Planning to revamp your closet? Searching for a new wardrobe? With the multiple choices you’re faced with, it can be pretty hard to choose the perfect one! When you are choosing a wardrobe, you have to decide between hinged or sliding doors. Hinged doors are fixed on the wardrobe with plain hinges. Sliding doors are panels that have been fit to slide on tracks.
Each type of door has its own pros and cons, so you can pick one based on your personal choice and requirements. You can evaluate a few factors before picking the perfect wardrobe for yourself such as ease of use, maintenance required or the amount of space available for the closet. Here are a few pros and cons of both hinged and sliding door closets.
Hinged Doors
Hinged doors are the most commonly used conventional wardrobe doors. They have a maximum width of around 23 inches to keep the excess load off the hinges while the door is opened. Here is a list of the pros and cons of installing hinged doors.
Pros
Full Visibility
Hinged wardrobes offer full visibility – they swing open easily. This is a major advantage as it enables a complete view of the closet and its contents, making your outfit-choosing process easier! The inside of the door serves as a great option for the installation of any hooks, pockets or racks. Apart from your basic clothes, these hooks will also allow you to hang your accessories, jewelry, belts, etc. Many people also choose to hook full-length mirrors inside or outside the door so that they can conveniently pick their outfits.
Variety and Options
Hinged door wardrobes offer a variety of options to choose from. Hinged wardrobes are available in multiple designs, colors, materials and even textures. You can customize your wardrobe according to your liking by incorporating different elements. With hinged doors, you can install different decorative door handles, ranging from wooden handles to stainless steel or even leather. Hinged doors can also be transformed into folding doors and can be of any shape and size.
Easy Maintenance
Hinged doors have been used for years as wardrobe doors. They are very low maintenance. In case of any issues, hinges can conveniently be tightened or replaced in case of damage. Hinges are perhaps, cheaper and easier to find as compared to track systems that are used for sliding wardrobe doors.
Cons
Space-Consuming
Hinged doors require and take up a considerable amount of space as they swing outwards when opened. When placing a hinged door cupboard in the room, you need to ensure that the swing of the door doesn’t obstruct any traffic or objects within the room.
Traditional Aesthetic
Hinged doors deliver a more traditional aesthetic, especially in comparison to sliding doors. Even though they can be customized to be more modern, it’s not a very popular choice for those who choose to live a more efficient and modern lifestyle.
Sliding Doors
A sliding door is the sleekest door option out there. It requires both a floor and a top track laid with screen door rollers that enable the door to slide open and shut easily. The running track is usually 2 inches wide and fixed into a wooden base.
A sliding door is approximately 7 feet wide, with two doors extending to about 3 ½ feet each. If the measurement of the door is less than that, it will become extremely hard to view the contents of the closet. If you’re planning on installing a sliding door, here is a list of pros and cons.
Pros
Sleek Look
Sliding doors, wherever they’re installed, deliver a sleek and modern look. These massive floor-to-ceiling panels look utterly neat and tidy. They are perhaps more suitable for long wardrobes. The maximum width of each panel of the sliding door can be about 4 feet. Anything more than that will make the doors too heavy to slide. Opting for a mirrored sliding door is also a pretty great option as it can make your room appear bigger and more spacious.
Space-Saving
While hinged doors must be very carefully installed as they take up too much space, sliding doors open sideways, along the wardrobe. If you’re looking to create a compact and efficient wardrobe, then sliding closet doors are the way to go. Not only do they not take up any additional space, but they also don’t create any other obstructions in the room.
Cons
Limited Visibility
One of the biggest issues faced with sliding wardrobe doors is that one side of the closet remains closed all the time. In order to open the other side, you will have to shut the other sliding door. Therefore, it is impossible to pop open the closet in order to view all its content.
Careful Handling
Sliding doors are fragile; they cannot be, at any cost, subjected to any rough housing. Sliding wardrobe doors need to be handled gently and meticulously. Opening or closing the door harshly can result in severe damage such as loss of alignment as the shutter slips off track. This can be prevented if good quality materials are such as door rollers areused while customizing it. Additionally, you can’t overstuff your closet as the fabric can get caught between the sliding panels, causing a blockage of the sliders.
High Maintenance
Sliding doors are high maintenance. Not only is the equipment and hardware involved expensive, but they also have to be maintained frequently. The tracks and rollers need to be cleaned and lubricated at intervals in addition to the readjustment of the sliding panels for a better fit.
Final Word
Whether you’re buying a new closet or building one from scratch, the type of door you choose is a huge decision since your wardrobe requires significant investment. Both wardrobe door types are fantastic options –with all the pros and cons laid out, you can choose which one is better for you!
About Author:
Lou is an experienced chief designer who has worked for a number of large companies where he has acquired a sound knowledge of modeling, industrial materials, processes and manufacturing methods. Currently, he works as a marketing consultant with Anthony Innovations – a leading supplier of different types of rollers, like sliding closet door rollers, security door rollers, window rollers etc. In his spare time he likes to build smaller projects with his 3D printer.
