Double pocket doors - when and why you should install them

Installing pocket doors into your home or workplace can have a transformative effect. You already know that the pocket door provides a dramatic space-saving function, compared to a traditional hinged door, and naturally this benefit is doubled if you opt for double pocket doors.

What are double pocket doors?

A single pocket door is one door that slides into a ‘pocket’ in the adjacent wall, while double pocket doors use the same system, but are a set of two doors which open in different directions, and hence you need a pocket door frame system on both adjacent sides of the door opening. This therefore requires much more consideration as there is a requirement for much more wall space to be able to accommodate a double pocket door system.

When would you use a double pocket door system?

There are lots of different scenarios where double pocket doors are more advantageous than single pocket doors. Assessing these situations also quite neatly explains the benefits of double pocket doors at the same time.

• Maximising space – Where there is a need to maximise space in a large room, double pocket doors answer this need two-fold. Because the doors are not swinging into the room as they open, this means you can use the space immediately in front of the doors. This is a great benefit for single doors, and where you use double doors, you get additional space in both areas of the room where the doors would normally open.
• Open plan flexibility – In an open plan setting, normally on the ground floor, double pocket doors enable you to open and close space as and when you need to. You are able to seamlessly transition between open spaces, perhaps between a living room and dining room, or between a kitchen and dining room, and then at other times you can close these areas off. This brings a new dimension to a family home and is great for entertaining or for large family occasions such as Christmas and birthdays.
• Temporary home office space – Many people use double pocket doors to close off space in a larger room, such as when you have a need for a home working space. This could be in a larger room that has another purpose in the evening or at weekends. Perhaps it is a dining room or a living room at other times, but during the day you can close the double pocket doors, divide the room and create a more intimate, private and peaceful home office space.
• Hospitality – Double pocket doors are frequently used in hospitality settings, such as hotels and restaurants, to create different dining spaces or to separate kitchen spaces. These can be more exclusive dining rooms, or in a hotel they could be entrances to event spaces or meeting rooms. These are often larger spaces with a grander entrance, but it is important to have a sufficiently wide opening to accommodate a larger volume of people moving in and out of the room.
• Commercial offices – In a commercial office you often see double pocket doors used for a variety of purposes. This could be for an open plan office where many people are situated, for a training or demonstration room where lots of people congregate and large product and equipment is needed to be transported, and double pocket doors are often used for boardrooms. This provides a large and prestigious opening, which gives the room status and grandeur. With boardrooms, these are often glass pocket doors which can be customised with a company logo. In meeting rooms and training rooms, you often have a larger volume of people moving between the room and adjacent corridors, and hence you need a wider door opening.

Choosing double pocket doors for your needs from MB Direct

So double pocket doors are an ideal solution where you need to maximise space, and where you need to connect larger spaces. The double pocket door gives you options to open and close spaces temporarily, which provides great flexibility and enables you to use the same space in a variety of ways.

At MB Direct we can supply double pocket doors as standard doors, fire doors and glass pocket doors. We can also supply double pocket doors in the Syntesis style, which is the flush-style pocket door that has no surrounding architrave and looks sleek, minimalist and contemporary and is ideal for use in a commercial setting. Our sales experts can advise on the benefits of double pocket doors and the installation considerations you need to make, so select the items you need and order online with MB Direct today.