Bi-fold bathroom door vs opening out?

[dizzyupthegirl86]

I’m in the process of buying a house (hopefully, still conscious it can all fall through, and it’s not been without its issues!) and am at the lovely stage of daydreaming about what to do with it.

The bathroom is quite small (8ft 5 x 4ft 5) with the door being in the middle of the long wall. Currently it opens into the bathroom but you have to close the door to get around to the toilet properly. It makes it feel very cramped so I’ve been thinking about changing the door.

Bi-fold is the obvious answer although someone suggested a normal door opening out onto the landing instead - I’m trying to think of pitfalls for both so I can make a decision!

It’s only me living there so not overly concerned about soundproofing issues. I don’t want a pocket door for similar reasons. The door, if opening out, would open onto the landing but basically block a cupboard when open - not the biggest issue in the world. I remember bifold doors feeling really rickety but I’m told they are much better quality these days!

Has anyone any experience of similar, and what’s worked for you?

I don’t want a pocket door for SEVERAL reasons, not similar!

We have sliding doors on our shower. Would that be an option?

Possibly, although only on the one side as there’s a radiator on the other side. How do you find it efficiency wise? I’d assume they’d be a bit drafty but could well be wrong!

I have the same issue, although your bathroom is a lot bigger than mine! I can't have it opening out as it blocks a bedroom door, but I'll look into bifolding perhaps. My brother has a concertina type bathroom door and I think it is quite rickety and a pain to open and close... Every tradesperson I've spoken too has pulled a face at bifolding as a suggestion though.

@Misty9

I have the same issue, although your bathroom is a lot bigger than mine! I can't have it opening out as it blocks a bedroom door, but I'll look into bifolding perhaps. My brother has a concertina type bathroom door and I think it is quite rickety and a pain to open and close... Every tradesperson I've spoken too has pulled a face at bifolding as a suggestion though.

Yes, maybe it’s the concertina type I’m remembering from years ago! I just think they look a bit cheap and scream ‘small bathroom’. Mine has a bath, which I’m keen to keep - would look bigger with just a shower, but I’d rather compromise on a door than a bath.

Equally I can’t recall ever being in a bathroom with a door opening outwards though!

Could you try French doors but half the size - like a Ta-da! I’m going for a wee!

Our upstairs bathroom - actually a shower room - has a door opening outwards. Can be a bit of a pain for walking past but the door is rarely left open, anyhow.

When we were house hunting, the house we viewed immediately before this one has bifold doors on a couple of rooms. Neither hung well and one of them wa so lopsided it simply wouldn't shut properly. I always think they have more potential for trapping little fingers, too

Our "cloakroom" door opens outwards. It means you've got a proper door, and since you'll be the only one living there, you don't have to worry about smacking someone passing by as you come out! I feel like you do about bifold. Can't help feeling they'd be rickety although I haven't seen any new ones. Hmm, I wonder why not.

I've got a bi-fold door in my upstairs bathroom and loo.
The door was here when we moved in - 30 odd years ago - AND it was a louvre door!
I well remember reassuring visitors that it could be a bit disconcerting as though you could see out from the bathroom end, you couldn't see in, from the landing end.
Their delightful children assured me that "actually, you can see in Winged, if you lie on the floor and look up"!🤣🤣🤣
We now have a non-louvre, bi-fold and it isn't a problem for us.
We often don't close the door at all as it's just the 2 of us.
We've extended the bathroom since we moved in but still have the bi-fold, as the issue of space, for us, is more important than anything else.
Have what works best for you, would be my advice.

Thanks all - i think I’m leaning towards normal door opening outwards, if it blocked a door to a bedroom I’d feel differently about it but it doesn’t.

Must admit I do like @BluebellsGreenbells idea... ‘and tonight matthew, I’m going to... have a wee’

What about sliding barn door?

I had to have a bifold door or I would have killed anyone coming up the stairs. It was pretty good but you might have to replace the doorframe if its the wrong way round or it wont work.

Normal door opening out. Out downstairs toilet does this and you can’t open the front door when doing so but it’s fine.

Ace. Can you get a smoke machine as well? Maybe a button that makes an announcement?

Best toilet ever!

@BluebellsGreenbells

Ace. Can you get a smoke machine as well? Maybe a button that makes an announcement?

Best toilet ever!

Smoke machine made me snort