What Is a Pocket Door?

A pocket door is a type of sliding door that disappears into the adjacent wall when it is fully opened. They are commonly used for architectural purposes or to obtain a certain aesthetic for your home. You can typically see them installed in home offices, bathrooms, closets, pantries and laundry rooms. The tradition of pocket doors goes as far back as Victorian times, when they would close off certain areas from other rooms.

Pocket doors have many other benefits aside from their attractiveness. Using a pocket door versus a regular hinged door will free up a good amount of floor space. Since saving space in homes is a top concern among homeowners, the pocket door has grown in popularity. Pocket doors also therefore free up wall space that a hinged door would hide when open.

Even if your rooms are rather large, pocket doors still offer benefits. They create an elegant and interesting transition between the rooms in your home. They can even section off a private room that you want to appear more secluded.

Pocket doors can be easily customized to your liking. Single and double-door versions are used depending on the amount of space you have in your room. You can also customize the wood type/material and style of door you'd like, so it can look good in your home. The pocket door hardware you choose also can add interest to the doors.

Common pocket door hardware includes items such as hinge kits, door slides, overlay kits, shafts and more. These items are usually found at hardware stores and will replace or repair an old or broken pocket door. According to the DIY Network, the installation of a pocket door is estimated to take about 2 hours and will cost between $100 and $250. It's

a moderate level of difficulty, so you may want to call a professional to help.