Frosted vs clear glass pocket doors - which one should you choose?

The immediate benefit of pocket doors, and the one most popularly sought by people opting to switch to pocket doors, is that they create space in a room, and therefore allow you to create new rooms, change the use of a room or give a room multiple purposes. The versatility and flexibility provided by pocket doors can have a transformative effect, but within the scope of pocket doors is an aesthetic quality which can also have a big impact on the home or the workplace. A good example of that is glass pocket doors, and in particular, whether you opt for a clear glass pocket door, or frosted glass.

Understanding the difference between clear and frosted glass pocket doors

It may seem obvious what the differences between clear and frosted glass pocket doors are, but it is important to fully understand this and to be able to consider what practical differences this may make in the home or workplace.

Clear glass is completely transparent and hence provides unobstructed views through it, and doesn’t reduce or diffuse the amount of light it allows through the glass. Frosted glass (also known as glass with a satin opaque finish) doesn’t allow you to see clearly through it, you can only see an obscure vision. It also only allows a limited amount of light to shine through it. Each type of glass has pros and cons when used in the home and workplace, and this is what we will consider now.

The pros and cons of clear glass

• Pros – Clear glass enables you to create a much brighter room and maximises the light made available from adjacent rooms or corridors. This in turn will make a room feel airier and less claustrophobic, and hence can improve the flow of a room. Clear glass is also ideal where you need good visibility, such as if monitoring shopfloor activities or an open plan office in the workplace, and when watching children playing or family activity from a kitchen or living room. Finally, clear glass can also maximise heat transfer in a passive and efficient way, so any sunlight that enters the home or workplace can be transferred to another room through clear glass.
• Cons – The main disadvantage of clear glass is that it affords no privacy. Complete visibility means that everything is able to be seen. And because clear glass allows 100% light and sunlight through, this may lead to décor and furnishings fading more quickly. It also means that there may be more glare and heat generated for people using a particular room, which could become uncomfortable. Where several clear glass doors are used, this could also become deceiving (ie. when is a door not a door?), particularly where children are playing, for example, and this could lead to accidents.

The pros and cons of frosted glass

• Pros – Most people opt for frosted glass if they need some privacy in a room. So this can be used for meeting rooms and offices in the workplace, and in the home it can be used for an en-suite, a bathroom, a toilet or a home office. This therefore means that frosted glass has more of a specialist use. Frosted glass still allows light to shine through, but this is reduced and diffused, which could be ideal for a room where you want a more gentle glow, or where direct sunlight can make a room too warm. Frosted glass also offers the user more decorative designs and aesthetic possibilities. By using sandblasted effects and coloured inserts you can create bespoke designs to bring a unique appeal to a room. Another benefit of frosted glass is that it requires less cleaning than clear glass, which can pick up dirty marks and fingerprints quite easily.
• Cons – Frosted glass is no good for rooms where you wish to have clear visibility, such as into a hallway or corridor, and will perhaps make a room feel isolated. So frosted glass is not a solution if you want to create flow and an open, communal feel to a space.

Should I choose clear or frosted glass for my pocket door?

The type of glass you choose for your pocket door can have a big impact, so you need to choose carefully. If you are wanting to create privacy and a more intimate feel to a room, then frosted glass might be the best option. And you will still benefit from lower levels of natural light. However, if you want good visibility and to create flow and a communal feel to adjacent rooms and spaces, then clear glass might be a better alternative.  

You can choose either type of glass when you order from Pocket Door Shop today, and you can also contact our experts to get further advice on the best type of glass to use for a pocket door.