Pocket door hardware trends - minimalist, smart & sustainable
The pocket door is one of the most popular interior design features in the modern home décor sector because of its unmistakably contemporary characteristics. In the 2020s we want smart products, we want features that have more than one use and we want features that are lean and efficient. And if we are talking about opening a pocket door, you can’t get more lean and efficient than a door that completely disappears from view. But more than that, the pocket door offers opportunities to redesign our home and create space, and in a cost-effective way.
So the pocket door is a perfect example of a 21st century design feature that offers multiple solutions. And while that neatly summarises the pocket door itself, we can also look at pocket door hardware and see a myriad of emerging trends that suit the modern world.
How pocket door hardware is reflecting modern day design trends
Pocket door hardware has developed sharply in the last decade, as the pocket door itself has re-emerged as a staple feature of modern homes. As we have looked for smart solutions around the home to maximise space, create new rooms and create flexible spaces, we have also looked at pocket door hardware to complement these contemporary designs and continue this drive for lean and efficient innovation. And here are some examples you can install with or retrofit to your pocket door systems from MB Direct:
Self-close accessory – The self-close accessory can be fitted to your pocket door to enable the door to close automatically once you have opened and passed through it. This is ideal if a door is located in a position where you are often carrying items, such as from a kitchen into a dining room. For this same reason, the self-close accessory is very popular in commercial businesses such as hospitality and healthcare. The self-close mechanism is also a very useful aid for people with accessibility or mobility problems, as they don’t have to physically interact with a door to close it.
Flush handles – Because the pocket door closes into a narrow ‘pocket’, ie. a wall cavity, there is not much room to play with and a traditional handle is likely to protrude too far from the door and cause an obstruction when attempting to open and close it. A flush pull handle is a small circular finger pull that sits in a recess in the door and hence sits flush to the door surface. This enables the user to open and close the door using their fingers, while there is no obstruction to the door sitting neatly in the pocket wall cavity.
Smart locks – These smart locks are a simple and effective mechanism typically used for internal doors, such as bathrooms, toilets and en-suites. They are a two-piece system that are simple to install and easy to use. A thumb-turn locking mechanism sits on the inside of the door, while the section on the outside of the door also has an emergency release system. The locks can sit almost flush to the door surface and hence won’t cause an obstruction like a traditional handle would. In this sense, the smart lock is the only security system you could use with a pocket door. The smart lock comes in a range of finishes to suit your internal décor, such as chrome, black and brass.
Touch latch handles – One of the issues identified with a pocket door is the potential to trap the fingers when reaching for a door handle in the narrow wall cavity. This is avoidable if you position the door to always protrude a few inches from the ‘pocket’ when fully open, so that a handle can be grabbed. But this issue is also eliminated by a touch latch system. This is a latch mechanism that is built into the leading edge of the door and hence is effectively invisible unless you are in close proximity to the door. A simple push onto the latch ejects the door from the pocket and enables you to use the flush pull handle as normal. In other words, the touch latch system enables you to use the full width of the door frame and you don’t have to compromise on space by leaving the door protruding from the ‘pocket’.
Soft close accessory – The soft-close accessory works to take control of the door closing action, so that it doesn’t slam shut. Instead it closes into the rest position softly and slowly. This prevents the door slamming and therefore prevents accidents, injuries, noise and damage. The soft-close feature helps with security and energy efficiency also, by ensuring a door is tightly closed.
Sustainable bronze – As designers respond to market needs in terms of sustainability, they have researched new materials and attempted to bring more sustainable products to the market. But they continue to return to one of the oldest materials in existence; bronze. Bronze is one of the most durable and long-lasting materials and should never require replacing. It is corrosion resistant and won’t degrade and as a closed-loop material it is 100% recyclable. Bronze is a copper alloy and hence its main ingredients, copper and tin, can each be sustainably sourced also, to minimise waste. Artefacts and relics from the Bronze Age are still standing today, and last much longer than steel, so architectural furniture fashioned from bronze is a good investment because it will effectively last forever.
Order your pocket door accessories and furniture from MB Direct
You can follow these trends and bring minimalist, smart and sustainable solutions to your home if you check out our pocket door systems, pocket door accessories and pocket door furniture at MB Direct and order online today.