Image from the site investrussia-2012.com The dimensions, interior and arrangement of the room do not always allow the installation of ordinary interior doors. Designers, and even the apartment owners themselves, in pursuit of originality, are asking themselves what can replace a standard door. In this article we will tell you about all the possible options, you just have to choose what you like.
Why replace the door
The problem of rational distribution of free space in an apartment or house is an issue that interests many owners. People tend to resort to all sorts of tricks, thinking about how to close the opening. They buy a sofa bed and use a window sill instead of a table, that is, they limit the functionality of the furniture in every possible way and make life as uncomfortable as possible.
Image from pinstake.com
To prevent such a situation, you can save space by replacing a conventional swing door with other interior ceilings that save space and match the interior. There are cases when zoning of a room is necessary (studio apartment, large room that needs to be divided into zones), in which case interior floors can also help, some of which can be used as space dividers.
There are several replacement options, with each it is necessary to take into account a number of factors such as noise insulation, protection from odors, protection from prying eyes, the need to delimit the territory or the lack thereof. Instead of interior flooring, you can install:
- arch;
- curtains;
- folding structures;
- door-pencil case;
- compartment door;
- radius doors;
- roto-door;
- door-book.
Let's take a detailed look at each of the listed options, their pros, cons, materials of manufacture and methods of use.
Image from diadom.pl
Is it worth giving up the door to the kitchen?
The decision to abandon the door between the kitchen and the corridor or hallway has both positive and negative sides. So, some may be against such a design of space, since the smells of cooking food will be present outside the kitchen, and it will be completely impossible to retire here.
But advantages such as visual expansion of space and convenience for residents sometimes become the decisive argument in favor of abandoning the door to the kitchen. Moreover, zoning in this case can look stylish and original. Let's look at successful examples of organizing an opening between the kitchen and the living room or corridor.
Arch
The arch is the first thing that comes to mind when you are wondering about replacing a door. Naturally, you will not make an arch at the entrance to the bathroom, but if we are talking about connecting the living room with the corridor, then this option is perfect. The material can be anything - plastic, wood, metal, stone and even fabric. You can make an arch with decorative elements, for example, with stained glass inserts or wood carvings. The arch is ideal for delimiting zones in a room; it is often used when they want to make a minor redevelopment of the room.
Image from rekann.890m.com
An arch is not always an appropriate solution - if you like to listen to music loudly or watch TV late, then sound and light can prevent your household from getting enough sleep at night. The placement of the arch between the kitchen and the living part of the apartment is also questionable - pleasant smells are not always heard from the kitchen, and if there is no tightly closed partition between the rooms, the smell will spread throughout the entire apartment. You can make a through passage from the room to the balcony, in which case the room will increase due to the additional space, but in winter the room may be colder than the rest of the apartment. Undoubtedly, this is an original solution that many designers resort to, but this particular replacement option requires careful consideration and weighing of all the pros and cons.
Image from vipinterior.ru
Bamboo curtain - an effective solution for your apartment
You can also fill the kitchen entrance with a bamboo curtain instead of a door. On the market you will find models in natural shades - they are ideal for Scandinavian interiors, but will also complement the arrangement of an apartment decorated in a botanical style. A bamboo door curtain will also suit a modern space - all you need to do is choose an anthracite model.
Entering the kitchen without a door and with a bamboo curtain will allow you to hide unwanted views, but will not protect the apartment from smells or sounds coming from the room. This partition will allow you to enrich your interior design. You can choose not only single-color models, but also bamboo curtains with a pattern.
A bamboo curtain on the door will highlight the botanical decor if you choose a model in light colors or with a monstera motif. Are you looking for unusual interior solutions? Choose clouds or a butterfly design. You can add some holiday memories to your decor by choosing a curtain with a sunset over the sea theme.
Curtains
Curtains, with the help of which interior floors are created, are divided into several types:
- fabric;
- plastic;
- wooden curtains;
- thread curtains;
- blinds;
- roller blinds.
It is important to consider that curtains used instead of doors do not have sound insulation, rarely protect from extraneous light, and they completely absorb odors and pass outside the room.
