This might be my favorite project yet — and I say that a lot — but our latest DIY really deserves the praise. We replaced the old, awkward swing doors in our master suite with smooth, stainless-steel sliding barn doors, and the result transformed the room. The new doors add character, depth, and considerably better function.
If you remember the early planning stages of our master bedroom, installing sliding barn doors on this wall was one of the first ideas. For two years we lived with a door that swung into the master bathroom and repeatedly slammed into the shower door, causing a minor traffic jam. Our closet door swung inward too, eating valuable wall space we could have used for storage. Converting these doors to sliding barn doors was both an aesthetic choice and a practical one.
Why we chose a store-bought track
We briefly considered building our own track from individual hardware pieces, but we wanted the doors to operate quietly and glide smoothly — especially since one of us is usually tiptoeing around in the house at odd hours. Choosing two stainless steel track kits from National Hardware simplified the process and delivered reliable, silent operation. Using a purpose-built kit also reduced the time and potential headaches that come from fabricating a custom track.
Supplies used
- 2 stainless-steel sliding door track kits (National Hardware)
- 2 doors (we used hollow-core doors we previously distressed)
- Connecting track adapter (for two tracks joined together)
- Header board: 2×6 or 1×6 (we used a 2×6 and later decided a 1×6 might have been neater)
- Paint to match trim
- Measuring tape, level, pencil
- Power drill and 2.5″ interior screws
- Ladder
We began by leaning one of the doors flush against the wall and measuring 2.5 inches above it to locate the placement for the header. The header was simply a whitewood board from the lumber section that we painted to match our trim. If you prefer a slimmer profile, a 1×6 works well; we used a 2×6 and found the doors protrude about an inch from the wall as a result.
With the header aligned to our mark and leveled, we secured it to the wall using 2.5″ screws into the wall studs. Because we had two doors and a long opening, we used two tracks and a connector to create one continuous track across the header. The track kits come with mounting brackets and hardware, so installing the rails in the center of the header was straightforward.
Attaching the hardware and hanging the doors
Each kit includes a template for marking roller locations. We followed the template to position and screw the rollers into the tops of our hollow-core doors. After attaching the rollers we lifted the doors and set them onto the track. The rollers engage easily and the doors slide effortlessly once hung.
We still plan to add handles and a locking mechanism, which I’ll share in a follow-up post, but even without those finishes the doors look and operate beautifully. They fixed the layout issue with the bathroom door slamming into the shower and freed up closet wall space while adding a strong decorative statement to the room.
Final thoughts
Choosing a ready-made track kit saved time and ensured a quiet, dependable operation — exactly what we wanted for a bedroom that needs to accommodate both an early riser and a night owl. The stainless-steel hardware complements the modern farmhouse style that runs through our home, and the doors add both personality and practical improvement to the space.
I’ll share a full room tour with a complete budget breakdown and source list soon, but if you want to follow the makeover from the start, you can find the progress updates and related posts listed below.
- Modern Rustic Master Bedroom Design Plan
- Finding the Perfect Nightstands
- The Trick to Get Designer Paint Colors on the Cheap
- DIY Planked Board and Batten Focal Wall Installation
- DIY Planked Board and Batten Focal Wall Reveal
- 3 Must-Do Tricks to Upgrade Plain Windows
- New Rug in the Master Bedroom
- Beginner’s Guide to Painting Upholstery
- How to Distress Hollow Core Doors
Have you installed barn doors at home? I’d love to hear about your experience — what worked well and what you’d do differently next time.
