Accordion doors: They were highly touted back in the day as a space-saving and room-hiding innovation. And, I think they most definitely can have their uses today, with the caveat that you want to look for a high-quality product, not one that’s flimsy. Looking back at a story on unusual accordian plastic window shades, I see that clever reader Joni tipped us to two places where you can get full-size accordian doors. I did even more research and tallied four to consider — including three that have been in business for decades. Above: Beautie-Vue’s vintage illustration of possible ways to use accordian doors.
Thanks so much to tipster Joni, who wrote:
Home Depot has a few acrylic accordion doors on their website–they’re kind of plain, but could be really cool with a textured window film on the acrylic panels. (Solyx has some nice window films at decorativefilm.com)
Woodfold.com has been in business for 50+ years and has woven wood, acrylic, and really cool perforated aluminum accordion shades.
#1 — Accordian folding doors from Panelfold:
Panelfold says: Panelfold is the first company in the world to invent, patent and commercialize folding doors incorporating flexible panel connector hinges.
Indeed, I count nine different series of doors. Lots of different design options — and materials — to choose from.
#2 — Accordian folding doors from Woodfold:
A company that’s been in business since 1957? You know that’s one of the top things that makes my heart go pitter-patter. Here’s what Woodfold says about their company on their website:
We’ve been crafting value for more than 50 years. Woodfold Mfg., Inc. was established in 1957 in Forest Grove, Oregon. Since then, we’ve grown into one of the nation’s leading suppliers of custom-crafted Accordion Doors, Roll-Up Doors, hardwood Shutters and Bookcase Doors for both residential and commercial installations. And even though times have changed, some things at Woodfold haven’t. At least, not the values that really make a difference to our customers.
According to their catalog, they have quite a few series, depending on your usage/needs. Finishes include natural hardwoods, woodgrain vinyls, solid vinyls, textured vinyls, custom paint finishes, custom stain finishes, high pressure decorative laminate finishes, aluminum — including perforated aluminum! — and applied murals.
#3 — Accordian folding doors from Spectrum and Marley, available via Home Depot:
Meanwhile, you can also head to Home Depot online to check out their selection of accordian folding doors from Spectrum. There are a handful of designs from a company called Marley, too. Home Depot categorizes these as closet doors. They run the spectrum in terms of cost, based on the materials they are made of. Some of them look to be basically PVC-framed. Others, much more expensive (like the one shown above) are laminate over MDF.
#4 Don’t forget New Old Stock Beauti-Vue accordian fold woven wood doors:
If you wanna make a big retro statement with your accordian door, get yer Beauti-Vue products before all their rolls of New Old Stock woven wood are gone! Yes, they can make them into accordian doors — see this story on that product line — LOTs of really great vintage photos to ogle, too.
- Beauti-Vue was one of our biggest discoveries ever on Retro Renovation. Right behind the now-defunct World of Tile. See all our stories about the products you can still get made from New Old Stock woven woods — while they last — by clicking here.
Poking around the google, I see there may be other brands as well. If you’re in the market and want to be super thorough, keep researching.
Paula Webb says
We have a beautiful set of folding wood doors in our basement. Unfortunately the latching hardware is missing so they don’t lock close. I might have to do some research and see if some of these companies offer a solution.
Stormy says
A possible solution for this is paint-able self stick magnetic strips available many places or self stick Velcro available anywhere…
Carolyn says
Makes you wonder why these fell out of favor since they’re compact pretty much when you fold them back and came in so many finishes. Unlike bi-fold doors that extend out into the room although not as much as a door.
I could see using these in the basement to hide the furnace, etc., laundry area, and food storage shelves.
Suzy says
I have 2 large (4′ W x 8′ H x 7″ D) shelves for DVDs and thought these types of door might look nice to cover them and keep my 4 yr old granddaughters from having access.
Brooke says
I’ve been wanting to get beauti-vue samples for a while to see if any of them would work in our house but we currently don’t have floors, just plywood (I’ve been waiting for my husband to install them for almost a year! lol) so I’ve been hesitant to order anything. Plus I’m not sure they would ship to Canada and the cost wouldn’t be great with our low dollar.
