After some inspirational bi-fold doors ideas to get your project started? Look no further…
Bi-fold doors are a hugely popular option for homeowners of all kinds of house styles, from those looking for the perfect way in which to introduce extra natural light into a traditional-style home, to people wanting to enhance the sleek lines and architectural details of a highly contemporary property.
Not only do bi-fold doors ensure a plentiful source of natural light, but they hold many other benefits too, some of which we highlight here with these brilliant bi-fold door ideas.
One particular use for bi-fold doors that has seen an increased interest in the last year or so is the way in which they can help when it comes to home working. With so many of us now using our homes as offices, natural light and a strong connection to our gardens or external surroundings is hugely important in ensuring our work spaces are productive and our mental health supported – bi-fold doors are one of the best ways to ensure both and here, we take a look at some of the best bi-fold door ideas for achieving this.
What are Bi-fold Doors?
Before we get stuck into our selection bi-fold door ideas, it is important to know exactly how bi-fold doors work.
Lying somewhere between sliding doors and French doors in their operation, bi-fold doors offer the best of both worlds, saving space while opening up walls. They consist of multiple leaves, or panels, which open by sliding and folding up against one another, like a concertina. They run in a track, usually sunk into the floor.
Depending on the configuration you opt for, some sets of bi-folds have a ‘lead door’ that allows access to the outside without opening the rest of the other bi-folds. Configurations with more than four leaves and without lead doors can open from the middle, splitting the set into two, with the central set of doors giving access. More on this can be found in our doors brochure that can be downloaded here
Bi-fold Doors Ideas
If you are considering bi-fold doors for your home but are struggling for inspiration, you’ve come to the right place. Here, we offer you a round-up of the best bi-fold doors ideas out there, no matter what type of project you are undertaking. From extensions to self-builds or even a simple update, external makeover or remodel – we’ve got you covered.
1. Bi-fold Doors for Extensions
Building an extension can completely transform the way you live in your home, as well as significantly increasing its value. There are a whole host of considerations when it comes to extending your home, not least how the new space will connect to and affect your existing spaces.
One of the main concerns of those extending is how to draw in natural light to their new space and how to ensure that the new section of the house won’t block light from other rooms.
The majority of extensions, both single storey extensions and two storey designs, tend to be at the rear of the house, meaning you need to think through how the new addition will connect to your garden.
Using bi-fold doors for extensions is the ideal way of ensuring both of the above issues are dealt with, flooding the entire new space with natural light and providing access and views of the great outdoors.
When using bi-fold doors for extensions, it is a good idea to consider combining them with internal bi-fold doors too – the two work well in combination to ensure the light brought in by the bi-fold doors in the extension flows right through the internal bi-folds to any existing spaces beyond.
The size of your extension should influence the number of door leaves you opt for when it comes to specifying your doors. In general, the bigger the better as large amounts of glazing not only allows you to open up the entire space to outside, but will also increase the sense of space within. You will need to discuss this with both your architect as well as your supplier and, in some cases, a structural engineer as supporting steels will be required.
2. Bi-fold Doors for Kitchens
There is a good reason why bi-fold doors for kitchens are so popular – most of us now view the kitchen as the nerve centre of the home, a space for practical tasks like cooking, but also as somewhere for family and friends to come together socially. The open plan kitchen diner has become something of a must-have for modern lifestyles and, on top of this, many people now find themselves using their kitchen islands or dining tables as home offices too.
What all of this means is that it is more important than ever for our kitchens to be well-lit and a pleasure to spend time in. Bi-fold doors for kitchens just make sense — of course they create a bright, airy and spacious feel, but from a practical perspective, they make carrying out everyday tasks that require plenty of light, such as food preparation or even the children’s homework, far easier. Finally, when the warmer months come around, our gardens become outdoor dining spaces – bi-fold doors can be fully opened up to create one seamless space between your kitchen and garden.
