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Beyond Doors: How to Create a Stylish, Cozy Home with the Help of Sliding Doors

Sliding doors aren’t just convenient. They don’t merely add value to your home. They don’t just save space. They transform space. They turn houses into homes and unremarkable rooms into cozy rooms. Whether you prefer a classic, continental look or a sleek minimalist style, sliding doors help you create a charming space in which families can gather, people can relax, and cherished moments can happen. With that in mind, here are a few ways to spruce up your home to make it more valuable, more interesting, and more livable.
Update Your Closet Doors for a Stylish Bedroom

Closet doors hide your clothes and accessories while giving you easy access to everything inside. They also play a big role in the overall look and feel of your home. Whether they take up an entire wall or just a small portion of a wall, your closet doors say a lot about your design aesthetic.
So, what style should you choose if you want to take your bedroom to the next level? Many people prefer mirror sliding doors since they offer a two-in-one solution. You get a full-length mirror and a partition at the same time. Others prefer the more contemporary look of frosted glass sliding doors. Either way, you get both grace and utility.
At The Sliding Door Company, you can choose from a number of sliding door designs—a single, uninterrupted pane of glass, a Trio design featuring three divider strips, a Quattro design featuring four divider strips, a Pentagon design featuring five divider strips, and an elegant continental design featuring a symmetrical design divided into eight squares. You can also pick the type of glass that fits the look of your room, from lightly frosted to fully frosted, to completely opaque. Whatever look you’re going for, there’s a way to customize your doors to match your vision.

The best part is that our doors feature tempered or laminated glass, sturdy frames, and hardware that ensures the doors will never leave the track. That means they’re safe for kids and adults alike. We also design them to slide smoothly along the track. Why is that important? Because the smoother your doors slide, the less risk of injury you face. You can open and close our doors all day long; your kids can play with them and in front of them, and you won’t have to worry about them getting hurt.
Get Comfort and Coziness with Barn Doors
Not too long ago, designers decided to transcend the limitations of traditional swinging doors and embrace the uniqueness of barn doors. Within a few years, barn doors had become the latest trend in interior design. Of course, they’re more than a trend. Even as fashions come and go, barn doors have held onto their popularity. People love them for all sorts of reasons—style, convenience, utility.
It’s easy to see why. Most doors create a small opening in the wall. Slide open a barn door, and the wall disappears, giving you more space and a greater sense of expansiveness. They’re great for separating small areas from larger ones. You can use them to set the home office apart from the TV room or divide the dining room from the living room. You can also create a little game room or kid’s play space that’s as fun (and safe) as it is spacious. The best part is that you can create distinct spaces without having to tear down a wall or undergo a major renovation.

Still, most people choose barn doors because of how they look, not how they function. It’s no wonder. Barn doors add charm and appeal to any space, whether it is a living room, a bedroom, or a home office.
Inspired by a countryside aesthetic, barn doors have since taken on a life of their own. These days, you’re not limited to the traditional bucolic doors of yesteryear. Now, you can get barn doors in any number of styles, from minimalist to oriental. In other words, we’ve come a long way since the days of the conventional rustic door.
At The Sliding Door Company, we put a modern twist on this classic design element. Our glass barn doors are strong, beautiful, contemporary, and safe—doors that complement the lifestyle of the modern family. They transcend the mundane while creating a homelike sense of comfort. In short, they form the backdrop against which you and your family create moments of joy and togetherness.
A Clutter-Free Lifestyle

Clutter distracts from the comfort of everyday life. It can also destroy the aesthetic of the most stylish room. Fortunately, there are plenty of solutions out there, from drawer organizers to seats that double as storage units. Of all the solutions, however, interior glass doors have the greatest impact when it comes to decluttering.
Sliding doors can be particularly useful in smaller apartments or in homes that don’t come with a great deal of storage space. With a sliding door, you can hide a bookcase or a shelf full of odds and ends, thereby creating a cleaner space by hiding your book collection or storage space behind a glass partition. You can also seal off the washing machine and other unsightly appliances from the rest of the house.
The more you can eliminate the clutter, the more sophisticated and comfortable your home will become. At the end of the day, less mess equals fewer distractions and more space for intimate moments. That translates into better focus, more togetherness, and greater happiness.
Style Tips for Sliding Doors
Like any architectural element or piece of décor, a door sends a message. When deciding on a style, ask yourself what you want to say. This is a family space, a place of warmth and comfort. This is a stylish pad, a place for entertaining friends. This a refined space, a place for hosting important dinners. Once you know what effect you’re going for, you can then focus on the details.

