DIY sliding doors for a dressing room

In modern city apartments and private houses, dressing rooms are increasingly appearing. To increase the comfort of using this room, you should properly organize its internal space. The functional task of such a room is to store things that should be easily accessible.

If we are talking about an apartment, then here a dressing room most often appears after redevelopment, so every free centimeter plays a big role. It is to free up space that sliding doors for the dressing room are installed.

Features of sliding doors

Such designs will look great not only in large walk-in closets, but also in compact wardrobes, fulfilling a functional purpose and decorating the interior.

Advantages

Due to the large number of advantages, such designs are in great demand on the market compared to conventional swing doors.

The mechanism is characterized by the following advantages:

Compactness. Compared to hinged products, sliding ones fit into the space more economically. The owner will not have to think about which direction the doors should open, so as not to block the passage and not interfere with movement.
Safety. Such doors are increasingly being installed in homes where small children live. The likelihood of injuring your finger is minimized, and an accidental draft is not able to slam them shut.
Ease of installation and maintenance. You can install sliding doors to the dressing room yourself, without having any special skills. There is an option for making them to order, but to do this you need to know the parameters of the connector where they will be installed. If any part of the mechanism fails, it can be easily replaced with a new one.
Visual appeal. A wide variety of materials and colors are used to produce structures. Doors can be easily transformed with the help of decorative decorations, making them a real work of art.

Thus, the compartment system has enough advantages, and ease of opening puts it at the forefront when choosing doors for a dressing room.

Flaws

Sliding canvases have certain disadvantages. Of course, it’s difficult to call them serious. But you need to be aware of the shortcomings in order to minimize them as much as possible.

Cons of sliding doors:

Odors pass through. This can become a problem if the dressing room is located close to the kitchen. Such doors will not protect personal belongings from odors.
Cheap models can become loose. If the system is of poor quality, then if it is opened and closed frequently, it will quickly fail. You can fight this: you don’t need to skimp on elements that affect the mobility of the blade (guide bar, rollers).
Noise. Compared to conventional structures, sliding ones are noisier. During opening, a peculiar rustling noise is heard, but you can quickly get used to it.
Marking of mirror models. In daylight, all fingerprints will be visible on them, which requires intensive cleaning.

Organizing a dressing room

Pantry or niche - this option requires minimal costs. We need components: shelving, hangers, drawers and doors. It is recommended to install sliding ones: a swing design is much more difficult to install. In the photo there are sliding ones that cover a niche.

Part of the room - if there are no such premises, then you can use the living room. Minimum dimensions – 2 sq. m. with a depth of 1 m, do not reduce the room to a critical size, and the ability to fence off a corner allows you to change the proportions while maintaining a sense of perspective. There are two ways to fence off a room: by installing plasterboard walls or sliding doors as a partition. The last option is easier to implement with your own hands.
Attic - a dressing room can be arranged either against a low or high wall. It is recommended to use shelving and racks rather than cabinet furniture, so as not to visually reduce the space. In the same way, you can equip a niche under the stairs to the second floor.

Related article: Installing a convector with your own hands

Types of doors for wardrobes

There are now several door designs available for such premises. When choosing, you need to take into account the size of the room and the functionality of the system. Each option has its own characteristics.

Recoil

Their design is similar to a pencil case, that is, when opened, each door goes into a niche in the wall. This is the best option if there is not enough free space in the room. However, sliding structures for dressing rooms are more difficult to install and more expensive than traditional options.

Sliding

For the door leaf, guides are installed on rollers, along which they move left and right. They are good because they close smoothly, so they are considered less dangerous and can be used in rooms with small children. Sliding products are equipped with standard parts, so their installation is not difficult.

Manufacturers produce a wide variety of models that differ in appearance and size, so choosing sliding doors to suit the characteristics of the room is not a problem.

It is worth noting that the guide can be not only straight, but also curved. Radius canvases, of course, are more suitable for spacious rooms, since they do not allow saving space. In some cases, they are installed in ordinary apartments, if the design requires it.

Folding

Products of this type are relevant if owners want to preserve the original appearance of expensive flooring - laminate or parquet. The fact is that when opening the doors do not touch the floor. The roller mechanism is located under the ceiling or near the upper horizontal ceiling. In the places where the doors bend, there are ordinary door hinges.