Image from blog.drapestyle.com
Fabric curtains can be made of any dense and light material, dark, light, they can be long and not reach the floor - all this is at your discretion. Of course, such curtains cannot be placed in every room; it is also necessary to take into account the purpose of the room; for the entrance to the bedroom, for example, it is better to use light-colored curtains made of thick fabric. You can hang fabric curtains between the bedroom and the dressing room; thick curtains are used at the entrance to the kitchen. It is important to consider that curtains used instead of doors will quickly absorb all odors and gather dust, so they need to be dry cleaned regularly.
Image from the site medswiss.control116.ru
Plastic curtains are quite fragile and quickly deteriorate, but they are lightweight and their texture and color can be matched to any interior. As a rule, such curtains are installed at the entrance to the kitchen, but they practically do not protect against odors, light and sounds.
Curtains with wood elements are the most commonly used of all types of interior curtains. They are usually installed at the entrance to the kitchen, so as not to waste extra time when moving dishes, for example, to the dining room. Most often, natural materials such as bamboo are used to create such curtains. A limited choice of colors is possible - it varies from light milky to dark cherry, conveying or imitating the natural shade of wood.
Image from siskirulyat.ru
Curtains made of threads are used by designers to add additional lightness to a room; as a rule, such partitions are used in bright rooms in the Art Nouveau or Postmodern style. These can be threads with beads or figures made of glass, wood or plastic strung on them. If the figures or beads are made of glass, then the curtains will shimmer effectively in the sun and cast glare around the room. Most often, this type of curtain is used at the entrance to the kitchen or living room.
Vertical blinds. This type of partition is reminiscent of ordinary window blinds, the difference is that they are made of relatively durable materials and can only be positioned vertically. The material for the parts is plastic or wood, the operating mechanism is the same as for window blinds. Blinds can be installed instead of doors in all rooms except the bathroom and bedroom, so they will not hide from prying eyes what is happening on both sides. The disadvantage of such an overlap is that you will not be able to quickly get into the room; it will take about half a minute to open the blinds, and this is not entirely convenient.
Roller blinds are the thickest of all the above types of interior curtains. There are a lot of textures and colors; you can choose the appropriate option for any interior. At the bottom of the curtains there is a weighting part that stabilizes the position of the partition. However, quickly opening such a partition is impossible, as is the case with interior blinds.
Image from nakicphotography.com
Curtain made of beads instead of doors - is it worth using?
When considering what to choose instead of a kitchen door, consider beads. They are the ideal solution if you don't care about soundproofing. Instead of doors, beads will not protect the rest of the apartment from the odors of cooked dishes, but will diversify the arrangement of the space.
Instead of doors, a beaded curtain will look good in different interior design styles. Much depends on the color and shape of the elements that form the partition. A beaded curtain instead of a door will be suitable for an oriental style, especially if you choose a model in warm colors, such as red. Door beads will add variety to a glamorous space - a space full of splendor will be ideally presented with a transparent partition that looks like it is made of glass elements.
When choosing beads instead of doors, pay attention to how tightly the strings are spaced. This is important if you want to cover a room. Do you want to decorate your space in an original way? Door beads that hang on loose threads will also work in this case.
Folding structures
In common parlance, this type of partition is called an “accordion door,” and it is used more and more often instead of ordinary partitions in houses and apartments. The fact is that such a canvas saves room space, which is invaluable in rooms with a small area. You can also use the “accordion” as a screen, that is, to fence off one part of the room from another, highlighting areas for relaxation and work, if, for example, you have a studio apartment. Typically, such interior flooring is used at the entrance to the pantry, dressing room and bathroom. The materials used for such doors are wood and plastic, and in rare cases glass. Remember that without proper care, these canvases quickly become unusable and do not open completely. To avoid unpleasant situations, it is necessary to lubricate all moving elements with special oil every six months. As a rule, a locking mechanism is not provided for such a partition.
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How to close a doorway without a door
Some rooms in the house do not always need interior doors. If an area is not private, it does not have to be closed. Free doorways in the living room, kitchen, and hallway allow you to combine rooms and expand space. This happens by getting rid of the dead zone intended for opening the sash. However, the question arises - how to close the doorway instead of the door in order to purely visually separate one functional area from another.
