Wardrobe with accordion doors

The wardrobe is one of the main elements of furniture, which is simply impossible to do without, therefore the modern market offers a wide variety of products. Among the most popular is a wardrobe with folding doors, which has become a worthy alternative not only to swing, but also to sliding models.

A wardrobe with folding doors is a modern solution for interior decoration. The main feature of such a product is its opening mechanism, which consists of:

• guides;
• sash fasteners;
• several canvases.

The doors are opened in such a way that the ribs between the canvases move forward. These parts are connected to each other by ordinary loops or strips of soft flexible material. The rails are attached from the top (and sometimes from the bottom for greater strength) to the door strips. The rail along them, most often, moves with the help of bearings. At the same time, if the model does not have side mounts, during installation you can choose in which direction the door will open.

The design features of folding doors give wardrobes many advantages over other models. The main advantages are:

• Full opening of the inner space of the cabinet. This is why folding doors compare favorably with sliding doors, since when you open the latter, you can see only part of the shelves, and folding doors open an overview of the entire contents.
• Compactness. Despite the fact that the folding sashes move forward. They still do not take up as much space as hinged ones, which allows you to put cabinets in close proximity to other furniture or in the corners of rooms.
• Multifunctionality. In addition to its main function - to hide the contents of the cabinet, folding doors can serve as a screen for changing clothes and an additional decorative decoration of the room.

• Ease. As a rule, folding doors are small in size, so this door system is much lighter than sliding and swing counterparts.
• Safety for flooring. During installation and during operation, the structure does not touch the floor, which means it does not pose a risk of damage to laminate, linoleum or any other coating.
• Interchangeability. If one of the door leaves breaks, there is no need to completely replace the structure. All sashes are interchangeable, so you just need to insert a new one instead of the damaged one.
• Silence. The use of bearings makes the process of opening and closing cabinet doors virtually silent.

Against the background of all these advantages, the disadvantages remain almost invisible. But still they are:

• In the case when only one guide is used, the leaves of the sliding doors can "walk".
• The greater the number of elements in the structure, the lower its strength.
• Compared to sliding doors, they still require more opening space.

The assortment of cabinets with folding doors is quite diverse and can be divided into several groups. The main division is carried out by the number of leaves:

• Very popular accordion wardrobe, which got its name from the fact that its doors are very reminiscent of a folk musical instrument. The number of canvases in such a door may vary. Moreover, the more there are, the smaller the width of the individual elements. A distinctive feature of such models is the ability to change the number of lamellas in them up or down.

• No less in demand and bookcase, the doors of which consist of two leaves. Parts of the door can be both symmetrical and differ from each other in width. Unlike "accordions", they are more durable, and therefore can be made of more massive materials or decorated with glass. Models with mirrored doors are in special demand, which can decorate any interior and can replace a dressing table, for example, when trying on a new outfit or styling a hairdo.

Modern furniture manufacturers offer wardrobes with folding doors from a wide variety of materials. Most often used:

• Plastic. Products made from this material are not subject to combustion and do not emit harmful substances, due to which they are considered one of the safest. They are very practical, as they are less susceptible to dirt than others and at the same time are easy to clean. In addition, the assortment includes a wide color palette of plastic models. And all this at the most affordable prices.
• Glass. Despite its apparent fragility, the glass bookcase is strong and safe enough, since tempered glass is used in its manufacture. Most often, glass is used only as a decorative decoration, which can significantly reduce the load on the fixtures and cabinet frame. Glass can be stained glass, frosted or sandblasted.

• Metal. Metal accordions are durable and practical. They can be painted in various colors, which allows them to fit into any interior.
• Rattan. An environmentally friendly material that gives both the product itself and the room in which it is installed an original and presentable look.
• Bamboo. Another natural material that has a lot of advantages. Often used in combination with glass or mirror inserts.
• Fabric and leather. It is used exclusively in "accordions". They can have a different texture and color, adding harmony and creativity to the interior.

Due to their originality and variety of models, products with folding doors fit perfectly into any interior - from classic to modern. Their design features make it possible to install such cabinets even in small rooms, in niches and on balconies. At the same time, they are perfect for hallways and kitchens, as well as for living rooms and children's rooms.

So, for example, a bookcase with colored plastic slats would be a good option for a children's room. In the kitchen, you can install a plastic model to match the color of the wall panels. Also, a metal model is perfect for the kitchen, which is not afraid of temperature drops and high humidity.

Such furniture will organically fit into the bedroom or study. The built-in wardrobe of the "accordion" or "book" type is quite capable of replacing a wardrobe, while saving space in an apartment or house.

In order for a wardrobe with folding door leaves to serve as long as possible, it must be chosen correctly. In order not to be disappointed in the purchase, experts advise what exactly to pay special attention to:

• Materials used.For guides, steel is considered the best option, and for sashes - MDF or plastic plates. It is worth considering here: the heavier the sash, the less durable they will be.
• The presence of frames on all door elements. Doors, lamellas of which are reinforced with profile frames, will serve their owners much longer. It is especially worth considering the reinforcement of elements with a mirror or glass inserts.

• Smooth operation and quietness of the system. When opening and closing doors, they should not creak, rattle, and their course should be smooth, "not stuck".
• The quality of the fittings. The best option is considered if all of its elements are made of aluminum or steel.

• Mechanism type. It is important to take into account that the support mechanism (with two guides) will be much stronger and last longer than the suspended one (with only one upper guide).
• The quality of all connections. The individual leafs of the sash should be tightly connected to each other without the formation of cracks and gaps. Also, they must be attached to the guides with high quality.

An overview of one of the cabinet models with accordion doors, see below.