Pocket doors in tiny houses - helping maximise every square inch
When space is at a premium in a home we have to think with a little more creativity in order to find the living solutions we need. And the pocket door can help us with those solutions in a cost-effective way. Small homes are not uncommon and are often a necessity or a fact of life. Terrace houses built together in a block make the most of the limited space available, and the same can be said for flats, whether in a high-rise block or above a shop or other commercial outlet. Some older properties were also built long before people fully appreciated the ‘luxury’ of space and hence can be crammed and offer very little flexibility in terms of what you can do with a space, but the pocket door can be a lifeline to many people in that situation.
In a very small property, people will not be expecting the type of luxuries you can maybe consider in a larger property that has a lot more space, so we are not looking at using a pocket door to create things like an en-suite bathroom, home office, a downstairs toilet or a utility room. In this case you are much more likely to be considering an extra bedroom or some wardrobe space, or trying to make existing space more practical, such as a toilet or a shared bedroom. For all these requirements, pocket door systems are a neat and cost-effective solution.
How does the pocket door create space in a small room?
A traditional hinged door is a staple feature of most homes and properties, whatever age they are and whatever size they are. However, there are great benefits to be had from installing a pocket door in a small property.
The difference between a pocket door and a traditional hinged door is in how it opens. Naturally, a hinged door is attached to the door frame with a hinge, and hence it opens into the room in an arc. This means anything stored or positioned within that opening arc is going to become an obstacle. As a result, in most cases you need to keep this area clear which means you need to cram everything into the remaining space and the eight to ten square feet of space behind the door is redundant. In a tiny home this is a good percentage of space and can be considered wasteful given the limited space available.
With a pocket door, the door itself opens along the same plane and orientation. So the door slides along the same axis using rollers in the overhead rail. This enables the door to slide into the wall recess (the ‘pocket’) and importantly, this means the door doesn’t encroach into the room itself, and therefore doesn’t take up any of that precious space. When space is at a premium in a room this can make an enormous difference.
What you can do with extra space in a small home
So when you install a pocket door, how can you use this additional space? Older and smaller homes often have quirks and characteristic design features where previous owners have tried to create space. This is usually for storage. So an integral wardrobe in a bedroom would benefit from a pocket door so you can store more items in it, but more common is simply using a pocket door so you can fit two beds in a room, or to divide a larger bedroom into two smaller ones. With a toilet, a pocket door makes it more comfortable to move around, and you may even have room now to install a small sink to make this the bathroom. In a separate bathroom, the pocket door may enable you to install a towel rail behind the door, or to install a larger, more practical sink.
Downstairs, a pocket door in the kitchen may allow you to install more worktop space, or to install an extra feature such as a washing machine or fridge freezer. You may even have space to design a small table area for eating with the extra space you now have available. In the living room you may now have space to add an extra armchair or a bigger sofa, or to incorporate some additional storage.
In a smaller home, every spare inch is precious and there may be several ways you can utilise this new space created by the pocket door, but essentially, the pocket door gives you the freedom to make that decision.
Contact the Pocket Door Shop for advice on how to use new space
At the Pocket Door Shop we have experts on hand who can advise on the best way to utilise space around the home now that you have installed a pocket door. This is particularly useful in a small home and can make a huge difference to family life, so get in touch with our team today.
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