Which Door Is Best for a Bathroom?

When you're remodeling a bathroom, the focus is often on the bathroom suite. Can you squeeze in a claw-foot Victorian tub? Would a rainfall shower be a revolutionary investment?

Then there are tiles, towels, and storage to consider. Not surprisingly, bathroom doors are often a last-minute decision, chosen after a moment of thought.

That's a shame because the bathroom door and its handle can make a big difference in the look of your room, as well as bring additional functionality. For example, opaque glass bathroom doors bring in extra light, while laminate doors are virtually maintenance-free. Bathrooms tend to be smaller, so sliding doors are a great space-saving option.

When choosing a door for your bathroom, there are many things to consider besides the design of the door. This article will explore things you may need to consider, including door material, which type of door will best meet the needs of your living space, and other door features you may want.

When picking out a new bathroom door for your home, the first thing you should consider is what is the bathroom door made of?

As with all interior doors, there are a variety of materials to choose from, but bathroom doors do have special requirements.

This is a door guaranteed to get a lot of use, so it needs to be strong and durable. Bathrooms are prone to spills of viscous liquids like cleaners, moisturizers and medications, so an easy-to-clean surface is always a bonus.

In the end, it needs to provide privacy, and a solid structure is also a bonus.

Choosing the right material can be key. Here is a list of common interior door materials you can choose from:

Laminate is another popular choice for bathrooms. The laminate surface resists moisture and prevents the door from swelling, warping or rotting.

Another benefit is that the laminate surface is very easy to clean. You don't have to worry about soap scum splattered on the back of your door drying out - laminate doors allow you to easily wipe off any residue without straining or damaging the door. Even tough toothpaste residue should resolve quickly.

As for which laminate is best for a bathroom door, that will be a personal decision. Pre-coated laminate doors come in a wider range of colors than wood doors, including grays and blacks. This makes them a great choice for modern, minimalist or Scandinavian room designs.

If you're looking for a traditional wood finish, many laminate doors also incorporate rich woodgrain patterns into their designs. Classic white doors are also an option.

Laminate and wood bathroom doors are the most popular options, but there are other options including PVC doors, steel doors, and fiberglass doors. All of these modern door materials have their own advantages, but one of their main disadvantages is that they are more difficult to source. Especially steel bathroom doors can also be expensive. You need high-quality products that can stand up to moisture and humidity.

The bathroom is usually the smallest room in the house, with just enough room for the actual bathroom suite. Extra space is often at a premium, and extra storage is a priority for any spare footage.This makes your bathroom the perfect place to experiment with space-saving door types such as pocket doors, sliding doors, and folding doors.

Internal sliding doors are a great option for bathrooms because they take up hardly any space.

Hanging from the top rail, it simply slides parallel to the wall when you open the sliding door. That means it doesn't take up any floor space at all. This is definitely a plus for the smallest room in the house.

However, the main disadvantage of this type of interior door is the visible mechanism. Pair a rustic, eye-catching bar with bracket and ledge shed or barn style doors and you've got wonderful country character. But in more stylish, minimalist interiors, it can appear bulky or obtrusive.

Pocket doors work on the same principle as sliding doors, moving along tracks to open. The difference is that pocket door tracks run inside the wall. Thus, when the door is open, the door itself will be hidden.

The work required to make pockets for this type of door can be very expensive. It can also be invasive. Especially when you consider how important the bathroom is to any home.

However, pocket doors do look stunning and bring a sleek, stylish feel to any home. And they are very convenient because they hardly take up any space.

They're an excellent choice if you've already invested in structural or more in-depth reconfiguration of your bathroom.

Folding bathroom doors are another great option for saving floor space. These doors consist of a number of small panels lined together that open by folding back.

Wood bi-fold doors can be an expensive option, but they do offer the convenience of a pocket door without as much installation work. They open fully at doorways, which means you don't lose space inside or outside the room.

They can even free up space on the walls for pictures, mirrors and towel rails, which can all be used in a bathroom.

Bypass double doors in the bathroom are a kind of door that slides on a track. They have two or three pieces of glass that move. They are common and cheap, but they also have some bad points. 

One of good things is that they do not take up much space because they do not need a place to swing open. And they are easy to find and not very expensive, especially if they have metal around them . They are also flexible, can be used on both bathtubs with showers and some showers without bathtubs.

Of course, there are some cons during the real use, they can get dirty and wet in the track at the bottom, which can make them rusty, moldy, and smelly . The track at the bottom also needs to be sealed and checked often to stop water from leaking. The noise they make when the glass pieces touch each other, which can be annoying. Besides, they make it hard to get into the shower, because only one glass piece can be opened at a time. This can make it hard to clean the shower or help someone who needs help.

If "saving space" isn't your thing, installing a set of French doors in your bathroom allows you to turn your doorway into a grand entrance.

French doors come in pairs, which means they're not a particularly practical option for small homes. They do make an impact though, turning your doorway into a full function. Having both doors open also helps to blend the two spaces, which would be a delightful option for an ensuite in the master bedroom.

Opting for a door with glass panels is a great way to add a little decorative flair to your door without picking up a paintbrush or opting for a complicated design that can be detrimental to aging. The stained glass panels especially add to the beautiful design.

Another benefit of glass in the interior doors is that it allows more natural light to flood the room. Since bathrooms tend to be small and dark, the added light can be a great benefit.

But there is also a downside to installing clear glass windows on bathroom doors. This is one room that you usually want to keep private.

One way to get the best of both worlds is to use bathroom doors with frosted glass panel doors. Frosted glass still lets in lots of extra light, but also blocks views and protects your privacy.

Alternatively, you can use interior panels with opaque glass. Opaque glass doesn't let much light through, but it reflects up to 66 percent of light, which will help create an airy, spacious look in smaller spaces.

Another thing you need to consider in order to protect your privacy is whether to use a lockable bathroom door or an unlocked bathroom door handle.

This is a personal choice and there is no specific reason why the bathroom door cannot be without a lock. However, if you are happy with such a door, you should also consider any other residents, even guests in your home. Will they be that comfortable?

Of course, if you do choose to use a locking system, you'll need to choose the right system. If privacy is a very important concern, then you will want a bathroom door without a keyhole for complete privacy.

If you're looking for a keyless bathroom door, there are other simple lock types you can use.

Thumblocks and other small basic locking devices are great for bathroom doors. They are effortless to use and easier to install than complicated locks with keys. They can also be part of the handle, making installation even easier.

Mirrors are always useful in a bathroom, and installing mirrors on bathroom doors is always a great way to save space.

The only benefit a mirror brings to a bathroom is more than being able to see your own reflection. Smooth surfaces also reflect light, and mirrors can make a small space feel larger and brighter.

Any bathroom used for bathing always benefits from maximum ventilation. The humid, steamy air created when using hot water can breed dampness and mold in small bathrooms, and even towels can cause this as they dry.

That's why it's always worth considering buying bathroom doors with built-in ventilation. Passive airflow grills can be added to most wood doors, whether they are hollow or solid.

"Does the bathroom door have to open outward?" There is no fixed answer to this question. Most interior doors are blank, without hinges or pre-cut grooves. This gives you complete control over how it hangs.

Therefore, it is up to you to decide in which direction the bathroom door should open. If you have a small bathroom, it might make sense to open the door outwards. However, many, if not most, bathrooms open onto hallways, which makes doors that open outwards very awkward and obstructive.

Another thing to consider is how much clearance does the bathroom door need? As with all interior doors, you need enough room to open them fully to prevent damage to the doors from impacts.