10 Reasons to Use a Barn Door for the Pantry
- Ease of Access to Dry Goods
- Upgraded Aesthetics
- Hide Clutter
- Fun and Functional
- Unique and Transitional
- Customizable Look
- Flexible for Walk-in Pantries and Closet Pantries
- Saves Space
- Country Charm
- French Flair
10 Reasons You Need a Barn Door for Your Pantry
Ease of Access to Dry Goods
Every home needs a pantry, there’s no doubt about that. Unfortunately, pantries tend to share many of the same characteristics as a black hole. Unless the shelving is put together properly with storage concepts in place and a system for accessing your goods, boxed and canned goods can enter and never come back out. Many homeowners end up perpetually frustrated with the state of their pantries and feel at a loss to fix it.Not all doors are created equal. Some kitchen pantries already come with a swinging hinged door, but you may find that the door gets in the way more than it helps. Depending on the way your kitchen is laid out, an open door can block entryways, throughways, and impede movement in the kitchen. If the entry to your pantry becomes a hassle or a hazard, then it can feel like a chore to find ways to utilize the space well.
Upgraded Aesthetics
Do you have the most organized pantry in the neighborhood? Excellent! It just needs one more thing: a pantry barn door. A kitchen pantry should be one of the most useful parts of your kitchen. Depending on the size, it can hold everything from your kitchen staples and boxed mixes to your KitchenAid mixer, specialty gadgets, and maybe even extra space for things like rolled out dough to rest and proof.Hide Clutter
Let’s face it, not everyone’s pantries are shining examples of organization. And when it’s time for friends or family to come over for an evening, you need a convenient way to hide that disorganization.Fun and Functional
One of the best things about installing a pantry barn door is the ability to transform a space into something fun and functional.Unique and Transitional
Not all pantries are meant to be hidden. For those organizational gurus who have pantries that look like they came straight out of a Country Living or Home and Gardens magazine, you shouldn’t cover up your hard work. Rather than a traditional barn door or chalkboard barn door, you’ll want to emphasize the beauty of your kitchen and your pantry with a sliding French door. Half solid, half glass, these sophisticated sliding barn doors provide a transitional space from your kitchen to your pantry.Customizable Look
If your old pantry door is getting in the way of your dream kitchen, don’t hesitate to upgrade to a door that will complete the look. Sliding barn doors have a unique aesthetic, and can match a variety of design styles. While some barn doors feature a traditional, rustic look, other barn door styles can easily fit into modern and contemporary designs.Flexible for Walk-in Pantries and Closet Pantries
One of the benefits of a kitchen barn door is that it opens up the space and works well with any size or style of pantry. If you have a large walk-in pantry, you might consider adding a double door, which gives you full access to the pantry while allowing the doors to overlap.Saves Space
While this benefit has been mentioned a few times already, it’s worth mentioning again because it’s incredible how much space a barn door can save. Since most of us are used to a traditional swinging door, we often don’t realize how much space they take up when they’re open.A Dose of Country Charm
It’s no surprise that many sliding barn doors are distinctly country in look and feel. After all, these stylistic doors were made popular because of their predecessor—the famous sliding barn door located on farms and ranches across the country.While any barn door will add that pop of charm, if you want a truly rustic look and feel, choose to use reclaimed wood for your custom barn door or DIY barn door. Reclaimed wood is a great way to keep your project eco-friendly and has the added bonus of producing a sliding barn door that looks as authentic as it gets.
French Flair
If country chic isn’t your thing, perhaps you’re looking to add a bit of French flair to your home. In this case, sliding barn doors are exactly what you need for your kitchen pantry. We know what you’re thinking and no, we don’t mean standard, traditional barn doors—though those work well, too! If you’re going for a tres chic look in your French décor themed kitchen, then the type of sliding barn door you’ll want for your pantry is a classic French door.Pantry Barn Doors for Every Home Style
When it comes to choosing the best pantry barn doors, you should consider the style already present in your kitchen and the overall décor and architecture in your house. You want to pick a door that complements your present style or the style you’re trying to incorporate in a kitchen renovation.Here are a few of our favorite picks for pantry barn doors:
Best Fun and Functional Doors
At Rustica, we have several sliding barn doors that work well for those looking for a fun and functional combination. These doors include:- Smooth Operator Metal Panel Barn Door – This pantry barn door is ideal if you want a place to hang pictures, announcements, children’s artwork, and removable magnetic items such as alphabet characters or magnetic puzzles.