Some of these other options look pretty nice though so a good alternative to the Beatui-vue ones.
I’m ashamed to say that I tossed a nice wooden one (between the ktichen and dining room) that was original to the house right after we moved in 🙁 I didn’t even think of using it somewhere else (though it was pretty small). Reasons why you shouldn’t do anything drastic right after you move into a new house. Live and learn!
Hopefully in the spring we’ll be ordering some accordion doors. I’m thinking all the bedroom closest and the front hall closet.
Brooke says
For anyone interested I contacted Beauti-vue and they will ship to Canada 🙂
pam kueber says
Thanks, Brooke, for adding that!
Rachelle Jagger says
Our 1965 MCM ranch house is equiped with several original accordion doors and they work perfectly. (mostly closet doors, but also a divider between master bed and master bath, and laundry area) They are Pella brand, and solid wood. Unfortunately Pella no longer manufactures them. I think they take the cake on the best quality I have seen!
pam kueber says
I’d love to see photos, Rachelle!!! Wanna reach out to me via our Contact form? https://retrorenovation.com/contact/
D Seaburn says
I have the same Pella solid wood accordion doors on all of the closets in our 1961 home. They are in pristine shape and I just love them.
Stephanie in MD says
I can attest to the Pella beauty, quality, and functionality! The house we rent has one Pella accordion door in the basement. The house is a tom thumb style built in 1946, so based on the door and wood paneling style, my guess the basement was renovated/finished in mid to late 60s. It is a solid wood accordion door, and separates the office from the rest of the basement. It’s a beautiful shellac amber color and still works well. When I work at home and have a video call, people always comment on my accordion door behind me, especially the bright beautiful color.
Sam R says
According to the son of the original owner/builder, my house originally had wooden accordion doors on all of the closets. I got lucky one day at the local Habitat Restore, they had a pile of Pella accordion doors in decent condition, with the tracks and latch plates, for very reasonable amounts of money. I’ve since learned a lot about repairing popped hinge springs and adding/subtracting panels from these doors. I still have one to finish cleaning and hang up, but the doors that are installed really add to the MCM style of the house.
pam kueber says
Wow…. I need to start keeping an eye out for vintage Pella accordian doors. I have three closets I can put them on, at minimum. Thanks!
Sam R says
If you get any, I can tell you how to fix any disconnected hinge springs or add/remove panels, if necessary.
Lettie says
We’ve got the Pella doors as well on several closets in our 1961 ranch…love them 🙂
Ranger Smith says
Yes, they can be very workable in the right spot and if they are of a good quality. My first house had them in place of bedroom doors. Not very sound proof. I asked the seller (an elderly lady who had built the house with her husband 50 years prior) if perhaps the original doors were stored in the garage. Her reply was that she didn’t know but why would I want them, open doors take up so much wall space! Well I was only 26 years old and had no idea how I was going to be able to afford furniture for this house so that wasn’t an issue for me. She’d had 50 years to accumulate so our quandaries were at different ends of the spectrum. Ah, life.
Barb says
The master bath had them in very bad shape when we moved here. We replaced them with better ones, and added them to a very small bedroom for closet doors. Works well, easy to install, period appropriate and looks good. Make sure your door frame is square, first! We didn’t and one of the closets doesn’t quite close properly. Oh well. it’s a closet. Not that important in the greater scheme of things.
Kelly Wittenauer says
Wow – some great looking options here!
Have to admit that I cringed at seeing today’s topic. I associated accordion doors strictly with the stiff, heavy vinyl ones frequently present in public buildings in the late ’60s thru the ’70s. The elementary school I attended had several large classrooms that were divided with these and the textured off-white vinyl was always a grubby mess dirty of handprints.
Pleasantly surprised at the beauties available! Thanks for opening my eyes to the possibilities.
Janet in ME says
I didn’t know anyone was making them any more! Now I can see what was needed in that missing open closet in the laundry room. The video is hysterical!
Mod Betty / RetroRoadmap.com says
What a great resource!
I think these types of doors can work really well in a variety of places where you want to vary the openness, and especially the wood ones seem totally MCM appropriate.
Good sleuthing!