By Melissa Dittmann Tracey, REALTOR(R) Magazine

Pocket doors are not only getting a chic makeover in recent years, but they really can be key to solving some design challenges in small spaces too. And for the “wow” factor, try a double-pocket door.

Pocket doors are those that slide right into the wall when opened. It’s like they were never there. You don’t have to account for a door swing like a normal door, which is a bonus in areas tight on space.

Pocket doors are hardly new. They’ve been around for ages. But they did once suffer from an image of looking flimsy and cheap.

That’s not today’s pocket door. The double-pocket pocket door has doors that slide open from either side, tucking into their corresponding wall.

There are many styles to choose from. For example, an all-white French door one with glass window panes allow more brightness and can dress up the doorway even when you want to close off a space.  Or, there also are some double-pocket doors that can stretch all the way to the ceiling for some added drama.

Pocket doors can be a great solution to section off closets, bathrooms, laundry rooms, or a home’s study. They also can add more privacy to a home with an expansive open floorplan. After all, the one growing gripe from homeowners with open floorplans is that their floorplans at time feel too open. The double-pocket door just may be one stylish solution to help solve that problem. And when the doors are tucked into the wall, you may never even known it was there.

Source: National Association of Realtors