Interior doors sliding doors vs swing doors

The type of doors chosen for these renovations can become a crucial part of the project. When we talk about interior doors, we tend to immediately imagine a swing door in every room, but they are many other alternatives which happen to be more functional.

Choosing the right interior sliding doors for a project adds value to the design, not only in terms of functionality and personalization, but also with regard to the “additional space” effect that these are capable of causing.

¿Choosing to install a sliding door means automatically getting back all of the pointless floor space required for the swing door to open?. This choice also gives us the flexibility to position furniture in a variety of places, since the new door will slide to the side along a wall or fixed architectural wall.

A sliding panel, large or small, two parallel panels that slide at the same time, or a synchronous telescopic system are just a few of the options you can choose from, depending on the size of the passageway or how much space is available to store the sliding doors when open.

In the case of small living spaces, which are the most common type nowadays, simply changing the type of door can have a huge impact on how you perceive and enjoy the space on a daily basis. It can even transform a bedroom previously considered suitable for a single person into one that is large enough for two, simply by getting rid of that extra space needed to open the swing door. Indeed, changing the bedroom door can have an immediate impact on the value of the home.

However, if we are interested in achieving the maximum integration of two adjacent rooms, while still maintaining them as separate areas, the solution may go beyond a single door. In this case, we would opt for a mobile partition to replace the wall. This type of solution allows us to merge two rooms into one by removing all barriers, and then separate them back out when needed.

Another differential element of sliding systems, when compared to traditional doors, is that they are much easier to personalize in an aesthetic sense.

A swing door is framed within a vertical surface and can greatly interrupt the flow of the space, given the hinges or pivots that keep it in place within the frame.

On the other hand, sliding doors integrate into the vertical surface, becoming part of it. Whether they are fastened to the ceiling or wall, stored between partitions or against a surface, they allow for many more presentation options and greater personalization.

The type of material chosen for the door will vary depending on the goal: glass is best for maximizing light, while wood is ideal for creating a warm, intimate space. Anything is possible, and both options increase the amount of available space, while simultaneously regulating the level of privacy.

If we add in technical characteristics, like a self-closing mechanism or the KSC-Klein Soft Closing braking system (to keep doors from slamming), the list of options becomes even more interesting and really starts to stand out.

Since they don't take up any space, sliding doors are a great solution for creating new rooms within existing ones: a new closet in a bedroom, or a separate space for the toilet in a bathroom, optimizing the available space of the two resulting rooms.

The level of personalization that one can achieve with sliding doors means that different applications can require different drillings, fitting and profiles. Therefore, preparing the installation supports can be quite a lot of work. KLEIN® systems make the assembly phase as easy as possible with high-quality fittings that do not require any drilling of the glass, and which come with very clear instructions. This results in an easy installation and clean finishes for an excellent final product.

How should I choose which doors to use in my project? Should I plan my design with only swing doors or only sliding doors?

Both options are complementary and can easily co-exist in a single space, providing rooms that are more functional, more beautiful and more spacious.