Accordion cabinets are chosen by practical and thrifty people. They take up less space, their price is lower compared to conventional compartments, and folding doors provide greater access to the interior of the closet.
But there are those who also value practicality in furniture, but do not recognize such cabinets because they consider them unreliable, fragile, “cardboard.”
In the article, we will look at how door mechanisms work, which fittings are more durable, which accordion cabinets are in trend today, and talk about their pros and cons.
A wardrobe with folding fronts looks very stylish and unusual
How does the accordion mechanism work?
The accordion cabinet has a special door opening mechanism. Remember the screen - it has a similar system.
The structure is connected to each other by deployed metal hinges and is fixed to the body in special guide rails that hold the doors in place and set the direction of movement when opening or closing. The door leaves move along rails, folding into an accordion.
Sliding door diagram based on the accordion principle
Doors with a height of more than two meters are equipped with rails at the bottom to avoid distortions in the structure.
A simple door has its own radius for the free operation of the mechanism. This obliges residents not to use the space near the closet, but to place some interior items, “taking into account” the door.
Accordion Folding Door Mechanism for Wardrobe
In this regard, accordion doors do not disturb the owners - you can install a cabinet or a vase with flowers near such a model.
Interesting fact: in Europe, folding doors are called not “accordion”, but “accordion”. In Russia, accordion doors were first installed on built-in cabinets: these storage areas were called pantries or “mother-in-law’s room.”
Types of sliding wardrobes
Accordion doors are compact: when open, they take up half as much space as swing doors. Models are divided by the number of sashes. Two- and four-leaf ones are popular, and there are also six-leaf ones.
Six-leaf accordion
The design of the furniture is oriented to the installation site. Straight cabinets are in high demand. They are suitable for any room, installed with one side in a corner or along the wall. Can be supplemented with various furniture modules.
Corner structures help to fully utilize the corner space and are characterized by large capacity. Designed for installation in corridors, bedrooms, and children's rooms.
Using an accordion in a wall kitchen cabinet
The accordion door is relevant in the kitchen. Such a cabinet with folding doors takes away from the standards and makes the interior stylish.
Accordions are installed in corner tables where it is impossible to use a swing door. Mirrored accordions visually expand the space and make the room brighter.
A folding door is indispensable in a corner table
Types of handles for folding doors
Most often, folding doors do not use standard handles, so accordion designs cost less. In other cases, special handles or adapters 45x22 are used. Also, some manufacturers install classic handles if they do not interfere with the opening of the door.
Special handle, with reverse fastening and adapter 45×22
Independent
The most acceptable types of handles for furniture with folding doors are mortise handles without a latch or lock. Their design is not initially suitable for installing a locking mechanism.
They are ergonomic and comfortable. Such handles do not protrude, and your child will definitely not get caught on it.
Mortise with latch
They consist of a rounded handle that must be turned to operate the latch. The second part is in the form of a slider that can be moved manually to the desired position.
Handle-lock
The design of this handle is distinguished by the presence of a keyhole and a cylinder. In this case, the door can be locked with a key.
Types of folding mechanisms
The mechanisms that ensure the operation of folding doors are divided into several types.
The top and bottom mounting option includes the following items:
- connecting fasteners for the door leaf in the form of hinges or strips of flexible material;
- two guides;
- roller carriages;
- doors;
- four-hinged hinges.
The presence of two guides allows you to use wood, MDF, glass, mirrors as door materials, and increase their height to 2 m or more.
In the case of installing a hanging system, the fittings set consists of a top rail, roller runners, hinge-type connections, and furniture hinges.
The free design does not provide for fastening the doors to the cabinet body. The mechanism is simpler, but at the same time quite reliable, and can withstand weight up to 40 kg.
- Top guide.
- Stopper.
- Installation sites.
- Rotary axes.
- Roller mounts.
- End hinges connecting the parts of the sashes.
Types of facades
The facades of accordion cabinets differ in the type of manufacture. They are solid and framed.
Solid ones consist of a canvas made of one material: wood, chipboard, MDF, glass or mirror.
Straight long wardrobe with 8 folding plain doors
The most popular material for accordions is chipboard.