Pencil door
This type of canvas refers to sliding structures. This is the most space-saving type of door - from the outside it seems that when opened it goes into the wall, but in reality it is a “trick” of the mechanism. It is installed with a built-in mechanism, the so-called “pencil case”, into which the canvas is hidden when shifted.
To install the “pencil case” you will need to make a hole in the wall where it can fit. The hidden part takes up space slightly larger than the width of the retractable part; this must be taken into account when choosing.
There is a huge selection of color, size, material and operating mechanism of this type of canvas; you can choose a model that suits your interior. The advantage of such doors is that there is no need to lubricate the moving mechanism. As a rule, installation companies provide a guarantee on their work for a fairly long period. This ceiling can be installed in any room, thanks to the easy opening method.
Doorway design ideas
The market offers a huge selection of materials for designing free door portals. If you cannot find products that will optimally fit into the interior, you can make them yourself from scrap materials. You can use any materials that are used for wall decoration. The cheapest option is plasterboard structures, the finishing of which can be paint or wallpaper. This finish is especially relevant when installing sliding systems or making an asymmetrical passage. Panels made of plastic or MDF are also inexpensive. The most expensive materials used to decorate doorways are stone, ceramic tiles, valuable wood, and gypsum stucco. As an alternative to the door leaf, you can use curtains from a variety of materials, blinds, and mosquito nets.
When selecting material for this type of work, it is necessary to take into account the general style direction of the interior. The design should fit organically into the design of the room.
Fabric curtains
Textiles are one of the most popular space dividers, which are used to decorate a doorway. They give the interior freshness, style and beauty. The main advantage of curtains is that they are an excellent decoration and a continuation of the design concept. Correctly chosen color, print and texture of the canvas are the key points that allow you to maintain the style of the room. Designers recommend using several panels to create an interesting composition. Don’t forget about accessories for curtains – tiebacks, tassels, decorative cords, lambrequins.
how to decorate a wooden door
With the help of such a decorative technique, it is good to decorate open spaces - if it is necessary to combine the room, the curtains can be easily pulled back and secured with tiebacks.
To create curtains, you can use both natural and synthetic fabrics. The first option is especially popular. Curtains made of cotton, linen, silk, satin, satin look expensive and emphasize the status of the apartment owner.
If it is necessary to ensure a sufficient level of thermal insulation, you need to choose the most dense curtain fabrics. All light and airy materials perform only a decorative function.
To fix the curtains, use ordinary window curtain rods or metal tubes attached to the wall above the opening. In the latter case, the curtains must be equipped with:
The tubular curtain rod should be easy to remove so that the curtains can be washed regularly.
Filament curtains
If you want to create a beautiful and extraordinary design for interior portals, you can use thread curtains. They are made from a huge number of synthetic cords. The threads are united at the top, and their ends hang freely. Such curtains can be used as an independent interior object or as an element of a composition in combination with other materials.
Thread products are made from high-quality polyester, which allows them to maintain their shape, integrity and attractive appearance.
Thread curtains can be decorated with lurex, beads, bugles, and large beads, which makes them even more attractive.
Curtains made of bamboo and wood
Curtains made from bamboo sticks or pieces of wood look great in an interior opening. Individual elements are painted in a specific color. It is possible to apply a large pattern to the entire canvas. The bamboo doorway curtain consists of approximately 100 bamboo beads. Sticks and pieces of wood are connected together with staples or wire. You can string them on fishing line or cords. In this case, a metal stop must be installed after each fragment to prevent it from slipping. The degree of transparency of the fabric depends on the size of the intervals for placing beads.
Such curtains are not strong enough, so they should not be used if small children and pets live in the house.
It is not difficult to secure such curtains. You need to nail them to the plank placed above the opening.
Blinds
Properly selected blinds are an excellent solution for decorating a passage. Models with drawings really decorate the room. The advantage of blinds is that they are easy to care for - they can be easily wiped or washed. Standard window models will not fit in size, so door products will have to be ordered. The color palette of the material is very diverse, which allows you to choose products to suit any room design. You can combine several colors and make an original composition.
