A collage of sliding barn door designs and ideas for the home.

Welcome to our gallery featuring incredible sliding barn door designs that will make you swoon!

As industrial-rustic and vintage styles have entered into popularity, sleek, glossy designs have become markers of homes without individual personality.

Enter the sliding barn door. These types of doors are easily identifiable, thanks to the use of reclaimed wood and heavy hardware.

Their initial popularity has spawned modern interpretations that focus on glass and metal, but the classic wooden barn door is still the reigning champ of sliding doors.

These doors are perfect for adding texture to any room. A common misconception is that sliding barn doors belong in rustic and farmhouse rooms and homes–not in modern or contemporary spaces.

Of course, this couldn’t be farther from the truth. Sliding barn doors in gorgeous, rich wood act as a source of warmth in starkly modern spaces, as architectural charm in contemporary homes, and allow a simple transition between spaces that reduces the odds of having a door open into an awkward space.

The above kitchen utilizes these sliding barn doors to close off the otherwise open-concept kitchen. You can learn more here.

These doors stay out of the way, won’t slam if you have the windows open for a cross breeze, can be used to disguise adjacent spaces.

For example, if you were to have an office space and wet bar next to one another, a sliding barn door could be between them or cover one or the other.

A sliding barn door is functional, beautiful, and adds architectural charm to any home. Plus, they’re not an incredibly difficult change to make!

You can, of course, purchase a handmade or prefabricated sliding barn door from various online shops, or you can build your own exactly to your specifications.

We’ll check out some awesome tutorials to help you get started later, but first let’s check out some of the ways you can use a sliding barn door in your decorating!

Table of Contents Show

Inspiration Gallery

A large wooden barn door, the top half divided into window panes. This allows the light from the dining room to pour through into the adjacent room, while still allowing the door to close off the space.

A large wooden barn door, the top half divided into window panes. This allows the light from the dining room to pour through into the adjacent room, while still allowing the door to close off the space. Learn more here.

If you don't like the look of one very large door, or don't have the wall space next to it to accommodate such a large door, adding two sliding doors can give your space the same effect as French doors without taking up the same floor space.

If you don’t like the look of one very large door, or don’t have the wall space next to it to accommodate such a large door, adding two sliding doors can give your space the same effect as French doors without taking up the same floor space. Source: GoodfromWood / Etsy

A small splash of color, like on this pale blue barn door, can make a barn door the beautiful focal point of any modern or contemporary space.

A small splash of color, like on this pale blue barn door, can make a barn door the beautiful focal point of any modern or contemporary space. Learn more here.

The exotic mosaic of these doors is in wood, and is creating using varying wood grain patterns, species, and colors. This is a perfect addition to a modern, minimalist, or Asian style home.

The exotic mosaic of these doors is in wood, and is creating using varying wood grain patterns, species, and colors. This is a perfect addition to a modern, minimalist, or Asian style home. Learn more here.

Sliding barn doors can never be slammed, and typically do not have locks. That means that a breeze won't cause slamming doors during the spring and summer. This door leads into a bunk room.Rustic Kids by Austin Interior Designers & Decorators Dawn Hearn Interior Design

Sliding barn doors can never be slammed, and typically do not have locks. That means that a breeze won’t cause slamming doors during the spring and summer. This door leads into a bunk room.

While much of the furniture in this primary bedroom is contemporary, the wooden ceiling and rustic sliding barn door adds rustic flavor. The orb-like light fixture is another great touch

While much of the furniture in this primary bedroom is contemporary, the wooden ceiling and rustic sliding barn door adds rustic flavor. The orb-like light fixture is another great touch. Shop the Look.

Using different sources of wood to create a sliding barn door results in a door with surprising contrast and texture.

Using different sources of wood to create a sliding barn door results in a door with surprising contrast and texture. Source: DancingGrains / Etsy

Simple light wood barn doors can be used in place of closet doors in an entry hall as well. The vertical boards add length to the space, and chunky black hardware adds industrial flair.

