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If there is anything I absolutely love when it comes to home decorating – it is DIY modern barn doors! I mean, who wouldn’t want a cute barn door in their home? Plus, they take care of awkward spaces with just the right amount of function and fashion. Learn more about 23 DIY modern barn doors here.
What’s great about adding a sliding barn door is that they offer the space saving features of a pocket door without the daunting task of tearing up a wall in order to install one or working around support beams and electrical wiring. A sliding barn door is perfect for small spaces or areas where a traditional door just won’t work.
We all want one, but have you ever priced barn doors? They can easily run upwards of $700 to have one installed!
Luckily – with a few tools and these great sites – you can DIY one for much less. Whether you’re wondering how to build a barn door entirely from scratch or want to see how you can get the look from pre-fab doors readily available – we have a plan for you!
Here’s 23 easy to follow and affordable ideas that cover everything from barn door closets, stairs, entryways, furniture and exteriors.
1) Recycle It!
23 DIY Modern Barn Doors: A Perfect Marriage of Function & Decor
Image via The Accent Piece
Suzie from The Accent Piece has a great suggestion to recycle wood for this project. She used wood she found at Habitat Restore but you could also scour Craigslist, Freecycle, or community boards on Facebook for people who are giving it away as an alternative. Remember to be on the lookout for hardware at the same time!
2) For Your Viewing Pleasure
23 DIY Modern Barn Doors: A Perfect Marriage of Function & Decor
Image via Wilkerdos
If you’re a visual learner it’s always nice to have a video that can help you follow the process along. April from Wilkerdos pulls double duty by offering a blog post with instructions along with this pretty detailed YouTube video below. Take your pick!
3) This Old House
23 DIY Modern Barn Doors: A Perfect Marriage of Function & Decor
Image via This Old House
A two day project with a difficulty level of easy and a cost under $400? We are sold – the rustic look adds to the charm and character of the door!
Of course, we wouldn’t expect anything less from This Old House! If you’re looking to adapt the design they have countless options to choose from.
4) Country Kitchen
23 DIY Modern Barn Doors: A Perfect Marriage of Function & Decor
Image via Designing Vibes
This pantry remodel is absolutely gorgeous. Designing Vibes created two narrow barn doors for $90.
You’ll agree the idea to make the brand new wood look weathered is pure genius! If you have the budget, recreating this look for all the kitchen cabinets would be gorgeous!
5) Three Bathroom Barn Doors for the Price of One
Image via Paper Daisy Designs
When you want multiple barn doors for a bathroom and you’d like them all to match, this project is ideal for you. Follow this plan and you can build three matching doors for $150. If you like the European style door panels check out Ikea’s hinged doors for affordable options!
6) From Kick Flips to Killer Doors
Image via Dewey302
Skateboard wheels take on a new purpose thanks to some ingenuity from Dewey302. We love that these are designed for outdoor use and can stand up to the elements. You probably want to check with your kids before disassembling their skateboards though!
7) Blissful Barn Door
Image via On Bliss Street
If you want a project that is not only quick and easy but it’s also super affordable – this one nails it with this $50 barn door. The longest part is waiting for the paint to dry!
The carriage bolts add character to the look of this door. You could also incorporate some metal flashing to complete the look. The dog in this picture seems to approve!
8) Modern Yet Rustic
Image via Baby Rabies
Baby Rabies has one of the most elegant barn door designs we’ve seen. This is a project for the more experienced DIYer with instructions on both the hardware and the doors themselves.
We won’t judge if you suddenly decide to stain everything in your home the same shade they chose! You will appreciate the safety features they have added too if you have children at home.
9) Ooh La La
Image via The Space Between
These French doors repurposed as sliding doors are glamorous and functional. What is even more amazing is they were salvaged!
If you have a space in your home where privacy isn’t necessary but a pretty divider would be nice, this solution is perfect!
10) Oh Baby!
Image via Remodelaholic
Baby gates finally have style and security thanks to this amazing barn door baby gate. There’s even optional plans to convert it to a dutch door that you could use in other spaces, such as kitchen or bedroom doors! You need to be prepared for friends all wanting one in their home as well once they see yours!
