Glass sliding doors present a privacy challenge for bathrooms.
Sliding bathroom doors usually fall into one of two categories: pocket doors and glass sliders. Pocket doors are hidden when they're not in use, because they slide into the wall. Glass sliders are common in luxury bathrooms, where they can provide additional light and air to create a spa environment. The challenge with pocket doors is to use decor that won't affect the door's operation. Glass sliders present a privacy challenge that will affect your decorating choices. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
Pocket-Door Bathrooms
1. Paint the door to help achieve the look you want in the overall room. Paint the bathroom and the inside of the door all one color to create the look of a cohesive space. If you prefer contrast, paint the pocket door and the trim one color and the walls another. Before you paint the door, though, take a close look inside the wall pocket. Too many layers of paint can make opening and closing the door difficult or cause scratches.
2. Hang a towel bar for each regular bathroom user and one for guests. Because pocket doors cannot have hooks for hanging robes or other clothing, you may want to put hooks elsewhere in the bathroom.
3. Hang a full-length mirror on one bathroom wall. This will help to make the space feel open.
4. Put in adequate lighting. Along with sconces on both sides of the vanity mirror or a long fixture above the mirror, consider recessed lighting with a dimming feature in the ceiling. The dimming feature will allow you to set the mood when you want to take a long, leisurely bath.
5. Install glass shelving to create a light, airy feeling while also adding a bit of sparkle.
Glass Sliders
6. Place a sturdy wooden folding screen in front of the glass sliding doors, about 1 foot inside the door, if you have the space. The screen will provide privacy while allowing light to enter the room. Decorate your screen with over-the-door-style towel bars and robe hooks to keep these items handy.
7. Apply frosted contact paper to the bottom 6 feet of your glass sliding doors to maintain privacy while maximizing light.
8. Paint your bathroom in light, soft colors, such as white, sky blue or sage green. This allows you to make the most of the natural light provided by your slider.
9. Hang stained or colored glass decorations throughout your bathroom to collect and refract the natural light. Install faucet handles, tub handles and shower taps with crystal knobs, if that's your style, for the same purpose.
Tags: sliding doors, dimming feature, glass sliding doors, inside door, natural light, pocket doors, present privacy
