Installing a pocket door rather than a hinged door can free up an average of ten square feet of floor space, according to building expert Tim Carter, who considers the pocket door “one of the top ten most overlooked items when many architects and builders plan a home”. The doors were particularly common in Victorian homes to close off such areas as sitting rooms or dens; however, as architectural tastes changed, many of the hardware manufacturers went out of business. With improvement in the hardware and the growth of the market for condominiums and town homes, there has been a resurgence of interest in this space-saving feature. Modern residential uses include bathrooms, closets, laundry or utility rooms, or home offices.
A wall-hung variation is a sliding door, sometimes marketed as an “open pocket door”; this may be used where in-wall installation is impractical. This version is recommended for homes with disabled residents due to greater ease of opening.
One downside to pocket doors is hidden parts and hardware, which can make them difficult to replace or repair when something goes wrong. Fixing the problem might require removing the door and trim and opening up the wall.