Folding doors utilize hinges between their panels and often have small fixed knobs for handles.
While often overlooked---or perhaps under-appreciated---during the interior design process, closet doors are large, visual elements, which can contribute to or detract from particular decors. There are several factors to consider when deciding on a style of closet door, including the size the of the interior space that the door will be in, how often you will be opening and closing the door and what you will be keeping behind the door. Does this Spark an idea?
Hinged
Hinged closet doors, just like standard doors, are mounted to door frames with hinges, which allow the doors to swing open and closed. As the home fixture resource website Door and Window notes, hinged closet doors are ideal for closet spaces that you need to access all-at-once. For example, if you have a shoe collection that you want to examine in its entirety, you can simply swing the door open wide. In addition, hinged doors provide you with spaces for hanging racks, hooks and other storage elements. The disadvantage of hinged closet doors is that they take up a lot of floor space when open.
Folding
Folding closet doors typically consist of one or two pairs of bi-fold panels, or panels that fold vertically at their middles. The doors run along tracks mounted to the tops and bottoms of door frames, enabling them to slide open and closed as the panels fold and unfold. According to Door and Window, folding closet doors help visually divide large interior spaces. In addition, due the collapsible nature of their panels, the doors take up less space in the open position compared with hinged doors.
Sliding
There are two general styles of sliding closet door: pocket doors, which have panels that disappear inside of walls when you open them, and bypass doors, which have two or more panels that slide over top of each other when you open them. Both styles of door use rollers to run along mounted racks and take up no extra space when opened. Adding mirrors to sliding closet doors in the bedroom is a popular option, as it provides you with full-length mirrors for getting ready and helps make the space seem bigger---all while hiding what you have stored inside the closet.
Materials
Most closet doors consist of wood or composite materials like fiberboard and provide entirely opaque surfaces. However, if the closet you are working on has nothing to hide, such as linen closet with neatly folded, colorful towels inside, you may want to consider incorporating some transparent glass panels. Alternatively, as the home and lifestyle resource From My Experience mentions, you could use decorative, translucent frosted glass on your closet doors, which will allow some light to pass through without offering a full glimpse of what you are storing. You can use frosted glass on hinged, folding and sliding doors.
Alternatives
A growing trend in the field of closet door design is to avoid rigid structures altogether. Instead, you could hang a curtain or pair of curtains in front of a closet, or hang rows of beads. These options come in many different colors and patterns, take up little space and are quick and easy to open.
Tags: closet doors, doors which, panels that, when open, closet door, door frames, Door Window