For high traffic conditions, it is better to use vertical products - they are easier to move. If the room is visited infrequently, you can purchase horizontal analogues.
Roller blinds
The material of a correctly installed curtain is tightly adjacent to the door portal, so this type of curtain is very convenient. The material is very diverse in terms of stylistic orientation and proposed dimensions.
The products are equipped with a weighting agent, thanks to which they maintain a stable position when closed. The only inconvenience is that raising such a curtain takes quite a lot of time, so you won’t be able to leave the room quickly. Although, if you close the canvas only at night and keep it open during the day, this inconvenience is not felt.
Wood paneling
This type of decoration is an integral element of most historical styles. For finishing, oak, ash, pine, and hornbeam wood is used. You can purchase the parts ready-made. During installation, they are fixed using nails or self-tapping screws.
Decorative panels
An excellent decoration for classic interiors can be a decorative cornice protruding above the opening. It is called “sandric” and consists of stucco elements - moldings, bas-reliefs, and may contain fragments of statues. To make this decoration, gypsum and polyurethane varieties of material are used.
Decorative tiles
This type of cladding is significantly heavier than polyurethane and wood. At the preliminary stage, the walls must be leveled with putty. The adhesive is selected depending on the size of the tile. Lightweight modules can be attached using liquid nails. For weighty options, you will have to prepare a special adhesive mixture. They begin to veneer from the bottom, with breaks for each row to set. The seams are filled with grout in the same color as the tiles or in a contrasting color. In addition to tiles, you can use artificial stone or clinker tiles. A mirror design that will further expand the portal and fill the room with light will look great.
MDF and plastic panels
Using MDF panels you can create an excellent and affordable finish. You just need to choose trims and trims that are similar in shade. Among the disadvantages of such cladding, one can highlight the poor moisture resistance of the material. Therefore, it is better not to use MDF boards to decorate the passage to the kitchen. However, if there is good exhaust hood, dampness will not threaten the integrity of the finish. It will also protect neighboring rooms from the penetration of food odors. You can also protect the material with self-adhesive film.
Plastic panels, on the contrary, are ideal for decorating the passage to the kitchen, as well as to the hallway, where there is a high risk of mechanical damage.
The panels are attached with glue or lathing made of wooden slats. They can be easily cut with a hacksaw. The advantages of the material include a variety of colors and textures.
Anti-mosquito curtains with magnets
Mesh curtains are indispensable in the summer, when you need to protect yourself from dust and insects. They do not create barriers to air flow and open easily simply when passing through them. The curtains are connected using a magnet, which automatically closes after allowing a person to pass through. This is incredibly convenient if your hands are full.
Sliding door
These canvases also belong to sliding structures, but have a number of differences up to the pencil case door. In contrast, for a compartment there is no need to make a recess inside the wall; the mechanism will be mounted on the wall from the inside of the room. Accordingly, you will not be able to occupy the wall with anything on the side where the ceiling will move away when opened. Not the most space-saving option, but this mechanism is simpler than the previous one. They move quite noisily from side to side and the rollers sometimes jam, this must be taken into account when choosing. Floors with a mechanism for smooth and silent operation, as a rule, are much more expensive. Also, from an aesthetic point of view, we can say that a retractable mechanism that will be visible is not the best solution in the interior of the room. Such doors are also installed in any room, but most often at the entrance to the bedroom.
Image from the site katalogdverey.ru
A curtain instead of a door - a division that suits every style
You can fill the entrance to a kitchen without a door with a curtain. All you need to do is install the fishing line with hooks.
Curtains instead of kitchen doors are a good solution for small apartments where an opening door may take up too much valuable space. A curtain made of fabric will hide any mess after cooking, thanks to this, the unorganized space in the kitchen will not affect the appearance of other rooms.
A curtain instead of a door won't stop smells or sounds coming from the kitchen, but it will help hide unwanted views and add variety to the layout of the room. This type of partition will work in a separate kitchen, but it will also be a great way to hide an application if necessary. A curtain instead of a door will become a convenient decorative element if you attach the handle to the wall.
