Creating a tidy home: DIY sliding door

Planning

Anyone looking to build DIY sliding doors should take the time to plan properly. It’s not just about finding the right sliding door system for your home, but also about choosing the right material and measuring out everything precisely. Then you have to decide whether you want to build everything yourself or use ready-made parts in some cases. You can find standard sliding door kits for wardrobes at a DIY store, but you can also build a complete, customised sliding partition yourself.

Should you buy a ready-made kit or build your own sliding doors?

If you don’t have the time or space for DIY projects, buying a ready-made kit can be a less stressful option. If you do choose this option, you will not be able to customise or add extra features to your sliding door. But not so if you build a sliding door from wood yourself. You get to choose the material, width, type of rail/guide system and much more. In some cases, a combination of ready-made and custom-made parts is also suitable.

We will now describe the pros and cons of making your own sliding door.

Pros

• Individuality and room for creativity
• Made to measure and custom design (material, width, mounting, rail system, fittings, additional features) instead of standard dimensions
• Less expensive

Cons

• You need enough space, the right tools, time and a certain amount of craftsmanship. You can find great information on how to sand wood correctly and much more in our guides.
• If you choose to work with materials like glass or plexiglass, this will add another level of difficulty to your DIY project. Building a sliding door out of wood is easier, however.
• You will need to prepare the construction plan and material list yourself, unless you want to follow the instructions in this article.

Accurate measurements

Sliding doors allow you to reorganise a cupboard or small room set aside for cleaning supplies, tools, garden equipment and much more to make it appear more spacious and less cluttered.

Before you can build your DIY sliding door, you first need to make sure you measure everything out correctly. Once you’ve done that, you can make a sketch of the DIY sliding door, which will prove handy going forward. And even if you want to use a small number of ready-made parts to build the sliding door, the sketch will help when it comes time to purchase the materials and put the door together.

Build your own sliding door: Outdoor vs. indoor

Generally speaking, the main difference when it comes to building a DIY sliding door for use indoors or outdoors is the materials you’ll need. The basic steps, like the ones we’ve outlined in our guide, are the same in both cases. Assembly and whatever extra features you might need may vary depending on where you want to install the door.

If you want to install sliding doors inside, you will need to factor in the pitch of the roof, the height of the ceiling and the amount of space available to you. In addition, you should consider whether you want your sliding door to do two things at once, like be both a room divider and a shelf, before you start building. With a little bit of skill, you can not only save space and keep things tidy, but also give your home a personal touch. 

Sliding doors for indoor use

You can use a sliding door as a room divider. Wardrobes, shelves and cupboards in the kitchen or cellar are other popular uses. Here are a few examples where sliding doors can be used in your home:

Installing a sliding door under a sloped roof or in a jamb wall

If you want to make full use of every square inch of your home, you should think about a sliding door under a sloped roof. This allows you to make the most out of spaces that would otherwise not be used.

Depending on whether you want the doors to run directly under the sloped roof or to the rear underneath it, you can find the guide rails, brackets and panels you need at your local DIY store. In combination with a matching shelf system or drawers, you’ll have a new – and above all – tidy storage space in no time.

Sliding doors allow you to create physically separate spaces under a sloped roof. Instead of one large room, the space under the roof can also be divided to create a work space, storage room, bedroom and so on. 

Installing a sliding door in front of a wardrobe

Are jackets, shoes, scarves, hats and other things always lying about in your entrance? Over time, it can be hard to find what you’re looking for among the piles of clothes, not to mention the mess and clutter this creates. One solution could be a sliding door to section off a corner or other space in the entrance for a wardrobe. Whether you’re making the sliding door yourself or buying one as a kit, you can also transform a shelf in your home into a handsome wardrobe.

Installing a sliding door in front of a shelf

You need space to store your boxes, books, clothes, towels and other odds and ends. But where? Here, too, a modern sliding door can be the solution.

If you already have a suitable shelf, there is no need to build or buy one. Instead, you can build a DIY sliding door to place in front of your shelf to cover it up. A guide rail installed at the top of the shelf is a great option here.

By the way, building a shelf is a great DIY project that is in most cases easy to do yourself. Are you looking for inspiration? Then take a look under DIY furniture.

Installing a sliding door in front of a kitchen cabinet or floor unit

In the kitchen, too, there never seems to be enough space to store cutlery, utensils and food. Is that the case with you, too? If there is anything lying about, it is quickly stuffed into a drawer or put on a shelf. In the end, it looks messy and it’s difficult to find what you want. To solve this problem, you can install a stylish sliding door in front of a storage space to hide it from sight. You can also do the same with floor units. Plus, a sliding door reduces the amount of dust and dirt that collect on your things.