The Austrian company EGGER is the leader in the market for the production of this material. The company has a wide range of colors with wood patterns - you can, for example, find an Egger façade in the color of light pine, maple, dark brown oak or graphite.
Frame ones consist directly of a frame and a panel. The frame is usually made of aluminum or MDF. Inserts can be made of any material. Models with blinds are especially popular.
Accordion cabinet in the hallway with soft armchairs, facades with mirrors and bamboo
The outside of the façade is finished with fabric, leather, bamboo, plastic, rattan or coated with special glossy paint.
The difference between “accordion” and “book” doors
Accordion doors differ from book doors in the number of doors fastened together. The greater the number of canvases, the smaller the width of the individual elements. The standard dimensions of the sections are 10-15 cm, which are connected using a hinged profile or end hinges. The entire façade hangs on the top rail and moves along it on rollers. The outermost panel is attached to the side wall.
A folding door consists of only 2 parts connected by hinges, runs on two guides (top and bottom), can be made of heavy materials (wood, glass, mirrors, etc.) and is more reliable.
Pros and cons of cabinets with accordion doors
Like any furniture, accordion cabinets have both advantages and disadvantages.
pros
- Easy to install - even a woman can assemble it with her own hands using the assembly instructions.
- Save space - a folding door takes up less space.
- Access to the entire closet - folding doors allow you to quickly find and remove any item from the closet.
- Price - in comparison with wardrobes, they are much cheaper.
- Practicality - the design does not damage the floor covering.
- Convenience - the working sashes are interchangeable. If one breaks, you can easily replace it with a new one without dismantling the entire structure.
- The ability to fantasize with design - a variety of materials allows you to decorate the closet to suit any interior.
Minuses
- Low wear resistance (service life - up to 8 years).
- The more doors it has, the shorter its service life.
- You should handle the doors carefully to avoid breaking them.
Installation of accordion doors
Accordion sliding plastic doors begin to be installed with guide profiles, and then other types of work are carried out. Among the main actions that need to be done, it is worth noting the following:
- Measure the length of the profiles, cut off the excess.
- Check the dimensions, mark the profiles, but do not fasten them.
- Make holes in these elements into which self-tapping screws will then be inserted. It is recommended to make holes every five to seven centimeters in the upper profiles, and every 15-20 cm on the side profiles. The depth of the holes should not be more than 3 millimeters. Sometimes fastening is carried out using clips, and then there is no need to make holes for self-tapping screws.
- Assemble the door leaf, and then cut the rulers so that the height is the same (the mechanism of how to assemble door strips is described in the instructions). It is imperative to take into account the space for placing the roller system at the very top. The space below is intended for ventilation. The gap should not be large, on average from 7 to 10 millimeters. The accordion rulers are usually held together by grooves or spacers.
- At the last stage, the accordion door must be correctly installed in the doorway. It is necessary to install the rollers in the guide profile, and then finish installing the door in the opening.
How to choose a cabinet model
Accordion cabinets are most often installed in hallways, less often in bedrooms. Furniture with folding doors is also placed in the kitchen or on the balcony.
Placing a cabinet with accordion doors on the balcony
It is better to put a straight wardrobe in the bedroom and decorate it to match the interior of the room.
A corner cabinet is suitable for a hallway - an example of compactness and functionality.
Also suitable for a hallway or bedroom is a model with mirror inserts.
Accordion wardrobe with full-length mirror
In kitchen sets, folding doors are usually installed on the upper cabinets (including furniture for the balcony and bathroom). When choosing, pay attention to the quality of the fittings.
Rules before purchasing
Regardless of where you install the cabinet, follow these simple rules when purchasing it:
- Listen to the sound of doors opening/closing. If they operate silently, this is a sure sign that the furniture will last longer.
- The best system would be a mechanism with two guides. It's much more stable.
- If there is a mirror on the facade, it will visually double the space. Keep this in mind if you are choosing a cabinet for a small room.
- Before purchasing, measure the dimensions of the room. It will be easier for a consultant in the store to understand you and advise you on the appropriate configuration.