Ensure your kitchen layout is designed so you can enjoy the view out to your garden, patio or terrace from wherever it is you find yourself spending the most time, whether that’s the kitchen island, breakfast bar, or dining table – you don’t want to have your back to your bi-fold doors for most of the time.
3. Bi-fold Doors for Conservatories
Whether you’re designing a new conservatory from scratch or want to give an existing structure a more modern facelift, bi-fold doors for conservatories are a brilliant idea.
In existing conservatories, replacing old French doors for bi-folds will not only mean the space has better views of the garden beyond, but also affects how the space can be used all year round, making the room feel part of the outside space when the doors are fully opened. Updating old doors with modern, aluminium bi-folds will also ensure greater thermal efficiency, meaning the space can be used throughout the year.
Often, bi-fold doors in a conservatory are used in combination with matching fixed windows for a unified look, or used as two-sets that lie adjacent to one another on either side for maximum views.
Bi-fold doors for garden rooms and bi-fold doors for summerhouses are an equally good idea – the role of both these types of outbuildings is to ensure maximum enjoyment of the garden, no matter what the weather. If you intend to use your garden room or summerhouse as a home office, bi-folds will ensure a well-lit and productive workspace too.
4. Combining Bi-folds with a Roof Lantern
If there's one bi-fold door idea that tops the wishlist for those on the hunt for a super-stylish way to flood their homes with natural light, it is combining bi-folds with a roof lantern.
Roof lanterns have become an increasingly familiar design feature of both new homes and flat-roofed extensions – adding an exciting architectural element and a sense of height, as well as pulling down bright light from above. Often described as conservatories in miniature, roof lanterns are a 3D take on the rooflights that were often used by the Victorians, and have now firmly secured a place in contemporary house design.
Combining bi-folds with a roof lantern is a great idea for three reasons. Firstly, in large, open plan spaces, it means extra natural light – often much needed in more spacious areas to prevent the rear feeling too dark. Secondly, this combination really does increase the sense of space, even in more compact homes. And thirdly, when viewed from the outside, this pairing transforms a flat-roofed extension from ordinary to visually striking.
Combining an aluminium roof lantern with aluminium bi-fold doors is the perfect way to ensure a sleek, cohesive aesthetic.
5. Internal Bi-fold Door Ideas
Perhaps you’re in the throes of designing a new extension or maybe your existing layout isn’t working the way you had hoped, or suffering from a lack of natural light – whatever your reasons for seeking our internal bi-fold door ideas, they are a great solution for all of these dilemmas.
While open plan layouts work well on many levels, there are times when it can be nice to have the option to close off sections of the space, perhaps to allow for a restful area away from everyday hustle and bustle or to close off a slightly cluttered playroom space once the children are in bed. This is where internal bi-fold doors are a great idea.
They are also an ingenious way to section off an area in which to create a new home office, allowing for a quiet space that feels separate from the rest of your layout, giving a much-needed distinction between professional and family life – something that can be lacking when working from home.
On a practical level, for those after space saving ideas, internal bi-fold doors tend to be preferable to internal French doors. They require no outswing space, instead folding neatly up against one wall, taking up no additional room.
Those after a contemporary, sleek finish could consider aluminium internal bi-folds, whereas anyone after a more classic feel that ties into their existing decor might prefer a natural woodgrain finish, as used in this remodelling project. Origin manufacture using a premium grade aluminium but offer realistic woodgrain finishes, enabling you to get the benefits of aluminium with none of the maintenance that wood tends to require.
What are sightlines on Bi-fold Doors?
Sightlines are the glass-to-glass measurement of bi-folds – the distance between the edge of the pane of glass on one door and the pane on another, or, in other words, the width of the two frames of the doors where they join one another. The slimmer the sightline, the better, as less frame means more glass and so more light and a better view. An additional benefit of Origin Bi-fold Doors is that we offer two sightline options: 110mm and 154mm.
If you have been inspired by our bi-fold doors ideas then take a look at our range of bi-folds. Once you have found your dream doors, use our find an installer tool to get your project underway.