Installing a sliding door as a room partition

If you have large rooms and want to create a partition to section off several areas in a room for different purposes, then a sliding door is the perfect solution. Without having to erect a wall, you can divide the living and working spaces in no time at all. Divide your bedroom into a space for sleeping and a dressing area by using a sliding mirror door. Or create a personal workspace right in your bedroom with the aid of a sliding door. Let your creative side run wild – the sky’s the limit! 

Sliding doors for outdoor use

Want to build a sliding door for your garden shed? Or are you planning to install a sliding door in front of a storage room or an alcove in your carport, tool shed or garage to cover or close it off? You can also build a DIY sliding door for use outdoors.

If you install a sliding door outdoors, you’ll need to protect it against the elements. This can be done using a waterproof wood preservative, stain and by selecting screws and other fixtures that are rustproof.

Installing a sliding door in a carport or garage

Practical, elegant and, above all, space-saving, sliding doors are also ideal for carports. Instead of losing lots of space because you have to leave room to open and close a standard swivel door, you can customise a DIY sliding door to your individual needs. It’s up to you whether you opt for a simple model or for electric sliding doors or double doors that can be operated separately.

Electric sliding doors are a really practical solution for the garage. Plus, you can install a lock on your DIY sliding door or other devices to enhance safety and security, such as a burglar alarm or an emergency exit function.

Installing a sliding door on a tool shed

You do not have to choose a sliding door made from wood if you are installing one on your garden or tool shed. Especially aluminium has the advantage that it is extremely light, weather-proof and low maintenance.

If you want to use your tool shed to store garden tools and other supplies as well as work it in, you can install glass doors to ensure you get plenty of sunlight inside. This turns even the smallest shed into a great hobby room.

Sliding doors in a conservatory

Sliding doors are a great option for your conservatory. As an elegant, space-saving solution to connect your home to your garden outdoors, a sliding door lets in the maximum amount of sunlight and, depending on the sliding door system you choose, they are easy to open and close.

If you can build a DIY sliding partition, there are no limits to what you can do. You get to choose the material, width, shape and, of course, what special features you want. The more often you use the door, the more stable it should be.

Find a style that works best for you: Building your own sliding door

Sliding doors are no longer just functional, they also have a decorative function. They fit in no matter where you put them. Whether in the wall, in front of a shelf or suspended on a floor-or ceiling-mounted track, there are a wide range of options available to you if you’re looking to build a sliding partition.

There are a full range of options available not only for how you build the door, but also in terms of how you want it to look. Paint, fixtures, rail systems and much more allow you to find a personal style for your home. For example, if you want to build a sliding partition for a modern home, the industrial look could be just what you’re looking for. Alternatively, you can create a cosier atmosphere and a rustic feel with a wooden sliding door.

The vintage look is all the rage at the moment. For example, you could reuse old doors by installing them in the sliding door system of your choosing. Also check out more of our upcycling ideas. How about a wardrobe or a shelf made from empty tins? Or why not build an indestructible stool from an old tyre.

If you’re interested in other decorative ideas for the home, you’ll find what you’re looking for here.

Choosing the right material for your DIY sliding door

When deciding on what material to use, you first need to figure out where you want to install the sliding door. Once you’ve done that, the choice is usually quite clear. A wooden door can provide a rustic or modern look, depending on the style of your home. A sturdy sliding door made from wood can be ideal for your garage or shed in the garden or yard, too. Or maybe you’ve been thinking about building a glass room partition for inside your home?

Whether you opt for wood, metal, glass or plexiglass, or even a sliding door built into the wall, the material you ultimately end up choosing is a matter of taste, your level of skill and, of course, the budget you’re operating on.

The advantage of building a sliding door out of wood is that it is not only easy to work with compared to other materials, but you can also create the desired look for nearly any ambience thanks to the different types of wood, grains, colours and glazes available. Wood is also highly versatile. It can be used in modern industrial spaces, in rustic country homes or for a sliding door in the same colour to match your wardrobe.

Tips for choosing the right accessories

Whether you are looking for an elegant solution to partition a large room, section off a storage space or shelving unit or simply want to save space by not having to leave extra room aside for opening and closing the door, sliding doors are a great option in many cases.

For do-it-yourself sliding door systems or DIY sliding doors there is a wide variety of accessories to choose from. Fittings, rails, door handles and much more are not only available in different materials, including brass, zinc, wood, ceramic and metal, but also in different colours and sizes.

When choosing accessories, make sure that they match the rest of the fittings, are functional and easy to clean, are simple to assemble and do not break the bank. If at all possible, ask an employee at your DIY store for their professional advice.