Customer Reviews
My wife and I decided to buy new furniture for the bedroom. We spent a long time choosing a closet and settled on the option with folding doors. The doors also have frosted glass inserts. The wardrobe looks great in wenge shade. Since the room is decorated in a milky color, with such a cabinet it does not look gloomy. The mechanism is simple; the door folds in a stack to the right. The doors are well fixed on the rails from below and above. We've been using it for three years now, everything works fine.
Alexei
Last year I bought a cabinet whose door folds like a book, but only on one side. I really liked the model with mirror inserts. During the day and evening, when the lamps are on, the light reflects from the facades and fills the entire room. Inside the closet there are shelves and rods for clothes. There's even a pantie. The door is easy to use; it is easy to assemble and does not get in the way. I am planning to buy the same cabinet for my child’s nursery.
Catherine
I have a built-in closet in my bathroom. A year ago, the sliding doors began to work poorly. I had to order new ones. The choice was made on accordion doors. The doors fold out of the way quickly and easily, but are a little in the way as they cover the sink. Otherwise, this design suits me.
Popular models of cabinets with accordion doors
| Model name | Description and dimensions of the cabinet | price, rub. |
| Accordion-1 | Light made of laminated chipboard with hinged doors. 800x2200x500 mm | 12 550 |
| Accordion-2D-leather | Swing made of laminated chipboard with leather inserts. 1200x2200x500 mm | 21 050 |
| Accordion-1UD | Made from laminated chipboard in two colors with hinged doors. 900*900x2200x400 mm | 14 910 |
| Accordion-3 | Made from laminated chipboard with three doors. 2000x2200x500 mm | 22 370 |
| Accordion-3.3D | Hinged from laminated chipboard with additional drawers. 2000x2200x500 mm | 27 510 |
| Accordion-1P | Made from laminated chipboard with two doors and a mirror with a sandblasted pattern. 800x2200x500 mm | 15 490 |
| Accordion-1D-leather | Hinged laminated chipboard with leather insert and MDF frame. 800x2200x500 mm | 15 800 |
| Accordion-2U | Volumetric made of laminated chipboard with hinged doors in two colors. 1200x1200x2200x400 mm | 18 850 |
| Falcon Arcadia | Double-leaf compact made of laminated chipboard with a facade made of inlaid strips. 600x2334x430 | 4 186 |
| Degar U6 | Spacious double-leaf swing door made of laminated chipboard. 400x1200x2200 mm | 19 400 |
Adviсe
- Accordion cabinets are installed in the hallway, bedroom and even kitchen. For a hallway, a model with a mirror would be successful, for a bedroom - with light decorated doors.
- The main thing in the design of the cabinet is the guides and fittings: handles and fastening mechanisms. Pay attention to the quality of materials.
- Fittings should only be metal. The panel frames are also made of metal.
- The material of the furniture itself matters: the panels are made of chipboard, MDF or high-strength plastic. There are also wooden doors, but they are heavier and can break.
- The facade can be decorated with anything - from fabric to bamboo and glass.
- To make the storage system last longer, use the folding doors carefully, and explain to children not to roll on the doors.
Constructions
Depending on the design, cabinets with a folding type of opening system are divided into two groups.
Products with a frame are standard furniture, the body of which consists of sidewalls, a back panel, an upper and lower horizon. They can be rearranged, transported, and placed in different places in the room.
Built-in models are ideal for small spaces. Such a cabinet can be installed in a niche, a narrow partition, or occupy a free corner. Such models are made in accordance with individual sizes and are permanently fixed to the walls, floor and ceiling. Doors are installed using false panels. With the same dimensions, the internal volume of the built-in furniture is larger; you have the opportunity to choose any equipment for organizing the storage system, but you will not be able to change the location of such a cabinet.
The furniture frame material is wood, MDF or chipboard.
- The wood demonstrates high performance and looks attractive. Its disadvantages are significant cost and heavy weight.
- MDF is a completely worthy replacement for expensive solid wood. The material is characterized by high density, tolerates changes in humidity and temperature well, is easy to process, and provides many options for exterior design.
- Chipboard will please you with its low price, but otherwise it does not look very attractive. Particle boards tend to deform; due to their loose structure, they do not hold fasteners well and are capable of absorbing large amounts of moisture. Violation of the protective layer is fraught with the emission of formaldehyde, which negatively affects the health of the inhabitants of the house or apartment.