Curtains instead of kitchen doors should not be new. Fabric once purchased to hang in a window will work great. If there is little daylight in the interior, a thin curtain will do, which will protect the interior of the kitchen, but will also let in rays from windows, for example, from the living room.
Curtain and curtain instead of a door - is it worth choosing?
- The curtain instead of the door can be attached with clips or hooks,
- A fabric divider will be ideal for a small apartment,
- The curtain will allow you to hide the interior of the kitchen,
- It is worth installing a hook on the wall that will allow you to attach the curtain to the side,
- You don't need to use a new curtain. All you need is the fabric you no longer use in the window opening,
- Instead of a curtain, you can use delicate tulle - this is the best solution for a kitchen with small windows and little daylight.
A sliding curtain will help separate the kitchen from the rest of the apartment.
Radius doors
A separate point is worth writing about these overlaps. They have different shapes and curvatures, the classic shape is radial. But the shape can also be convex, concave, oval or round - it depends on your choice and the wall on which the installation will take place. Designers use such canvases in rooms where it is necessary to add a “zest”. According to the mechanism, they are suspended, lifting, folding and swing radius.
The disadvantage of this type of ceiling is the consumption of additional space and the high price due to its novelty, since this type of partition has only been present on the domestic market for three years. It makes sense to install them only in private houses or apartments with a large area and good lighting.
Wooden curtains
Roller blinds, bamboo curtains, thread curtains made of wooden beads and other decorative options can serve as curtains. They differ in colors and design features. The choice depends on the combination with the interior decor and interior of the room.
Curtains
The most widespread are bamboo curtains. Bamboo decor is practical and easy to maintain.
Thread curtains are made from nylon threads, onto which various wooden elements, beads, and cardboard parts are strung. The result is an exclusive design option for the door opening.
Roto door
An innovation in the world of interior flooring is this type. Their exclusive feature is the swivel-and-slide mechanism. This canvas saves space, opens and closes quickly and silently. When closed, it looks like a simple interior partition, but when opened, you can change its position as you see fit. The material for such a partition can be glass, wood, PVC, a combination of several types of materials is possible, but it is worth remembering that the lighter it is, the longer it will serve you. You can install this ceiling in any room; in terms of sound insulation, it is not inferior to ordinary ones.
Image from berta.salon-respekt.ru
What kind of doors should I put in the arch?
Since the arch is not pretentious in shape, rectangular, it is easier to choose a door for it than for a rounded analogue. As a rule, accordion doors or sliding doors are used to cover such an arched opening.
Interesting materials:
What happens if you sneeze into yourself? What happens if a number is divided by infinity? What happens if the discriminant is negative? What happens if you add oil to diesel fuel? What happens if jeans are washed at 90 degrees? What happens if you format drive D? What happens if you ignore the summons to the military registration and enlistment office in Ukraine? What happens if you ignore it in the messenger? What happens if you use old cement? What happens if you slam the refrigerator door?
Book door
In another way it is called folding. According to the mechanism of operation, it is similar to a folding structure, but unlike it, it folds once, while the “accordion” can have an unlimited number of folds. Another difference is the material and thickness. This canvas is made only from durable trees, and accordingly, its price is higher than that of an accordion. In addition, the sliding mechanism of the “book” does not need to be lubricated, it will not jam and will always open completely. Some models can be opened in two ways - like a regular door and by “closing the book”. This type of flooring can be installed in any room.
Image from lesomodul.ru
As you can see, there are many options for what can replace a regular swing fabric, but this is the case when the possibility of choice makes the task even more difficult. For each type of room there are more or less suitable interior partitions; the main thing is to take into account the features of the interior, the purpose of the room and the material side of the issue.
How to replace an interior door?
Consider alternatives to a standard swing interior door if you don’t want to install one or want variety. Also find out the pros and cons of these alternatives.
At the time of writing, some alternatives are used abroad and are just conquering the Russian market.
Beautiful design of the door space.