11) Entertainment Center Redo
Image via Colors and Craft
Barn doors can go way beyond entrances. This project used one to cover up the television within a fireplace nook.
You could do the same or adapt the plan to a china hutch, kitchen cabinets or an armoire. Another option is to create a matching option as a cover for the fireplace itself.
12) Use What You Have
Image via Hunted Interior
Rather than running out and purchasing new doors or building them yourself, you can reuse your existing doors and just add modern barn door hardware like Hunted Interior did. They purchased hardware from Home Depot and saved time and money in the process.
13) Pallet Power
Image via Lehman Lane
Pallet projects are all the rage so it’s only natural that a pallet barn door exists as well. This tutorial used this one as a great space saving feature.
Insider tip: You can check with local plumbing companies, builders and construction sites to see if they have extra pallets you can salvage. They don’t usually recycle them like stores do.
14) Polished Perfection
Image via Imperfectly Polished
Tongue and groove boards, a dark stain and elegant hardware combine in this affordable design. We love the way the door seems to shine in the sunlight thanks to the glossy finish on it (helmii.com). You could easily adapt it to a double door design and use it for a closet as well.
15) What About The Windows?
Image via Averie Lane
Barn doors offer the perfect privacy option for windows with this tutorial from Averie Lane. If you’re an experienced DIYer, you could adapt this concept and use it as a sliding screen door for your sliding glass door or for the windows and doors on a porch!
16) Lighten Up
Image via Vintage Revivals
If you are worried about the weight of a sliding barn door – especially if you have young children – this full tutorial has you covered with her lightweight version.
If you have tapestries, quilts, or even vintage fabric you’ve been wanting to display then this fabric covered barn door is the ideal outlet for it. You could even install a few as a room divider if your children share a room!
17) Pass Through Possibilities
Image via Dunn Lumber
Hanging a sliding barn door to a door opening can give a space privacy and an awesome rustic look for you home.
Todd Dermody, Product Team in Sales & Marketing with Dunn Lumber says “A sliding barn door is a great way to add a little privacy to an open space, or add rustic character to an existing door frame.”
A flat track sliding barn door system like this one combines form, function, and style.
18) Faux Fence
Image via House Tweaking
All DIYers know that the great thing about fences is that they have to replaced. Someone else’s repair can become free supplies for your door project!
Salvage the fence pieces a neighbor has tossed and create a barn door from them. Adapt the design to your style – painted, raw or stained will all look great!
19) Sliding Door Console
Furniture pieces that include sliding doors! Ana White has teamed up with Nikki Grandy and created plans for consoles and hutches that include sliding doors.
These pieces are great because you can use them as a buffet, bar, home office space or even an island!
20) Barn Door Play House
Image via All Things Heart and Home
Go beyond the dutch door baby gate and transform a closet into a playhouse using a Dutch Door Barn Gate. This particular project added a porch.
You could also go with a wild west team for little boys who love to play cowboys, a tower for Rapunzel lovers, or a “Little House on the Prairie” or “Anne of Green Gables” look for the book lovers in your life.
21) Bedroom Redo
Image via Shanty 2 Chic
Bring the outdoors into the bedroom with a barn door headboard. This particular idea allows you to tie the bedroom together by complementing any existing barn doors you may be using in your master suite with a charming barn door headboard. A simple white wash on it or stain would work great!
22) Industrialized Modern Makeover
Image via Killer B Designs
Combine the rustic with industrial by using corrugated metal in your barn doors. This design uses traditional hinges but the look could be easily adapted to use with sliding hardware as well. The harp closure adds an authentic touch to the door.
23) Windows We Love
Image via Funky Junk Interiors
While we’re bringing barn doors to your closets, headboards, and even your china cabinet – we couldn’t help but finish it up with a barn door window shutter.
Not only do these look great, they are excellent replacements for blackout curtains in bedrooms or home theaters. No need to break the bank on wood or hardware for this project – it uses recycled wood along with basic tools and supplies you should already have on hand.
Barn door projects are insanely popular right now for good reason. They not only look good, but they can also meet a wide variety of needs and styles.
There’s no need to spend a fortune though in order to add barn doors to your home. As you can see, there are projects out there for every budget.
Be creative, combine plans if you have to, and make sure to come back and share your creations with us!
