How to make a barn door type door using fabric instead of wood?

Hi L, Here's a barn door curtain I found on line: https://www.amazon.com/CafePress-Rustic-Decorative-Fabric-Curtain/dp/B01CRE5I76

Have fun!

I don't know if "they wouldn't hold up" or not. The Japanese have been using rice paper shoji screen sliders for centuries, after all. I don't see why one couldn't use fabric instead of rice paper. If you're looking for more durability, consider using a layer of plexiglass to protect the fabric.

It doesn't sound like you want a barn door at all. Maybe you just need sliding doors? I tend to agree with your contractor about the fabric.

YES!! you could do something easily with fabric-covered panels that would slide back and forth. Think about painter's canvasses. They are stretched canvas on a wooden frame. I have done some very large paintings and it's easy to do. At an art supply store, they should sell wood stretcher bars. The ends of these are cut on the diagonal and should be slotted on the ends to fit together into right angles. You will need 4 stretcher bars for each panel (maybe make two panels if it's a wide opening (your contractor or whoever is installing the hardware will need to see what you're doing so he can puzzle out how to attach your panels to the hardware (should be easy, the panels will be very light). Fit your stretcher bars together to form, for example, a rectangle. a Little white glue will make sure they hold together.With a staple gun, stretch your fabric across the stretcher bars and staple along the outer edge. You will need enough fabric to cover both sides of the panel,so cover one side, and then flip it and do the other. You will be stapling over the first fabric and staples, but the staples should go through if you try not to staple right over another staple from the first side.You can cover the staples by gluing some ribbon along the edges or paint over them. If the hardware includes a flattish piece that hangs down from the horizontal bar, maybe that could get screwed into the wood, either through the fabric or under it(you can staple the fabric all the way around, except for the few inches the attachment is going to go under. Like stretching fabric for a seat cover, you will want to start stapling in the middle of each edge and work out to the corners. This will ensure your fabric stays flat and doesn't wrinkle. No need to make it tight as a drum,just a bit taut and smooth. You can do the first four central staple, one on each side to make sure your fabric doesn't get pulled out of line. If you just staple going around the frame in a loop, you will pull the fabric and maybe not have enough to attach on the last side. If you have a patterned fabric, make sure ti doesn't get distorted by over-pulling, like wavy stripes, etc.Cut your fabric well oversize- you can easily trim it off with a sharp blade close to the stretcher bar when you're done with that side.You could use a glazed fabric like chintz or spray it with scotch guard. A lot of upholstery-style fabric comes with a stain resistant coating on it.It might get hand prints or general grime over time, but then you could put on fresh fabric or even iron on something over the stains...or make a border for the panel edge of something durable like vinyl, leather,ultra-suede, if the border is where you'll be touching it the most...

I know this sounds like a LOT, but it's very easy! I once made a room divider/screen this way, with three panels connected by long piano hinges. It got wet/moldy in storage and I never got the chance to re-do it, but I still have it in mind as a future project. I am also intrigued by ceiling mounted curtain racks, kind of like hospital curtains, but they just swish out of the way. Sewing hem weights also help with the hang/drape of these.Could that be an option if the fabric panel/barn door doesn't work out? Show us pictures of your finished light weight barn door-I bet it will be really popular on hometalk!