The home improvement sector is increasingly focused on what we call ‘smart’ solutions, but this doesn’t mean a project that uses wireless technology or which can be voice-activated and integrated with various other features in the home. A ‘smart’ solution is just that, something that is clever and innovative and in a really simple way, and the pocket door is the perfect example.
A smart solution usually solves two or more problems with one product and that is exactly what the pocket door does. In contemporary design we want features that are clean, minimalist and unfussy, but the pocket door is also ideal for more traditional homes which can accommodate the quirky ‘period’ design of the pocket door, which is, after all, a retro design classic from the Victorian era. However, in terms of being a smart solution, the pocket door’s most valuable characteristic is the way it can create space in a room, and how that can open up a huge number of possibilities in terms of home improvements, while also still functioning as a regular door.
How does the pocket door create space in a room?
When we open a traditional hinged door it will open in an arc movement into a room. This is unavoidable because of its design, but it does mean that the space immediately behind the door can never be used, because it would become an obstacle each time you opened the door. A pocket door opens along a horizontal axis by moving sideways along an overhead rail and into a ‘pocket’ wall cavity adjacent to it.
This means that the pocket door doesn’t encroach into the room in any way, and hence this frees up the space immediately behind the door and makes it usable. Although this only creates around ten square feet of space, there is an awful lot you can do with this space in terms of home improvements.
What you can do with the space created by a pocket door
Installing a pocket door enables you to change the purpose of a room, make a room multi-purpose, or it can help you create a new room altogether. The extra space created can help you fit new items of furniture into a room which you couldn’t previously, so maybe you can now create a guest bedroom or a home office? Or maybe you can combine the two to make a multi-purpose room which changes use at weekends?
By installing a stud wall you can also divide a large room into two smaller rooms, and the pocket door is absolutely critical to this being possible and making the two small spaces usable. So you can create an extra bedroom when a family is growing, or you can create an en-suite for a bedroom. Maybe downstairs you can create a new toilet, or a utility room at the back of a kitchen? And in any given space around the home you might be able to create some valuable storage areas using a pocket door.
Smart solutions are about making efficient use of space and maximising what you have in affordable and innovative ways. The pocket door does that by creating space in a room and making sure every inch of space you have is fully utilised. This can lead to new home improvement ideas, more value on your property and more everyday comfort, convenience and luxury too.