Are Bifold Doors Going Out of Fashion?

Wonderful as their practical benefits are, picking bifolding doors is never a case of trading style for function. Here are some of the visual benefits you can enjoy when you install a bifold door set.

Their Own Striking Looks

The large glass panels, slim profiles, and sheer size of bifold doors make them an eye-catching feature in almost every living space. They can add personality to otherwise empty spaces and when you find a set of bi-folds that suit the style of your home they become a stunning design feature all on their own.

They Showcase Your Garden at Its Best

Installing a big set of bi-folding patio doors is a bit like having a glass wall, giving you uninterrupted views out across your garden. This obviously adds plenty of visual appeal to your home, but it can bring another type of joy too. Looking out across plants, grass and greenery is proven to have well-being benefits, and bifold doors give you panoramic views across these features in your garden.

They Fill Your Home With Natural Light

Another benefit that bifold doors bring to your indoor space is filling it with natural light. Bright rooms will feel bigger, fresher, and even cleaner than dark cramped ones will, helping you feel like you have more space indoors.

They Turn Your Home and Garden into One Flowing Space

Open plan living has been a popular trend for decades, but the last few years have really proved its worth. And turning the light, fresh space of your garden into part of your home is open plan living at its best.

It gives you space to stretch out, to entertain friends and family without feeling like your home is bulging at the seams. And even when you don’t have any BBQs and garden parties planned, there is no denying the appeal of using your garden as additional living space just for you.

People have all kinds of suggestions about why bifold doors are no longer popular. Many of these are subjective, down to personal preference, but some are practical and can discourage people who otherwise love the look of these patio doors.

However, many of them are not as cut and dry as they might appear. Here are a few common reasons people decide against bifold doors, as well as explanations about why they may not be as insurmountable as you expect:

Energy Efficiency

Glass is one of the worst materials around when it comes to insulating against heat loss and installing bifold doors means replacing energy-efficient bricks with a lot of glass. But choosing bifold doors doesn’t have to mean sacrificing your heating bills for style, as many features are available to help you improve how energy-efficient bifolds are.

Double glazing, low e-coatings, and thermal breaks can all help make bi-folds better insulated. They won’t quite match the insulation of bricks, but they will have plenty of benefits that a solid wall can’t match too.

Security

Whether you pick sliding doors, French doors or bifold doors, choosing patio doors is always going to impact the security of your home as they have so much more glass than a single door. Glass is weaker than a brick wall so, in turn, your house is less secure.

Of course, the same is true of windows but you won’t see many homes surrounded by unbroken walls.

There are plenty of things you can do to make sure your bifold door set is a secure addition to your home. From double glazing to toughened or laminated glass that strengthens it, to dressings such as blinds and curtains to obscure views into your home, external glass doors can still be a secure addition to your home.

Bifold doors are available in a range of materials, designs and styles meaning you can usually find a style to suit any home.

When it comes to period homes in populated areas, such as Victorian townhouses or industrial-styled spaces, there is no denying the beauty of black heritage-style bifold doors. More than just an access point, they create a beautiful feature for your interior design, offering another design aspect beyond your furniture and decoration.

For more modern properties, aluminium bifold designs with slim frames can help grow your space. By opening out the views across your garden they can reduce the boxy feel that many new build homes suffer from while bringing lots of beautiful light to any room already designed to feel open plan.

One incredibly attractive benefit to folding doors is that estate agents suggest bifold doors can add value to properties.

This is mainly because they help homes feel so much bigger and brighter. While a new set of doors (internal or external) will always add an attractive polish to your home to appeal to buyers, homes with larger, light patio doors tend to be valued higher than homes with simple single doors.

If you are looking to sell your home, throwing bifold doors open on a warm summer day is a great way to showcase your home as a fresh, airy space. Open folding doors will help the space feel more open plan, which always contributes to a higher property value too.

When it comes to looks, the choice between bifold doors, sliding doors and French doors is a subjective one. They each have their unique appeal, from the classic elegance of French doors to the sleek, understated look of bi-folds. There is no way of saying that one of these patio doors looks ‘better’ in all circumstances.

The same goes for the practical benefits of each door style. Each type has its own benefits, own drawbacks, and settings they are better suited to. Sliding doors make the ultimate space-saving option, as these slide doors open completely within the opening of the door. But though they take up less space, visually they don’t hold the same impact as bi-folding doors do. Folding doors make an excellent alternative where style is concerned as they still save space.

If you’re struggling to decide which type of patio door is best for your home, take a look at our guide comparing bifold, sliding and French doors here.

Architecture, like fashion, is constantly subject to change – bifold doors will inevitably follow that flow. This is the same for every type of patio door, every door, and every design decision you make for your own home.

If bifold patio doors look good in your home the day they are installed, they will continue to look good for decades to come. And you will be able to enjoy the benefits of combing your indoor and outdoor spaces with this flexible door style.