Welcome to the Sugatsune Blog, where today we’re spotlighting our cabinet and closet folding door hardware systems.

Our bifold door systems are one of the pillars of our Folding Door Hardware collection, with a lot of positives to offer but not much market share inside designers’ imaginations. We’re changing that with some truly clever designs!

We think that updating closets with bi-folding door hardware is an underutilized solution in many remodels (and new builds), which we’ll be discussing today. All of the systems we’re showcasing today can be found in our Sliding and Folding Door Hardware Catalog.

• Note on Terminology: Bifold or bi-folding door hardware go by quite a few aliases: They are also known as accordion doors, concertina doors, partition doors, or folding doors. All of these names refer to a bifold door’s accordion-like opening and closing action.

Why Choose a Bifold Door?

Here is why you should consider bifold doors for your closet remodels:

1. Get Access to a Large Space All at Once

By far, the best reason for updating closets with bi-folding door hardware is their ability to give you access to the entire space at once. Ordinary doors can do this also, but can’t really get much wider than four feet, and their swing arc takes up a lot of space in the room. Sliding doors, meanwhile, also can’t do this unless they have pocket enclosures or a lot of exterior clearance.

But with bifold closet folding door hardware, you can get immediate, complete access to wide closets and other spaces. This is ideal for many applications, such as:

• Viewing, cleaning out, and/or displaying the contents of a closet (or cabinet or connecting room).
• Setting up a micro-office in a small home and keeping it out of the way when not in use.
• Making interior spaces look bigger by creating large openings between two rooms.
• Letting more daylight through an interior space.

2. Use Space Efficiently

Another reason for updating closets with bi-folding door hardware is the fact that these doors don’t take up much space when open. Each panel stacks neatly to the side in a compact manner that only requires a few inches of clearance on either side of the track.

In contrast to the efficiency of closet folding door hardware, an ordinary door takes up its full width out into the room or up against the wall whenever it is open.

3. Curate an Interesting Aesthetic

Folding doors create visual variety in a space. Many people find these doors to be aesthetically satisfying: They’re interesting to look at and are clean and elegant. Updating closets with bi-folding door hardware also confers a note of luxury, because these doors are uncommon and a bit more sophisticated than most doors.

Rediscover a Clever Design

Bifold doors were extremely popular from the mid-'60s into the early ‘80s, but they fell out of favor after that due to changing fashion tastes, cost-cutting in the construction and remodeling industries, annoyed adults who couldn’t keep the doors on their tracks, and upset children with pinched fingers.

Today these doors are uncommon enough that many people don’t even think about updating closets with bi-folding door hardware as being an option worth considering for a remodel. But there are signs that the bifold door’s fortunes are beginning to change. Existing fashions are fading out of style, and what’s old is becoming new again. Meanwhile, modern closet folding door hardware design has improved, which means better adherence to the track (or no need for tracks at all), smoother performance, easier operation, and fewer pinched fingers.

At Sugatsune America, we produce several bi-folding door systems, with our customary focus on durability, reliability, and smooth, superior performance for the end user. It’s time to think about updating closets with bi-folding door hardware again.

Take a look at these three bifold door systems:

FD30-F Folding Door System

The FD30-F Folding Door System is the folding door version of our FD30 Series Sliding Door System and offers a sophisticated modern take on the traditional folding door concept. The hinges permit angle adjustment for smooth performance and alignment, and the design includes a convenient and luxurious-feeling detent stop feature.

We’ve designed this closet folding door hardware system for ease of installation—always a relevant consideration when thinking about updating closets with bi-folding door hardware. The system includes a ceiling-mounted primary track and a floor-mounted guide track.

There are several variants of the FD30-F System, including:

• FD30UKP: Standard folding door with one fixed end (so that only the other end slides open and shut.
• FD30URP: Intended for use in room partitions, with people approaching from either side of the door. The door is free sliding in either direction, with a recessed door edge mount that is fully concealed from both sides.
• FD30UMP: Intended for use on cabinetry, armoires, and closets. The door is free sliding in either direction. The recessed mount is concealed from the front side of the door.

SDR-A84D Folding Door Hardware System

Our SDR-A84D Folding Door Hardware System delivers heavy-duty performance of up to 88 lbs. (40 kg) per panel while still offering smooth, quiet movement.

There are four main door configurations for this closet folding door hardware:

• 2 folding panels on each side.
• 2 folding panels on each side plus 1 hinged panel on each side.
• 4 folding panels on each side.
• 4 folding panels on each side plus 1 hinged panel on each side.

The SDR-A84D System is top-mounted with the bottom guide optionally available but not required and features an optional false ceiling mount recessed mounting solution that fully conceals the mounting hardware.

SFD Self and Soft-Close Folding Door System

This door folds itself!

If you’re thinking about updating closets with bi-folding door hardware but don’t want a track or guide rail to be visible, or for any reason you are not able to install one, the SFD Self and Soft-Close Folding Door System may be just what you need:

• SFD-3L-L: Leftward opening direction
• SFD-3L-R: Rightward opening direction

This cabinet and closet folding door hardware system are quite flexible when it comes to being usable in many different spaces, as there are no tracks and no guide rails—only a small ceiling-mounted mechanism similar in shape and function to a door closer.

Open New Doors for Your Project with Sugatsune America

We’re excited about our closet folding door hardware systems, and we think that updating closets with bi-folding door hardware is a great solution in many different situations.

Sugatsune America has over 6,000 durable, high-performance hardware components, with more added each year in response to the needs of developers, contractors, and other professionals.

Explore more of our door systems and hardware to see what else our hardware can do for your project, or contact us directly to discuss your project needs and get advice.