There is a type of design called a "book". In this case, there are only two folding sections, and four canvases. As a rule, such doors are optimal for openings with a width of 1.5 to 1.7 meters.

Folding wardrobe systems have the following advantages:

elegant appearance;
ease of use;
preserve the appearance of the floor covering.

However, the door leaf may become loose during active use. And it requires more space than sliding doors.

Harmonic

This folding design is similar to a “book”, but the difference is that it involves a larger number of doors. It consists of several lamellas that fold one into one. Depending on the width of the opening, their number can reach 10 pieces.

Often in dressing rooms they install one wide accordion door, which folds not in both directions, but only in one direction. Using such a system is a convenient and functional way to zone the interior space. Thanks to their modern appearance and ability to efficiently use free space, accordion doors are now particularly popular.

Roto-doors

A distinctive characteristic of such a system is the rotating mechanism. The product can rotate around its axis and open in any direction. It is worth noting that such equipment for a dressing room has a high cost - from 35,000 rubles, which includes the canvas, rotary mechanism, trim, box and fittings.

It’s also not possible to save space when installing such doors. However, their key advantage is their unique appearance, which will complement any interior.

Rack and pinion

They received this name due to the special design of the valves. To assemble the canvas, narrow horizontal slats are used, which are placed straight (there will be gaps between them) or at an angle.

Depending on the type of opening, the following systems are distinguished:

folding;
swing;
sliding

Thanks to their visual features, slatted canvases can make the atmosphere lighter and “airier”.

As a rule, the material for production is wood, which has a beneficial effect on the free circulation of air.

Techno doors

Despite the large list of positive qualities of such products, they are not found so often in modern dressing rooms. The design is similar to coupe type products, with the exception of the lower rails. There are simply none, since all fasteners are placed at the top of the system.

Owners of techno-doors note one important advantage - they don’t have to constantly trip over the lower fastenings, which makes the room more comfortable to use.

Materials

Sliding doors to the dressing room are made from different materials: natural and synthetic. When choosing, attention is paid to the following parameters: reliability, aesthetics, quality of material processing and construction, as well as the operating features of the model. In addition, one cannot discount such an indicator as cost

There are a large number of types of sliding doors and they all have their own design and installation features, and their functionality also differs.

Chipboard. A modern analogue of a material known from Soviet times. Today it is more attractive not only in appearance, but also in its performance characteristics. Made from wood chips. Thanks to the top laminated layer, it is very similar to natural wood. Ideal for creating “compartment” doors with your own hands. Available in a wide range of colors, it is possible to choose the appropriate option for both classic and modern interiors.
MDF. A truly universal material for the manufacture of sliding doors. Processed using a milling cutter. It is easy to shape and can be used to create various configurations and shapes. Will complement any dressing room style. An important nuance: MDF, like chipboard, is not recommended for use in rooms with high humidity.
Tree. Wooden products are valued for their environmental friendliness and excellent aesthetic properties. The most commonly used wood species are oak, ash, walnut, maple and pine. The classic interior will be harmoniously complemented by a wooden door decorated with mirror inserts. This design fills the room with a special atmosphere and gives it a solid appearance.
Plastic. In the 21st century, this is the most popular material that is not made from it, and sliding doors are no exception. The designs are universal, easy to use, and simple to install. Available in different styles and with different decorative elements. This surface is resistant to mechanical damage and detergents. The short service life is compensated by the affordable price.
Glass with metal frame. A very popular sliding door model. The stained glass “filling” of the frame, or photo printing applied to the glass, looks impressive. Today, craftsmen apply any drawing or photo to the glass surface. There are no restrictions. If a mirror is placed in a metal frame, the room visually appears more spacious. And you don’t have to worry that the glass will break and cause a lot of trouble, or, even worse, harm the health of your loved ones. For such doors, special impact-resistant glass is used. Recently, varnish has become increasingly popular, which is a translucent matte surface that hides the contents of the dressing room, but, at the same time, allows you to see what is in it. Lakomat visually increases the room space. And its indisputable advantage is its ease of use - caring for such material is much easier than mirror surfaces. Another option that is gaining popularity is painted glass doors. Varnishes of different colors are used as coating. You choose a color scheme depending on your interior. Very organically colored glass sliding doors look in a high-tech or minimalist style.
Bamboo, rattan. If you consider yourself a connoisseur of eco-style, then sliding doors made of bamboo or rattan are definitely your option. Externally, the products seem literally weightless, but the first impression is deceiving. The design is quite durable and will serve you faithfully for many years.
Faux leather. This is a rather rare design move. It is used exclusively in cases where nothing else is suitable to support the overall concept. It looks elegant and unusual.
Decoracrylic. This is a spectacular “union” of two materials: a panel with natural materials is placed between two acrylic canvases. Acrylic can be transparent, translucent or matte, and natural material can be chosen by the customer: flowers, shells or leaves. This design very harmoniously complements the interiors of rooms, the decoration of which contains natural motifs.

