior, while still giving you easy access to your favorite snacks or go-to shoes. Just make sure you have room on one side of the opening for the door to fully slide open.

Room Divider

If you have an open floor plan, you can use barn doors as a room divider. This wall can help create separate zones for living, dining, and working throughout your home. You can section off an area as a playroom for your kids, or create a dedicated space for your home office.

Accent Wall

Another idea is to elevate your room with an accent wall. You can use reclaimed wood to create a barn door design on one wall, adding texture to a modern or minimalist space. And with different barn door styles to choose from, you can easily find one that matches the room.

Conceal Items

Another perk of barn doors is that they transform eyesores into a cute, cottagecore moment. You can use barn doors to hide a laundry room or storage so you keep your home looking clean and curated.

Repurpose the Door

If you’re not looking to replace a traditional door, then here are some barn door decor ideas. Try repurposing the piece into a headboard, adding a rustic element to your bedroom. You can also create furniture accents or decorative wall mounts when they’re not in use.

Get Started With Vintage Barn Doors

Are you ready to start installing a barn door in your home? We can help. At Vintage Wood & Forged Iron, we provide authentic barn doors from demolitions, along with reclaimed wood that can be turned into the custom barn door design of your dreams. Our wood experts take the time to make sure the wood is clean, while still preserving that beautiful patina.

We can craft different barn door styles from our wood, so you can have the perfect door to complement any space. Each one is unique, adding unmatched character and history with each and every nail.

Reclaimed barn doors are more than functional—they’re a piece of history. And investing in one transforms your space while supporting sustainable craftsmanship. Contact us today about your design ideas, and we can help turn your home into a place you love.