The rise of hidden door design - why pocket doors are trending

Contemporary interior design is centred around two things; minimalism and multi-functionality. This means that most modern design concepts feature clean lines, seamless transition and minimal decoration, as well as having smart, practical uses. The pocket door is a perfect example of this, and particularly the flush pocket door system.

Pocket doors completely disappear from view when opened, as they open into a wall cavity known as the ‘pocket’. This removes a visible obstacle and an interruption to clear sight lines, and opens up space, but pocket doors have innovative practical uses also, which explains why they are trending as one of the most popular interior design features. Meanwhile, the flush pocket door – available as both a single and double door system - takes the meaning of the phrase ‘hidden door design’ to a whole new level.

What is a hidden door?

Although the pocket door disappears from view when opening, rather than swinging into or out of a room and remaining visible like a traditional hinged door, the term ‘hidden door’ usually refers to what is known as the ‘flush pocket door’. This is a specially engineered pocket door frame which has no surrounding frame or architrave around the door, and hence is designed to sit flush with the wall. This means there is a seamless transition between the door and the wall, and visually this creates a flawless effect.

In contemporary buildings, whether they are commercial buildings or residential buildings, the clean and fresh aesthetic this creates is visually pleasing, and is the epitome of minimalism, in that the door almost literally disappears from view and is fully integrated into the wall. Chic and sophisticated commercial spaces, such as office spaces, hospitality spaces – hotels, restaurants and bars – and retail spaces, including boutique shops, spas and salons, all benefit from this type of flawless design. It is also popular in modern homes, where people want a soothing and relaxing space that is fresh, clean and uncluttered.

What are the benefits of hidden doors?

Of course, in addition to the seamless visual aesthetic, hidden doors offer the same practical benefits as standard pocket doors, and hence carry the same appeal:

• Maximing floor space – Hidden doors are ideal for use in compact spaces and for creating new rooms to maximise the available space and to minimise dead space. So hidden doors can be used for en-suites, storage, bathrooms, a home office, toilets, cloakrooms, pantries and utility rooms. When space is at a premium, hidden doors open up a wealth of practical opportunities to make lifestyle improvements, and this is the kind of space-efficiency that typifies modern design trends.
• Flexible layouts – In an open plan space, hidden doors can be used like false walls to divide and open-up spaces as needed and to create temporary zones. They can be used to divide a living room and dining room, or a kitchen and dining room, which creates separate rooms for everyday use, and which can be opened up to create a larger communal space when entertaining, so there is more spatial flow and people are not isolated in separate rooms. You can also create a small, intimate study area or home office during the day, and this can be opened up to become a larger family space in the evening when everyone is home. Multiple uses for the same space, again, ticks every box for how we like to fully optimise the space we have available.
• Natural light – One of the most sought-after features of modern homes is natural light. Hidden doors maximise natural light because they disappear from view and don’t stand as a physical obstacle when open.  
• Interior themes – Because the hidden door has no protruding features – including the hinges and door handles, which can also be flush to the door and wall – it effectively acts as part of the wall, and hence can be decorated or finished in line with your other interior décor. So you can paint or wallpaper the door and it easily blends into the surroundings, which makes your interior theme consistent and more effective.
• Simple and innovative – As a very simple design feature with innovative operation, the pocket door is a smart option which works in line with other smart features in the home. The calm, quiet and unfussy operation of the hidden door, coupled with its flawless appearance, makes it ideal for the modern home, in that it is a simple and almost invisible feature which is also a show-stopping design statement.
• Conceal – Modern homeowners can conceal elements of the home they don’t want on show, to maintain the flawless appearance. This could be items in storage, utilities or heavy appliances.

The flush pocket door is known as the ‘hidden door’ because it is the encapsulation of minimalism. It is a visually calm feature which offers user-enhancements – such as soft-close accessories and touch latch handles - to suit your lifestyle. The smooth and streamlined operation comes from premium engineering which ensures that the hidden door will continue to dominate interior design trends for many years to come. Check out our range of flush pocket doors at Pocket Door Shop.