The Very Best Type Of Door To Use On Your Garage Cabinets

Garages are no longer afterthoughts in interior design. Homeowners and designers are increasingly interested in incorporating this space, typically reserved for storage, into the home, making its décor not just functional, but also stylish and intentional. Adding barn doors to garage cabinets is one simple makeover that can deliver on both of these fronts. Along with some of the best garage cabinet systems, it can create space-saving and aesthetic benefits.

Not only are barn doors an unexpected, unique addition to any room, bringing a design-forward touch to interior décor, but they are also especially well-suited for cramped areas like the garage. While you may have to give up some wall space to allow the door to slide all the way through, giving you complete access to your shelves, you won't have to risk your cabinet doors colliding with any precious gear when you swing them open. In fact, even if you're lucky enough to have a spacious garage, chances are it's still the most packed room in your home, so any space-reducing tricks will be welcome.

When it comes to installation, barn doors are a relatively non-intrusive upgrade, especially if you're already dealing with built-in shelving. In that case, whether you hire professional help or do it yourself, it involves mounting a metal sliding track to your wall, which will be attached to the door panel via metal hangers. Heavier doors may need to be attached to a second track at the bottom. Similarly, you can opt for a single or double door system, depending on the width of your cabinets. 

For garages with limited wall space, or for smaller freestanding storage, a bypass solution with two parallel tracks is the perfect minimal closet door idea that won't overwhelm your space. In this mechanism, one door slides and gets tucked away behind the other, whether they rest over the wall to the side of the cabinet, or over one half of the cabinet, leaving the opposite half exposed. 

As for design, barn doors may be most commonly associated with rustic décor, but they're actually quite versatile. Unless you're a fan of the rugged look, your barn doors don't have to have that stereotypical distressed wood finish. They don't even need to be wood at all, with materials like MDF and PVC providing budget-friendly alternatives. Metal barn doors, with or without patina, are perfect for a raw, industrial style. Japanese shoji-style models bring a serene atmosphere. Sleek, frameless doors are a better match for a modern aesthetic, and paneled models are more traditional. Whether you want your garage to stand out or blend into the rest of your home, there are endless barn door styles to realize your vision.