Most often, there are combined models of wardrobes or cabinets in a niche: the body is made of wood or chipboard, and the doors are made of glass, mirror or bamboo. In turn, mirrored doors go perfectly with frosted glass surfaces.

Glass doors visually expand the space and add additional space and comfort.

Types of doors by type of sliding mechanism

The product will last much longer if, when choosing it, you pay attention not only to its visual qualities, but also to the mechanism. System options are suspended and bottom-supported. Let's consider their features.

Bottom support

The door rests on the lower guide and is fixed by the upper one. The canvas moves along them using Teflon-coated rollers. The latter are adjustable in height, so the system can be easily positioned as needed.

However, there are certain disadvantages: the guides quickly become covered with dirt and dust, making them less smooth and noisy. Therefore, in order for the system to work properly for a long time, its guides should be vacuumed and wiped from time to time.

Aluminum is used for the manufacture of lower support systems. The frame is an aluminum frame with a handle profile, which can vary in color and configuration. The main element of this profile is a thick-walled rectangular tube, which increases rigidity.

For such a mechanism, doors are made of chipboard (chipboard), MDF (medium density fiberboard), glass, leather, mirror and other materials. The advantages of the system are practicality, durability and ease of operation. The roller mechanism can withstand loads of up to 160 kg. Compared to the suspended system, the lower support system has a more affordable price.

Hanging

A hanging system for opening sliding wardrobes is considered more modern and functional. In this case, the doors are attached to the upper rail and fixed to the lower one. The canvases move not inside the cabinet, but in front of it. To attach the guides, choose the ceiling or roof of the wardrobe.

The suspension system is quite easy to install, and no additional milling of the product is required. But during installation work, you should start from the quality of the plane - if the surface has unevenness, the system will not be able to withstand the load. For this reason, it is recommended to contact professionals who will take all the necessary measurements.

The difference in the suspension system is also reflected in the visual characteristics. If the bottom-supporting canvases are placed in a box, then the suspended ones are most often overhead. This allows you to hide the ends of the floor or side panels behind them, which can be considered an advantage.

Features of the suspension system:

One door can withstand a load of 100 kg.
Compact components that do not take up free space.
The cabinet frame is completely covered with canvas, thereby increasing aesthetics.
They open and close silently.
The facades are securely fixed in the doorways.
When closed, there are practically no gaps left.
Solid and framed canvases can be used.
Large assortment of stylish designer models.

The suspension system is more functional, but compared to the bottom-support system, it is more expensive.

Varieties

You will probably agree that doors are not always given special attention. It is believed that if the dressing room is comfortable, then such a “trifle” as doors does not play a serious role

But this is not true at all. It is the door, in addition to its decorative function, that is expected to provide reliable storage of things and accessories, and ease of use.

Visually, sliding wardrobe doors allow you to achieve a large number of effects.

Retractable (this system is also called a “pencil case”). It consists of guides, carriages and rollers. Valued for reliability and ease of use. Ideal for small spaces, as the doors are hidden in a niche when opened. Installing the structure yourself is impossible unless you have special skills.
Sliding doors. This is kind of a sales leader. The demand is explained by the versatility of the design and practicality. The doors move inside thanks to the presence of rollers. The canvases move parallel and do not touch each other. Such doors are installed on both linear and radius models. The latter are considered more impressive in appearance.

Door leaves moving along guides save as much usable space as possible.