Pros:
Minuses:
Interior curtains, curtains and beads
This alternative to doors was popular during the Soviet era. They were made from scrap materials, such as paper clips and postcards. It turned out something like this:
Nowadays they also do it with their own hands, but there is more choice of material. For example, a curtain made of plastic covers:
There are these options:
Pros:
Minuses:
Perhaps, among the ready-made options, the best solution is curtains with glitter:
Bar style doors
They are suitable in cases where a full-fledged door is not needed, but there is a desire to simply decorate the doorway normally.
Pros:
Minuses:
You can also consider Dutch doors as an option:
Japanese panel cornices or vertical interior blinds
A trend in recent years: Japanese panel cornices, also known as curtains or blinds. They are more suitable for a large doorway or as a fence (zoning), for example, if you need to separate a room and a kitchen in one room.
Lovers of the traditional and for a small doorway can use interior blinds.
Pros:
Minuses:
Sliding doors
There are options in the form of a pencil case:
There are options in the form of an accordion (book), which may save even more space:
Pros:
Minuses:
The latest trend in sliding doors can be considered Japanese shoji, traditionally made from special washi paper, which is particularly durable. Modern manufacturers in other countries are replacing it with glass, plastic and other materials.
Glass doors
They can be hinged, sliding, in the form of an accordion or a “swing”, as well as transparent, matte or with stained glass.
Pros:
Minuses:
Roto and swing door
Differs in opening in both directions.
Pros:
Minuses:
For a large doorway, you can consider a standard pivot door:
Door in origami style
A door that can surprise. It works on the principle of swing doors. It consists of two interconnected rotating squares in origami style.
At the time of writing, the technology is new, so it’s most likely impossible to buy a ready-made solution. In some cities there are craftsmen who produce them individually, so the pros and cons of the door still depend on their skill.
PS Tired of the traditional swing door? Make it hidden. Disguise it as a big picture:
Paint it black and turn it into a blackboard:
Or make a closet door:
Another option: an invisible door disguised as a wall design:
Source
Photo gallery: the most successful doorway decor ideas
Let's look at some examples of successful design options.
Option 1. The simple shape of the opening with a curved upper end looks pompous and majestic, thanks to the classic columns along the edges of the portal. You can make such an arch from plasterboard. The presence of straight lines and the absence of complex decor allows you to maintain restrained proportions of the design. A single color with the walls outside and inside allows you to create a holistic interior.
Design of the opening for the kitchen Source lt.dikidaycare.com
Option 2. Stucco decor is suitable for spacious rooms. The arch allows you to combine two rooms - the dining room and the living room. And at the same time, it allows you to delimit rooms in accordance with their functional purpose. In any case, the overall space is perceived as brighter and more spacious. Stucco decoration is suitable not only for strict classical, but also for modern interiors, for example, Scandinavian.
Stucco molding and columns are appropriate to use in living rooms
But it is important to remember that such decor looks massive, and therefore looks organic on wide, high openings. If it is possible to adjust the width of the opening, then it is worth considering that for a small room it is better not to make a wide opening - it will look awkward and will upset the proportion of the room
White plasterboard archSource frombaltic.ru
Option 3. Decorating an opening with natural materials always looks impressive. The stone looks massive and is suitable for country or rustic styles. For a modern interior, you can choose artificial stone, which may look lighter, but at the same time creates the necessary texture. The contrast with smooth neutral walls looks especially impressive. This material has many advantages - it is easy to install, hides unevenness, does not require complex maintenance and has a long service life. You can choose an imitation of any stone existing in nature, even a very rare and expensive one.
Stone decorationSource no.aviarydecor.com
Option 4. An arch made of a wooden frame and stained glass can be mounted into an opening of sufficient width. This design looks light and elegant. It lets in light and visually expands the space. In this example, the shape of the arch follows the shape of the window, but is the main accent.
Doorway decoration Source maz-sirena.ru
Option 5. This arch is suitable for interior design in the Art Nouveau style. Smooth lines, a noble shade of wood and an elegant pattern on frosted glass emphasize the nobility of the design with a sliding door.
Design of an opening into a hall with two doors Source vplate.ru
