Pocket door ideas needed

I wish I had pocket doors! A barn door just hangs in the way. They a good option if you can't have pocket doors. You need wider walls and no electric, duct work or plumbing in the way. I think you should dress up what you have and don't remove them for a fad that may not last.

I lived in a rent house that had a couple of pocket doors. They slid them all the way in and put matched trim all the way around the inside of the door frames to hide the openings. From there you could use whatever you want to cover the doorways. It was a turn of the century home and they didn't want the pocket door damaged.

All you need is a barn door track/hardware kit (Menards usually has some good prices: https://www.menards.com/main/doors-windows-millwork/interior-doors/interior-sliding-barn-doors/c-1476979999457.htm). Remove your pocket door: http://www.home-repair-central.com/how-to-remove-a-pocket-door.html. Here's a video: https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=changing+a+pocket+door+into+barn+door&view=detail&mid=A296A018DFF498876847A296A018DFF498876847&FORM=VIRE. Now just paint and/or trim out your pocket door and hang. Tip: it is easier to install the center hanger of your barn door rail first and then level it. Be sure the rail is high enough that the door will slide and that the rail hangers go into wood and not drywall (you may need to install a 1x6 the length of your rail to achieve that. Painted your wall color, you will hardly see it. Best of Luck

If you decide to pull your pocket doors out of the wall and convert them to sliding barn style doors you can close up the pocket opening with a 2x4 or wallboard cut to size.

Dress up your pocket doors with wall paper, artwork or a painted scene or mural... or install a vintage door to update or fancy up the look... paint with chalk paint ... Pinterest.com can help with ideas.... the pocket door saves space and is already there... just dress it up or paint it a really fun color.