Foldable. Compared to previous options, this model will require more space. The doors do not diverge, but fold in half and move away. Externally they look stylish and fit well into modern minimalist interiors.
Doors in techno style. This is one of the most unusual models. It is valued for its convenience and safe operation - it is impossible to get injured with this design, there are no lower fastenings. Most often, such models are installed in rooms with flat floors without thresholds.
Harmonic. Externally, the model resembles a screen. Door leaves consist of interconnected lamellas, which are folded together during the sliding process. The accordion takes up minimal space and is easy to use.

Models such as accordion or book are distinguished by a particularly elegant appearance, compactness, comfort, relevance and fairly simple operation.

Roto doors. This option is ideal for highly technical interiors, such as high-tech. The design is based on a rotating mechanism, thanks to which the door leaf rotates around its own axis and opens in any direction. Roto doors guarantee the uniqueness of your interior and ease of use. The only drawback is that the design requires a lot of space, so it is only suitable for large dressing rooms.

Experts also recommend paying close attention to all mechanisms and, if possible, adjusting them.

When choosing a type of model, take into account the size of the doorways and the area of available free space. If you doubt your own abilities, it is better to contact professionals, they will not only tell you which model is right for you, but will also take the correct measurements

Their wide range allows you to choose the optimal solution for any room.

Material of manufacture

In order for the selected system to work effectively, when choosing, it is necessary to pay attention not only to the technical characteristics, but also to the material itself from which the doors are made. At the moment, manufacturers produce products from wood, plastic, glass, bamboo and other materials.

Wooden

The use of natural wood is the best solution for rooms that are designed in a classic style. Often a combination technique is used: glass, mirror elements or stained glass are added. A good budget option is MDF or chipboard.

Products may differ in shape and color, so choosing a sliding wooden door for a specific interior is not difficult. As a rule, users prefer to opt for MDF products with a “book” or “accordion” opening mechanism.

Glass

Such wardrobe partitions differ from ordinary ones in that they do not have tightness and a tight fit. In the case of a dressing room, this is more of an advantage than a disadvantage, since the air will continue to circulate, preventing clothes from stale.

Glass doors installed in dressing rooms serve more of a decorative purpose than a practical one. With the help of a door, the living area can be easily separated from the shelves with clothes, and at the same time there will always be free access to them.

It is important that the glass partition fits well into the surrounding interior. It is better to make sure that the door remains inconspicuous. This is explained by the fact that the wardrobe complements the bedroom or living room. This is why glass or mirror are often chosen.

Practicality is rarely considered in such a situation. More attention is paid to visual qualities. When choosing, you need to start from the decorative design of the door.

Mirror

A dressing room equipped with a mirrored sliding door is a functional and stylish option that complements any interior. For the manufacture of the structure, special shockproof glass is used. The key advantage of such canvases is their mirror surfaces, which visually increase the space. Even a small room will look more spacious.

Another advantage is the variety of decor. Nowadays there are not only solid mirrored doors, but also those decorated with stained glass or patterns. The only drawback of the products is their soilability. There will be fingerprints and small splashes on the surface. In daylight, all this is noticeable, so you need to spend more time cleaning the doors.

The following types of mirrors are installed for dressing rooms.

Grooved. Such doors with a three-dimensional pattern are most common.
Stained glass. Stained glass windows are made from high-quality painted parts. So, you can apply an unusual picture to the surface of the mirror.
With color film. This option is simpler than the previous one, but also makes it possible to apply an image to the surface. The sticker can be glossy or matte, color or monochrome.
With acrylic coating. If we talk about high-quality acrylic, it is able to retain its properties for a long time without cracking.

Mirrored doors have recently become increasingly popular, as homeowners are now paying more attention to interior features.

Plastic

The main advantage of using this material is its low weight, which makes the structure itself lighter. At the same time, plastic does not have a representative appearance, so it is now not particularly common in the production of wardrobe doors.

Such products are characterized by their versatility - they are easy to care for, they are easy to install and can be decorated in various ways: painting, stickers. This material is not inherently durable, so it is most often used by young people who prefer dynamics in the interior.

Bamboo and rattan

These modern materials are of natural origin. Environmentally friendly raw materials are used to make rattan. The material is processed with steam, after which the necessary elements are woven from it. Another finishing option is bamboo. In this case, the doors are made of chipboard, and then bamboo is laid on their surface.

