Madelaine’s choice: BIFOLD DOORS
They are the best way to provide an access point to the outdoors, and flood your home with natural daylight
Bifold doors neatly stack together when opened, leaving a wide uninterrupted opening out onto a garden. ‘They help fill your home with natural light and increase the sense of space,’ explains Jordan Vincent, Architectural Project Manager at Schüco.
What are the benefits?
‘Bifold doors instantly transform a living space in a way that no other home improvement can,’ explains Victoria Brocklesby, COO at Origin. ‘They change the functionality of spaces, increasing natural light, and creating a seamless transition from inside to outside.’
Consider having a single opening traffic door, to avoid opening up the whole set (ideal for children or pets that want to access the garden). To enhance the seamless link from indoors to out, use similar flooring at the same level inside and outside the doors.
How much do bifold doors cost?
Just as there’s variation in how much an extension costs, bifolds have quite the range, too. For a more budget option, expect to pay around £2,000 for a three-door set of UPVC bifold doors. Also, installation will be extra – usually around another £600-800.
How many doors would I need?
Odd numbers look best – three or five are the most popular. If in doubt, it’s always best to go for the fewest number of panels possible so that you maximise the amount of glass, as more panels mean more visible frame.
Are bifolds secure?
As a large access point into your home, bifolds must conform to current security standards and the lead door must have a multi-point locking system. For extra peace of mind, invest in a lock featuring an anti-pick/drill cylinder.
Seating just outside adds to the living room space
IF YOU HAVE LITTLE ONES RUNNING AROUND, REQUEST FINGER- SAFE GASKETS TO PREVENT DOORS SLAMMING SHUT ON TINY HANDS
COLOUR STORY
You don’t have to have matching pendants – mixing up the colours creates a fun and playful look, especially in a busy family space. Choose contrasting colours for the shades, but do keep some continuity between them, for example, the material, such as metal, as shown here. Also, choose shades with a similar design aesthetic. For a more subtle approach, choose matching pendants in varying shades of the same colourway.