Designing new closet spaces can be a perpelxing endeavor. It's not easy trying to figure out how you are going to fit all your favorite outfits in such a tiny space. When it comes to picking out closet shelving, drawers and containers it seems like there are a million and one choices. In fact, there are entire stores like the Container Shop in Bellevue, WA devouted to selling bins and containers to orgnaize your closet space. Luckily, when it comes to your doors there are far fewer choices.

Bypass Doors:
Bypass doors are a great option for small spaces or for extra wide closets. Bypass doors do not require extra space to open because they slide over one another and multiple doors can slide on a single track. Often times bypass doors are made of steel and have a full mirror on one side, however almost any door can be made into a bypass door. The downfall of bypass doors is that only one side can open at a time which means you cannot access your full closet. Bypass doors are typically your least expensive option, however there is a huge range in the quality of bypass doors and hardware. The more heavy duty the door and track are the better. I would highly recommend using a track that is mounted above the doors, rather than a floor track. A bypass door that slips off its track everytime there is someting stuck in the track can get incredibly annoying.

Bifold Doors: 
One of the most popular closet door configurations is the bifold door. Bifold doors are made up of two small doors that are hinged in the middle. They operate on a track installed at the top of the door opening. Bifold doors are great for rooms where there is not enough room for double swinging doors. Bifold doors allow the entire closet space to open, unlike bypass doors.

Double Doors:
If you have the space, double doors are a great choice as closet doors. Like bifold doors, double doors open up the entire closet. The best part of using double doors is the durability. Rather than relying on a track system double doors are built on a full jamb and are attached with three heavy duty hinges. Because closet doors get a considerable amount of use each day, we highly reccommend this option if the space is available. Double doors also provide additional storage if you attach a shoe or Hanging Purse Rack to the back of the door.

When choosing doors for your home, consideration should be given to how different wood tones and surfaces compliment one another. Lately, I have noticed a trend I like to call the "Matchy Matchy" trend. The Matchy Matchy trend is born from the idea that all wood species should match in your home. Lately, I have been getting calls for birch and hickory doors because customers are trying to match their birch and hickory cabinets. In my opinion this is a huge mistake for two reasons.

The first is that too much of a good thing can quickly turn into a very bad thing. Think of it like a Hawaiian shirt. You can get away with wearing your favorite Hawaiian shirt and some khaki pants, but wearing your favorite Hawaiian shirt with Hawaiian pants, socks and hat is just wrong and the awesomeness of your favorite Hawaiian shirt gets lost amongst the rest of your Hawaiian attire. Doors are similar. Too much of one wood species in one room can be just plain wrong. Instead of overwhelming a room with too much of one type of wood, make your cabinets or doors a focal point by using contrasting accents.

The second reason to steer away from getting too Matchy Matchy is that it can get expensive. Doors are most commonly made from MDF, Hemlock, Mahogany, Pine or Knotty Alder. Once you start veering away from these basic choices, the prices and lead times start to climb.

The picture to the left works to highlight this point. Notice how the beautiful two panel arch top stained doors pop out at you because they are trimmed out with painted moulding. Had the homeowner decided to go with matching moulding to trim out his/her doors the door wouldn't pop quite like it does against the bright white moulding. Another benefit of using painted moulding is the cost savings. Paint grade moulding is almost always cheaper than stain grade moulding and by using paint grade moulding, the homeowner can also use paint grade door jambs, which can be a huge savings when ordering multiple doors.