Products made using rattan or bamboo are attractive in themselves, but they can additionally be decorated with leather, mirror or glass inserts. Such furniture looks great in bedrooms, living rooms and hallways, and the room itself becomes warmer and more comfortable.

The rattan design is characterized by durability, moisture resistance and resistance to sunlight. The products are woven by hand, which is the reason for the high cost of furniture. Wardrobes decorated with bamboo or rattan are most often found in rooms decorated in Japanese or “ethnic” style.

Mirrored sliding doors for a dressing room

A wardrobe with a mirrored sliding door is one of the most functional and stylish options to complement your interior.

Advantages

Wardrobes began to become fashionable among domestic consumers relatively recently. But in this short time, everyone managed to appreciate their practicality and functionality. In the dressing room, all things are kept in perfect condition and are always at hand. It is very convenient and practical.

The compartment doors in such dressing rooms are very convenient. They have their disadvantages, but they have many more advantages.

First of all, it should be noted that doors of this type take up much less space. This design allows you to save space. Therefore, even in a small apartment, such a door will be very good. You don't have to think about how best to place the door so that it doesn't interfere with traffic.

Also, in the case of a sliding door, you will not injure your fingers or get them pinched.

A sliding door is also much easier to install and operate. In order to choose the right door, it is enough to take measurements of the opening and make the necessary door to order. Doors created in this way can become the embodiment of all your design fantasies, because they can be decorated in almost any way.

Since sliding doors are now in trend, even in stores there are a large number of different options. Buyers are provided with a large color palette and an abundance of decorative elements.

When creating mirrored sliding doors for a dressing room, as a rule, special shockproof glass is used. Therefore, when buying such a door, you do not have to worry about breaking the door in the first few days of using it.

Another advantage is the wide variety of decor. In addition to solid mirrored doors, there are also options decorated with stained glass or patterns. But this is worth talking about in more detail.

Flaws

But, along with the advantages, doors of this type also have their disadvantages. First of all, users note that a door of this type is capable of letting in all foreign odors. Therefore, if your dressing room is located next to the kitchen, then it is better to refuse this option.

In addition, if you are buying sliding doors, then it is best to give preference to more expensive options. A cheap design gets loose and breaks very quickly. If you use your closet regularly, a cheap sliding door won't last long. Therefore, we recommend that you do not skimp on either the base of the door or its various components that ensure smooth movement.

Door decoration

Sliding structures can be decorated in various ways, which will make the dressing room much more attractive. In general, decorating is considered a creative and labor-intensive process.

Main options:

Drawing. This is how glass and mirror surfaces are decorated. The most popular method is sandblasting. An air-sand jet can make glass matte and allows you to apply a pattern or image.
Use of beveled glass elements. They are usually produced to order, so the decoration is unique and inimitable.
Photo printing. A photograph is printed onto a special film and glued to the surface of the door. The advantage of photo printing is high-quality color rendition. The technology allows you to decorate glass, plastic, leather and other materials.
Contour stained glass windows. They make them with their own hands, which makes the products exclusive and unique.
Artistic painting. It is a labor-intensive process that requires the skill of the artist. The uniqueness of the technology is that the image is applied in layers from the inside. Here the first layer is the foreground outside, and the rest are the background of the picture.
Film stained glass. Stained glass is made in the following way: a film that imitates glass is glued in layers. Next, lead tape is glued at the joints. Due to the simplicity and speed of implementation, the method is now very popular.
Ion plasma sputtering. A method that allows you to decorate glass and mirror surfaces. Characterized by high technology, sophistication and beauty.

Most of the methods described above are difficult to implement. At the same time, if you try, you can decorate the door to the dressing room with your own hands, which requires a little patience and skills.

Recommendations for selection

The main task of a dressing room is to organize and store things. The room is zoned as follows: allocate a separate room or delimit the space with sliding structures. In the first case, compartment doors are not needed, but in the second, you cannot do without such products.

Nowadays there is a large selection of a wide variety of systems. When choosing, you should start from the desired color scheme that matches the interior. If necessary, doors can be made to order, taking into account individual parameters.

The most versatile models are those made from chipboard, natural wood or tempered glass. They have an exquisite appearance, long service life and high strength. Aluminum profiles have similar characteristics, but they are more suitable for rooms decorated in high-tech style.