Simple light wood barn doors can be used in place of closet doors in an entry hall as well. The vertical boards add length to the space, and chunky black hardware adds industrial flair. Learn more here.

This incredible "barn" door may not be entirely made out of wood, but the sliding hardware allows it to serve the same function as more traditional examples of the style. This door is outfitted with lovely carvings and places to hang coats. The door can be slid in front of the laundry room to hide any messes.

This incredible “barn” door may not be entirely made out of wood, but the sliding hardware allows it to serve the same function as more traditional examples of the style. This door is outfitted with lovely carvings and places to hang coats. The door can be slid in front of the laundry room to hide any messes. Shop the Look.

A single rustic sliding barn door may not cover all of this kitchen's shelving, but it does cover one side or another depending on which side is in use.Contemporary Kitchen by Providence Photographers Nat Rea Photography

 A single rustic sliding barn door may not cover all of this kitchen’s shelving, but it does cover one side or another depending on which side is in use.

A pure white barn door with industrial metal hardware is the perfect addition to a shabby-chic room aesthetic.

A pure white barn door with industrial metal hardware is the perfect addition to a shabby-chic room aesthetic. Source: TheWhiteShanty / Etsy

In a contemporary room, utilizing different colors and textures of wood in the door creates texture and visual interest. This cozy living room already features a wealth of colors and patterns.

In a contemporary room, utilizing different colors and textures of wood in the door creates texture and visual interest. This cozy living room already features a wealth of colors and patterns. Shop the Look.

Even a rich dark wood barn door looks great! The hardware blends in beautifully with the wood and adds rich, warm tones to the contemporary space.

Even a rich dark wood barn door looks great! The hardware blends in beautifully with the wood and adds rich, warm tones to the contemporary space. Learn more here.

The bright sea green of this barn door is the perfect accompaniment to this mostly white bedroom. Other vintage accessories hang about the room.Farmhouse Bedroom by Brooklyn Photographers Corynne Pless

The bright sea green of this barn door is the perfect accompaniment to this mostly white bedroom. Other vintage accessories hang about the room.

Sliding barn doors can also be used as a gate of sorts, to prevent guests from taking a wrong step down into an attached living room and falling.

Sliding barn doors can also be used as a gate of sorts, to prevent guests from taking a wrong step down into an attached living room and falling. Shop the Look.

In some cases, it's the construction of the barn door that gives it its charm. This barn door has the classic X shaped supports on the bottom half of the door.

In some cases, it’s the construction of the barn door that gives it its charm. This barn door has the classic X shaped supports on the bottom half of the door. Learn more here.

The sliding barn doors in this kitchen can be slid away to reveal open shelving and pantry space. The usage is a unique way to deal with open shelving and the clutter it can sometimes create.

The sliding barn doors in this kitchen can be slid away to reveal open shelving and pantry space. The usage is a unique way to deal with open shelving and the clutter it can sometimes create. Shop the Look.

The chevron pattern of these double sliding barn doors are created using different colors and textures, resulting in a lovely contemporary version of the rustic doors.

The chevron pattern of these double sliding barn doors are created using different colors and textures, resulting in a lovely contemporary version of the rustic doors. Source: LaeLeeDesigns / Etsy

This rich dark wood barn door has bold red sections placed at alternating distances, and would be perfect in a modern or contemporary home.

This rich dark wood barn door has bold red sections placed at alternating distances, and would be perfect in a modern or contemporary home. Learn more here.

This is another beautiful example of a contemporary bedroom matched with more rustic sliding barn doors. These doors are in a rich gray and heavily textured.

This is another beautiful example of a contemporary bedroom matched with more rustic sliding barn doors. These doors are in a rich gray and heavily textured. Shop the Look.

To obtain a more contemporary and modern aesthetic, these barn doors have glass panels replacing much of the center of each door.

