Rustic versus Faux

What started as a way to accommodate smaller spaces has become a home renovation phenomenon. Everyone, from trusted renovation personality Bob Villa to property flipping shows on TV, is getting in on the craze, and it’s easier to join them than you would think.

Like with any trend, the two biggest questions to you is what are willing to spend, and what is the end result you’re looking to achieve? Real, rugged barn doors start at a few hundred dollars and go as high as a few thousand. And that’s before you spend money on the hardware. Faux barn doors, while cheaper, don’t achieve the same rustic flavor as the real doors. Before you make a huge purchase on your home renovation, it’s best to weigh the pros and cons of both types.

Rustic Barn Doors

Rustic barn doors, the ones that kicked the craze off, is what most people fall in love with when they’re house hunting. Having a big, heavy, rustic barn door is a dramatic way to contrast colors and styles, even in a small apartment setting.

Rustic barn doors are also the more expensive option. Whether they were recovered and restored, or custom built replications, these large rugged door options are going to cost more. However, the effects they achieve are unparalleled. Because of their size and thickness, they offer added versatility as sliding walls, shifting privacy areas, interior/exterior doorways, and any other creative ends you can think of.

You may have difficulty finding the right areas to hang traditional rustic barn doors. Their added weight can make hanging them properly a challenge, especially in an apartment setting. Also, finding the right hardware to support them may be an issue, especially on a budget. But if you’re looking to achieve the true effect of the interior sliding barn door, rustic is the way to go.

Rustic barn doors do achieve a lot more than what faux doors do. Their thickness and heaviness provides better privacy than hollow sliding doors or lighter materials can provide. Faux barn doors can really only be used as doors, while rustic barn doors are only limited by your imagination. While many may be fooled by a faux barn door, those who know craftsmanship will be able to spot a fake a mile away.

Faux Barn Doors

Sometimes the imitation works just as well as the real deal. Or, sometimes it just isn’t possible to go with the Real McCoy. In some living spaces, a faux barn door or even a custom built faux barn door can actually work better than choosing a rustic door.

With creating a custom faux barn door, you have a few more options available than choosing a rustic barn door. Although rustic barn doors come in a variety of different styles and lumber, they all have a similar makeup and use; to be heavy, durable, and rustic. With faux barn doors, however, you can choose far more options than just heavy lumber.

Faux barn doors can be created from wood, from glass, or even from your existing hollow sliding door. When you create a custom faux door, or have someone else make it for you, you can generally do it for the same price or less than what a rustic barn door would cost, even from the lower price range. Better still is the added customization options using a faux barn door would create.

Not every home can benefit from the rustic-ness of a barn door. But with a faux barn door, you can have better control over its style through its fabrication and paint. For instance, a glass sliding barn door would look great in a bathroom, while a heavy rustic barn door may not. If you want the effect of a rustic barn door but want to be able to soften its edges, you may want to choose a faux door instead. It’s also a better option for renovators on a tight budget.

Farm versus City

There’s no right or wrong way to use a sliding barn door. Both rustic and faux options are great choices. It all comes down to whether or not you’re trying to add farmland rustic style to your home, or whether you’re trying to add innovative metropolitan charm. If you’re looking for something that’s going to offer more than just “wow” factor, it may be worth going for the extra expense of rustic barn doors. They offer style and functionality, as well as added privacy. However, if you need to customize your home renovation, choosing a faux door is more affordable and let’s your style shine through.