Sliding structures with grips are no less popular. Their main advantage is that fingerprints will not remain on the mirror surface.

When choosing sliding structures, it is recommended to adhere to the following tips:

Study the features of the fittings. The service life of the entire structure depends on its quality.
Popularity. Models with metal bearings and aluminum guides are in particular demand on the Russian market.
Guarantee. You need to find out if the company provides product delivery services. In addition, ask about the warranty period.

DIY installation

If desired, the structure can be assembled independently; fortunately, now you can find all the necessary elements and materials in specialized stores. If there should be no issues with the closet, then installing a sliding door may require some experience. Let's look at this issue in more detail.

Required tools and materials

Before you start work, you need to get everything you need.

You should prepare:

tools: screwdriver, screwdriver, hammer, hacksaw for metal or wood, tape measure;
door elements: leaf, profiles, guides, rollers.

This will be enough to install sliding doors yourself.

Installation

With proper preparation for work, the process is not difficult and consists of only a few steps.

The progress of work is as follows.

Fastening the guides. First you need to secure the upper guide, and then, starting from it, the lower one. Depending on what type of device is used, you should leave an indentation of 9 to 18 mm.
Trimming the canvas, installing elements. If the panel is made by hand, then it is necessary to cut the sash, taking into account preliminary measurements. After this, the remaining parts are attached to it: rollers, frames, side profiles.
Installation. The rollers are inserted into the upper guide. For installation, spring bases are pressed onto the panel at the bottom.

If you need to adjust the position of the sash, this can be done with a hex wrench and screws located at the bottom of the side profiles.

Step by step assembly

Installation is quite simple and takes place in stages.

Stages:

Installation of guides. The first step is to attach the guides at the top and bottom; they will determine in which direction the door leaves will move. It is very important to correctly determine where exactly to attach them. You should be guided by the guide from above, since its installation is carried out clearly on the border of the structure being built. But at the bottom you need to step back a little inward: from 0.9 to 1.8 cm, it all depends on the type of structure.
Assembly of the canvas. It doesn’t matter what material is chosen for the sliding doors, the first priority is to take as accurate measurements of the doorway as possible. Then you need to cut the canvas to the required size, attach all the required components: rollers for movement and metal frames on top and bottom, metal profiles horizontally on both sides.
Installation. After assembling all the elements, the door must be inserted into the doorway, where the guides were already attached in advance. This is done like this: the rollers from above must be inserted into the guide at the top. After this, clamp the wheels from below; they have a base on a spring, and go inside the guide from below. Once you release them, they secure the compartment firmly.

At the final stage, the design should be checked and adjusted. You can adjust compartment doors using a regular screwdriver or hexagon. At the bottom of the metal profiles on the sides there are special screws that are responsible for the location of the blade. You just need to tighten or loosen them to the required level.

Recommendations for care and use

To make sliding wardrobe doors last longer, it is not enough to simply select and install them correctly. It is important to carefully and promptly care for the main elements of the system.

Proper care includes the following tips:

It is best to clean glass and mirror surfaces with soft rags and detergents without abrasive substances (they can leave scratches).
Dirt should be promptly removed from rollers and guides. This can be done conveniently using a vacuum cleaner, sponges or brushes.
If a creaking noise is heard during operation, the mechanism must be lubricated with special oil.
The guide may become deformed during use and the smooth movement of the sash will be disrupted. The problem can be fixed with a peg and a hammer.
If the rollers fail, they are replaced with new ones.

Average cost of sliding doors

The cost of products may vary, as it is influenced by many parameters: brand, material of manufacture, type of construction, components and control mechanism.

If we consider the available options, then you should pay attention to chipboard canvases - their cost starts from 4,500 rubles. Canvases assembled from solid wood will cost more. For example, when using oak panels, the cost of the structure can vary from 17 to 40 thousand rubles.

As for mirror and glass surfaces, they can be classified in the middle price segment - from 10 to 20 thousand rubles. Of course, there are some subtleties here too: the size of the canvas and the method of decorating it are important. The presence of a pattern, painting, tinting or spraying increases the final cost significantly. Stained glass panels are the most expensive - about 40 thousand rubles.