When it comes to style, your door can stand out or it can blend in. Match the style and frame color to ceiling beams, trims, flooring, furniture, or even décor. A door can harmonize with a room, or it can act as an accent piece. Either way, it will enhance the room. With The Sliding Door Company, you get your choice of style, glass, frame, accessories, and hardware.
Define Space in an Open Urban Setting
You don’t have to live in a two-story home to take advantage of sliding interior doors. Room dividers are also perfect for lofts, studio apartments, and spaces that feature open floor designs. Want to create a bedroom out of a single, open room? Put up a room divider to create a private, sheltered enclave in the middle of an otherwise free-flowing space.
Room dividers and barn doors can enhance the spaciousness of a large room, but they’re also perfect space-saving solutions for smaller rooms. Whereas swing doors eat up at least nine feet of space, sliding doors require next to nothing in terms of clearance zones. Beyond the functional, sliding room dividers draw the eye, creating visual interest and accentuating the surrounding décor.
A Tip on Choosing Sliding Doors

What should you look for when choosing sliding glass doors? Aside from aesthetics, you want doors that will stand the test of time—doors that are durable enough to last through the years. They should not only stay on the tracks and continue to glide smoothly; they should also retain their beauty over time.
At The Sliding Door Company, we build only the toughest, most durable doors—doors that can withstand repeated use throughout the years. Made of high-quality glass and aluminum frames, our doors have been known to maintain their functionality and beauty for over 10 years—no fading, no warping, no bending.
Want to learn more about our high-quality sliding doors? Browse through our product line of interior sliding doors to see all that we have to offer. Want more inspiration? Take a look at our sliding door gallery to see real-life examples of our stunning interior design solutions.

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The Color of the Future: Interior Design Trends for 2018

The Future of Color

Every year, interior designers and home fashion experts predict the future of color and inform the rest of us which shades and hues will dominate our lives over the next 12 months. It can tough to sort through all the contradictory prophecies, but it’s well worth your while if you want to stay up on the latest trends in interior design.
Now color forecasters have announced their picks for 2018, and the results are exciting. Neutrals continue to dominate many color palettes, although warmth and color have returned with a vengeance. So, which colors are in and which are out?

Grays

Neutral grays have enjoyed widespread popularity for years, and they continue to impress homeowners and decorators. While no longer on the cutting-edge, gray still makes for a wise color choice. Muted grays, in particular, communicate sincerity and gravity. Simple yet appealing, it acts as a backdrop against which you can place splashes of color and texture—accents that add drama and interest to an otherwise neutral room.
If you want to balance the hidden, understated quality of gray with a more positive color, then include white and black accent pieces throughout the room. Gray creates harmony by tying the extremes together while allowing the bold tones to stand out in stark relief. Gray also works well with pops of brighter color, like orange and yellow.
Finally, when designing your interior, don’t stop with the furniture pieces and artwork. Remember that your doors play a huge role in determining the look and feel of your room. That’s particularly true when it comes to closet doors, which often span the entire length of a wall.

Dark Grays and Blacks

2018 is all about moving outside your comfort zone. Instead of playing it safe, designers are ready to take risks. They’ve moved from praising lighter, more understated grays to embracing bolder, darker grays, charcoals, and even out-and-out blacks. Although some designers disagree, arguing that black has had its moment, it’s clear that the hue isn’t going anywhere soon.
Take PPG Paints, which has already named Black Flame its color of the year. Other paint companies have followed suit, selecting their most stunning shade of black as the trendy pick for 2018. In other words, black may be the new orange, and homeowners should take note.
Why do tastemakers and trendsetters lean toward the darker side of the spectrum? Color psychology experts have a theory. In a distraction-heavy, information-saturated world, black cancels out the noise and ushers in much-needed silence. Charcoals and other darker neutrals also imbue a room with a sense of strength and security—a welcome feeling in uncertain times.
Want to add a touch of black without dousing the room in darkness? Go for black accent pieces instead of painting entire walls in the color. Also, think beyond bold trims and small furniture pieces. Consider barn doors and room dividers made of black aluminum frames and opaque black glass. The black gives you sophistication, strength, and boldness; the sliding door gives you openness and modernity—an impressive mix.

