Installing a decorative interior sliding door can add character and usable floor space to any room in the house. With a little ingenuity a barn door can be fashioned from standard wooden boards or an old wood door can do the trick too. Mounting the decorative single track hardware is a relatively simple task.

Step 1: Select a door that is at least 4 inches wider than the doorway opening. Choose a decorative sliding door kit with a track that is double the width of the door.

Step 2: Determine the left hand and right hand end points for the door track. Measure the width of the door and subtract the width of the doorway. Divide that number by two. This should be the maximum distance the edge of the door can slide past the doorway opening when the door is closed.

Step 3: Cut a 1-by-6-inch board to match the length of the track. Paint the board the same color as the wall.

Step 4: Refer to the track mounting instructions to determine the correct track mounting height. Use a straight edge and level to mark the position above the door and along the wall.

Step 5: Use a stud finder to locate the studs along the track mounting area.

Step 6: Center the painted 1-by-6 board over the track mounting area. Mount the board into place using two screws per stud.

Step 7: Mount the sliding door track onto the 1-by-6 board starting with the screws on the far ends and finishing with the center screws. Use a level to ensure the track is mounted parallel to the floor.

Step 8: Following the track mounting instructions, attach the door hangers to the top of the door. Roller hardware should be mounted at least 2 inches from the edge of the door, with each hanger being an equal distance from the door edges.

Step 9: Refer to the track mounting instructions to complete any additional steps such as installing accessories or mortising the bottom of the door for single door guide applications.

Step 10: Hang the door on the track and slide it into the open position.

Step 11: Mount the door guides on the floor, per the manufacturer’s instructions.

Step 12: Attach the door stops to the track, closing and opening the door to determine the proper stop position before tightening the stops into place.

— Have a home improvement question for Fix-It Chick? Email it to Linda Cottin at hardware@sunflower.com.