From saving space and maximizing natural light to increasing privacy, there are many ways that sliding glass doors can benefit your space. Plus, they look absolutely stunning—as demonstrated by these five looks from some of the West’s best designers.

Photo: Phil Crozier

Lofty Ambition

This second-storey space challenged designer Stephanie Brown. “I just couldn’t imagine walling off the staircase and having a door at the top,” she says. “We’d lose so much light, volume and openness.” Hence the iron-framed glass walls and sliding panel. This solution not only allows natural light to filter through to the first floor, but also creates a sound barrier between the two levels. Read more about this elegant, French-loft-inspired home.

Photo: Tina Kulic

Looking Glass

A custom sliding glass door helps to separate the front of this Vancouver home from the back—without closing it off completely. It’s a “door without being a door,” explains designer Annaliesse Kelly. The windows let the light in and don’t interfere with the sightlines between the sunken living room and the kitchen, family room and dining area. See the before and after renovation photos.

Sweet Suite

Is it possible to create a bright-and-airy vibe in a low-ceilinged basement? If you’re designer Angela Robinson, it is! She installed custom sliding glass doors—a modern take on traditional Japanese screens—to allow light to flow through. When the homeowners are craving a little more privacy than the glass panels allow, they can just draw the linen curtains. Learn more about this bedroom look.

Flex Space

Designer Sydney Carlaw (pictured above) replaced a solid wall with sliding black metal-framed glass doors to help incorporate the bump-out off the great room. Now, the multipurpose room can be closed off and used as a pint-sized sleeping space or opened up and enjoyed as a sunny nook. “People are drawn in here to read a book or, conversely,” use it as a place to crash,” she says. Check out the rest of this Yaletown condo.

Photo: Janis Nicolay

Good Work

Throughout this Kitsilano residence, there are dedicated areas for all of life’s little moments: a hidden wok kitchen for prepping dinner, a breakfast nook for before-school eats and a home office for getting things done. The latter features frosted glass sliding doors that help to maximize both private and natural light. Peek inside this Denise Ashmore-designed home.

Kaitlyn Funk

Kaitlyn Funk

Kaitlyn is a design-obsessed writer, editor and content manager based in Vancouver. When she's not busy swooning over gorgeous homes, you can find her reading, hiking and befriending as many dogs as possible.