Neutral Metallics

This year, we have a new addition to the list of favorites: neutral metallics. Combining the simplicity of a neutral palette with the shiny pizazz of metallic paint, these hues stand out in nearly any room. Pair your metallic colors with intricate patterns and rich décor to convey edgy glamor.
Want to capture an air of contemporary elegance? Couple shiny accent pieces (gold chandeliers, gunmetal end tables, black trim) with Continental style room dividers to get a look that balances the exotic with the graceful. The takeaway? If metallic is destined to be the new neutral, and boho chic is destined to be the new minimalist, then neutral metallics are a designer’s dream, bridging both worlds in a stunning display of style and sophistication.

Warm, Earthy Tones

Neutral, earthy tones have been fashionable for years now, but this year marks a sea change toward the warmer side of the spectrum. That means you may see a lot of dark woods and chocolate browns this coming year. Camel has also emerged as a favorite accent color. Neutral yet rich, understated yet interesting, this earthy tone has broad appeal and boasts great versatility.
If warm and bold isn’t your thing, trend-watchers bring good tidings. Hazy pinks and other soft, sandy hues also stand out as top picks for the coming year.

Blues

Blues never disappear entirely from the list of cool, sought-after colors. Translation: You can’t go wrong with a splash of blue, which calms the mind, soothes the soul, and elevates the room to a new level of sophistication. Not only that, but Zillow’s Paint Colors Analysis reveals that you can raise the value of your home by thousands of dollars just by painting the bathroom and kitchen blue.
What shade of blue has the greatest impact? That depends on your preferences. Right now, spruce blue tops Behr’s list of “it” colors. This greenish-blue sets off a wide range of styles and makes for a perfect trim. It also works well as a kitchen color, bringing freshness and vitality to the room. Powder blue and periwinkle are perhaps the safest bet when it comes to increasing the value of your home.
Whether you opt for a blue bathroom, a blue kitchen, or both, this sophisticated color works well with a modern design aesthetic. Think frosted glass barn doors, which pick up and reflect the cool tones, creating an ambiance of relaxed refinement.

Bright, Lively Colors

Vibrant and playful are also making a comeback. Designers have begun to break out from the safe enclave of neutral colors and make their first forays into a brave new world of energetic colors. From bright yellow and lime popsicle to blue and orange, bright shades of color have once again returned to grace homes around the country.
If you don’t mind pushing the envelope, go ahead and clash those colors. Mix patterns, textures, colors, and styles for an eclectic look that leaves the neutral minimalism of the past few years in the dust. Whether you mix metallics and pastels or soft, abstract lines and edgy geometric patterns, there’s sure to be a way to mix and match that suits your own sense of flair and style. To balance the quirkiness, you might want to install a set of classically beautiful sliding interior doors in traditional frosted glass. The combination of panache and stateliness creates an interesting, yet tasteful tableau.

What Color Is Right for You?

Need help coming up with a color scheme that’s both trendy and personal? Want to know what type of sliding doors complement your color scheme? Call The Sliding Door Company for a FREE consultation with one of our experts or simply walk into one of our 27 showrooms scattered throughout the country, from Boston, MA to San Francisco, CA, and everywhere in between. Each showroom features its own unique personality and an exclusive lineup of high-quality, sliding doors in a wide range of styles.
Experience the slide. Call now to schedule a FREE showroom tour and one-on-one consultation with an interior design expert.

Sources

  1. https://www.coastalliving.com/homes/paint-color-trends-2018
  2. http://zillow.mediaroom.com/2017-06-01-Homes-with-Blue-Bathrooms-Sell-for-5-400-More-than-Expected
  3. http://www.elledecor.com/design-decorate/color/a9178549/pantone-colors-2018/