- Whiteboard Barn Door – A whiteboard barn door is best for those who enjoy using whiteboard markers for menu planning, writing notes, and letting kids play.
- Chalkboard Full Panel Barn Door and Chalkboard Barn Door—These kitchen barn doors are best for those who have a love for hand lettering their weekly menu plan and a soft spot for letting their children draw with chalk to their heart’s content.
Best Transitional Space Doors
If you’re looking for doors that lend a transitional air to your kitchen and pantry, we have several options we think you’ll love. This certainly isn’t an exhaustive list, but this will hopefully get you started.- Orchard Barn Door –A sophisticated mix of wood, metal, and glass, this door forms a sizeable see-through space for organized pantries while still providing a noticeable barrier between the kitchen and pantry.
- Terrace Barn Door—A barn door for those who want a transitional door with a bit of a modern flair, the Terrace Barn Door is the perfect mix of metal and glass.
- Mountain French Half Barn Door—This door has an alpine feel mixed with country chic. With two-thirds of the door in glass panels, you’ll have a clear view into your pantry while the bottom third, made of wood, provides a distinction between your kitchen and pantry.
- Farmhouse French Half Barn Door – If you want a transitional door that boasts a farmhouse feel, this is the door for you. Half wood, half glass, there’s enough room to see from your kitchen into the pantry. It features enough wood to create a definite boundary between the pantry and your kitchen.
Best Country Charm Doors
For those with a farmhouse home, pantry barn doors with country charm will fit right in and add the missing piece to your kitchen. Needless to say, we have a much wider selection than what is listed here, but this gives you a solid sampling of the rustic, country, farmhouse siding barn doors we offer.- Z Barn Door –a classic country charmer with the classic Z design that adds character and strength to a door. It’s the perfect choice for a door that gets used every day.
- Double X Barn Door—This door borrows the classic X design found on many early farmhouse barn doors to give your kitchen a decided ranch or farmhouse feel.
- Two Panel Barn Door—If you’re looking for a door that offers a sophisticated and rustic feel, this is the door for you. It provides a touch of rustic with just enough modern flair that it can fit right in with any kitchen.
- Ranch Barn Door—the name speaks for itself with this door. It’s rustic, casual, and has just enough sophistication to fit into nearly any style of kitchen.
Best French Flair Doors
When going for a French feel in your kitchen, you can easily choose from doors that are more modern in style. French flair doors exude a cozy feel and have a sophisticated look. If your kitchen boasts French décor, these doors will fit in perfectly.- Aries Barn Door—More modern in style and design, this is ideal for kitchens that incorporate French décor while keeping the overall tone updated and chic.
- Provence Barn Door—Made of glass and metal, this door will provide plenty of see-through space for your organized kitchen pantry.
- Tiller Shed Barn Door—This wood, metal, and glass door is the perfect mix of sophisticated and rustic for homes with kitchens boasting a modern French feel.
- Farmhouse French Full Glass Barn Door—This door perfectly blends French and farmhouse together to create a unique piece that works well with a kitchen in either category.
How to Install a Sliding Barn Door on a Pantry
Once you’ve picked the perfect barn door for your kitchen, you’ll need to brush up on your knowledge of how to install a barn door. We’ve included a quick overview of what you can expect when you’re ready to add a new pantry barn door to your kitchen:Step 1: Gather Supplies
Before starting any project, it’s important that all the supplies are available and at the ready. Supplies you’ll need include things like:- Screwdriver
- Wood glue
- Barn door hardware
- Tape measure
- Someone to help you
- DIY barn door kit (if applicable)
Step 2: Read Instructions
Carefully read over all the instructions that come with your barn door and the hardware kit. If you have someone helping you, have them read the instructions with you so you’re both on the same page.Decide where you’ll hang the header and be sure to clear enough space for the door to fully slide along the track before you begin. By doing this first, you’ll ensure that the installation goes smoothly.
Step 3: Put Your Door Together
Putting your door together is undoubtedly the most fun you’ll have with your barn door project. Follow the instructions step-by-step and you’ll soon be hammering in the final nail.Step 4: Install the Header and Track
Once you’ve got your door ready to hang, install the header board and track. Follow instructions for the type of header and track you ordered, as there are different techniques for each type.Step 5: Hang Your Door
After installing the header and track, it’s time to hang your new pantry barn door! Carefully lift it up and set it on the track. This is where having an extra pair of hands comes in handy.Add the stops to the end of the track to prevent the door from sliding off and you’re all set! Open and close the door a few times to get a feel for the way it glides. Then, once satisfied, stand back and admire your handiwork!