To obtain a more contemporary and modern aesthetic, these barn doors have glass panels replacing much of the center of each door. Source: Zillow Digs™

This door frame is at an odd angle, which makes the hardware necessary to allow the door to slide a bit more complex.Rustic Living Room by Savannah Architects & Building Designers Gerald D. Cowart, AIA, LEED AP

This door frame is at an odd angle, which makes the hardware necessary to allow the door to slide a bit more complex.

This sliding barn door has no frame, and is constructed out of three stained and aged boards.

This sliding barn door has no frame, and is constructed out of three stained and aged boards. Learn more here.

In a remarkable departure from the typical style associated with sliding barn doors, this home's are in a beautiful light blue and embellished with light wood shapes and patterns.

In a remarkable departure from the typical style associated with sliding barn doors, this home’s are in a beautiful light blue and embellished with light wood shapes and patterns. Source: Zillow Digs™

A simple sliding barn door is a great way to close off a closet with style and substance without dealing with regular doors, which need space to swing open and closed.

A simple sliding barn door is a great way to close off a closet with style and substance without dealing with regular doors, which need space to swing open and closed. Source: HumphriesGarage / Etsy

This sliding door can be used to close off the lovely primary bathroom whenever privacy is so desired.

This sliding door can be used to close off the lovely primary bathroom whenever privacy is so desired. Source: Zillow Digs™

This primary bedroom and its dusky plum barn door shows the versatility of the door. When both the bathroom and desk areas need to be open, the door can rest in the middle of the wall between the two rooms.Midcentury Bedroom by Denver Design-Build Firms Design Platform

This primary bedroom and its dusky plum barn door shows the versatility of the door. When both the bathroom and desk areas need to be open, the door can rest in the middle of the wall between the two rooms.

This is a perfect example of just how lovely a rustic barn door can look in a distinctly rustic home.

This is a perfect example of just how lovely a rustic barn door can look in a distinctly rustic home. Source: Zillow Digs™

These much more contemporary white versions are used to create a French door-esque entryway into the main living area. The foyer area can easily be closed off.

These much more contemporary white versions are used to create a French door-esque entryway into the main living area. The foyer area can easily be closed off. Learn more here.

The laundry room has been hidden behind this large sliding barn door in light blue. The door is a perfect way to take advantage of closet space in a narrow hallway, where a door may be difficult to open and close.

The laundry room has been hidden behind this large sliding barn door in light blue. The door is a perfect way to take advantage of closet space in a narrow hallway, where a door may be difficult to open and close. Source: Zillow Digs™

How to DIY a Sliding Barn Door

Sliding barn doors look great in any home and are deceptively easy to DIY, if you’re so inclined. In this section we’ll outline a few great tutorials for you to choose from.

  1. Remodelaholic – This simple tutorial is great for beginners and includes a building plan, materials list, and cut list. The result is a simple door with a single diagonal cross beam.
  2. Lynne Knowlton– This tutorial has both a picture-based instruction list and a video tutorial. This tutorial is focused on building the hardware, and is great for those who have a vintage or salvaged door in mind and need to hang it.
  3. DIY Network– This low-cost tutorial requires medium experience and a single day to get your new door built and installed. This tutorial is not for building your door, and can be used in conjunction with door-building tutorial.
  4. The Turquoise Home– An all-in-one tutorial that will show you how to build and hang your brand new doors. This tutorial takes a slightly different view on the doors, using galvanized piping, hooks, and wheels on the bottom of the door to get your door to move.
  5. Paper Daisy Design– This is a great tutorial for those who love the look, but don’t want to go with a rustic wooden door. The tutorial shows you how to build your door for as cheap as $50, and utilizes color-based illustrated instructions.
  6. Wilkerdos– This simple tutorial utilizes house siding and trim pieces to create a light-weight door, as well as your own hardware to hang it.

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Jon Dykstra owns an interior design company in North Vancouver, British Columbia. He's fascinated by architecture and interiors. He also enjoys gardening at his "house in the burbs" and "homesteading" at his off-the-grid boat-access cabin.

Combine all that with a love of writing and Homestratsophere.com was born. He balances his working time between running his interior design company, working on his off-the-grid cabin and publishing homestratosphere.com.

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