In a small space where every inch counts, minimizing the number of doors swinging out into hallways or other rooms can help make a home feel open and airy. Pocket doors, which slide in between walls on specially designed hardware tracks, are a streamline, and often overlooked, solution.  

“I love to work with pocket doors for bathrooms in smaller spaces,” says designer Carolin Friese, owner of House to Home Inc., who adds that they work well both in main-floor powder rooms and to separate larger bathrooms for those who prefer to tuck away the toilet. “They’re a lot more functional and you can add design elements to give them that wow effect.”