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Bifold, Sliding or Hinged Doors for Wardrobes & Closets?

Which opening system works better for closets?

It depends on the case. Each type has its pros and cons. In order to know which is the best option for your space, you need to understand their characteristics.

Hinged closet doors

The advantage of hinged doors is that you can open all doors at the same time. With sliding doors, a part of the closet is necessarily always closed. This can be particularly bad for closets that are used by more than one person.

On the other hand, opening doors have the disadvantage of taking up space outside the closet, which, in a narrow room, can hinder circulation.

And, unlike bifold doors, in larger closets with more than a pair of doors, the span will be divided into narrower sections, with partitions and doors in between.

Sliding closet doors

The advantage of sliding doors is that they do not protrude out of the closet space. Thus, they don’t take up space in the bedroom, nor hinder access to doors or furniture that are right next to the closet.

The disadvantages of sliding doors for closets are:

• A part of the wardrobe is always closed. This makes the use less practical. Depending on the layout of your wardrobe, you won’t be able to see your blouses and pants at the same time, for example.
• The doors take up more space in the wardrobe, because of the rail and the space for one door to slide in front of the other. A wardrobe with sliding doors should be at least 5cm/2″ deeper, or more, if there are more doors sliding to the same side.
• The opening mechanism is more complex, so closets with sliding doors are more expensive.
• The complexity of the system also makes it more important to pay attention to the materials quality. Try to see the wardrobe in person before buying and check reviews on Internet. Unlike hinged doors, a closet with sliding doors can be impossible to use when there is a problem.

Bifold closet doors

Also a way of opening all doors at the same time, like hinged doors, bifold doors are usually narrower and take up less space outwards.

Another pro is that this is the only type able to open a large span completely, since each pair of doors slide to a side.

But, as sliding doors, this type needs a rail and a more complex system than hinged doors. Therefore, it’s also more expensive and requires more attention to avoid problems.

So if you have a lot of space and enough budget, bifold doors are probably a better idea. If the space is big enough but you need something cheaper, hinged doors are a great option.

And if the space in front of the closet is tight, or if there are doors or furniture on the sides, go for sliding ones.

Whatever your choice, check out our other articles on closets to learn about ideal dimensions, possible finishes, handles and other details.