Even a small apartment will look bright and spacious if you make a smart apartment layout and choose compact doors. First and foremost, the right type of door structure will help you save space and add aesthetics to your interior, and then you should pay attention to its design, material, and color.
Types of doors for small apartments
The most unsuccessful option for small rooms is a bifold door. They take up a lot of space when opened, making the room look even smaller. The best doors for small rooms have the following opening principle:
- Sliding. This is an ideal option for small spaces. They do not require additional space for opening, move smoothly and easily. Sliding doors for apartments with a small area become a real salvation, and with the right choice of finishes, they look like a real work of art. Barn-style sliding doors made of untreated or burnt wood with massive forged decorative elements look especially impressive in country or loft-style apartments.
- Folding. Such a door opening mechanism is often used for interior partitions. The accordion is lightweight, convenient, and can be quickly folded and unfolded as needed. With its help, you can not only visually optimize the space, but also its zoning.
- Pendulum. This is a door leaf that opens equally easily in both directions. The design is ideal for passage rooms and is a great idea for studio apartments.
Of course, sliding wardrobe doors are in the first place in terms of use in minimalist interiors, as they are versatile and affordable. Thanks to them, you can save a lot of useful space, which is extremely important for small rooms.
If you're looking for a way to maximize space, you should consider hidden door systems. You should think about installing them at the renovation stage, as builders will need to make a special niche in the wall. Effective door solutions look ascetic and compact, but they are not the most budget-friendly option. The total cost should include the price of the door leaf itself, the mechanisms for its movement, its installation, as well as the cost of labor and materials for arranging the niche. You will incur additional and quite considerable costs if you decide to install hidden doors after the renovation.
Choosing the right material
Although natural wood is still a symbol of luxury and durability, wooden interior doors for small apartments are not the best solution. They look bulky and take up too much space around them. If you do plan to choose wooden structures, give preference to light and thin products that combine naturalness and practicality. However, compact solutions for small apartments are usually made of lighter materials:
- Laminate and MDF are affordable materials. Their advantage is that they can be used to create any design solution. An additional advantage of the material is its strength and durability.
- Glass. Thanks to the ability of glass products to transmit light, interior doors made of this material are not only a compact solution for living in small rooms, but also an additional source of light. Smooth glass door leaves add lightness and freshness to the space, and their ability to transmit light creates the impression of an open space.
- Combined materials. You can choose a door that is a combination of materials from the first and second points. They are durable, attractive and practical at the same time.
Metal structures and solid wood doors should not be used in small rooms. They look too bulky, making the space heavier.
Choosing colors and decorative elements
The color scheme is no less important than the door opening technology. In small apartments, the visual perception of the space depends on the choice of color. The color of the door should be in harmony with the color of the walls, furniture and floor. You can choose from the following options:
- white. A versatile color that suits interiors of any style. Optically increases the space and makes it brighter, which is especially important in small rooms;
- light pastel colors. Warm shades are suitable for classic, Provence and modern interiors;
- gray. Doors of this color are a great option for high-tech, industrial and loft designs;
- natural wood. The color is suitable for Scandinavian and country interiors.
Do not choose dark doors for small rooms. On the one hand, they will serve as an interesting accent, on the other hand, they will visually reduce the space.
In small apartments, designers use every square centimeter of space, so you can choose interior doors with a functional design if you wish. For example, a mirror can be placed on one side of the door. It is a useful accessory for beautiful ladies and can also visually expand the space.
So let's summarize. To make your small apartment look not only cozy but also spacious, you need to choose the right interior doors. Sliding hidden structures will help to free up useful space, and the right color and finish will visually expand it.
