No, they're not classes of ballroom dances; they're closet door types. Whatever kind of closet doors you have, or whatever you call them, we have a makeover for them. Read on, be inspired and go from slab to fab in no time. 1. Janet gave her boring white bi-folds an architectural lift with cheap canvas stretcher bars that she applied with 3M tape. Click here to read more about the project and to see the 'before'. 2. Some tape and a couple of cans of spray glass frost might be the perfect way to redo mirrored closet doors. (For more ideas, visit this page.) 3. Susan used damask wallpaper to give her closet doors a serious punch of color. Click here to see the 'before'. 4. Speaking of wallpaper, these sliding doors were made over using wallpaper that looked like bead board and some framing strips. Click here to read more about the project and to see a 'before'. 5. The Pin Junkie ended up using fusible web and spray adhesive--to adhere fabric to her sliding closet doors--because she ran out of the fusible web after doing the first door, onto which she IRONED ON the fabric.
Click here to read how to do it yourself. 6. This next makeover, although subtle, is just enough to make a BIG difference. Kara was not diggin' her brass-trimmed sliding doors, so a can of oil rubbed bronze spray paint was utilized to take care of the situation. Click here to read about the entire process and to see a 'before' pic. 7. You might not have considered painting sliding doors with chalkboard paint, but after looking at this installation, you just might want to do it yourself. 8. Nobody said you have to go crazy to give your closets doors new life. Sometimes, just a coat of paint will do! This project comes to us from Manhattan Nest. 9. Abby used casing to give her bi-fold doors a fabulous makeover. 10. Our final idea isn't the easiest project, but it certainly is one of the most unique. Look carefully and you'll see that this trompe l'oeil is actually camouflaging (I believe) four sets of bi-fold doors. Click here to see more unique closet door ideas.
After many interior-design upgrades, I've got our place looking good, but I'm stumped by the bifold doors. They're everywhere: some louvered, others solid, all ugly. Your simplest and least expensive option is to paint the doors. Start by cleaning the surface of any dust, dirt, or grease. (The last is most likely to be found on kitchen doors.) When the surface is clean and dry, bury any dark colors using a "high-hiding" primer, and then apply a coat of your desired hue. Replace the doors' bland wood or plastic knobs with better-looking ones made of porcelain, glass, or metal; you can also use drawer or door pulls. In many cases, louvered doors are installed merely as the default option (they were all the lumberyard had in stock), not because airflow through the closet is important. If you're not concerned about ventilation, you can cover the slats with ¼-inch-thick painted or wallpapered lauan panels. Cut the panels to size using a circular saw equipped with a 150-tooth plywood blade, and guide the saw with a straightedge clamped to the panel.
To avoid chipping, place the panel with the veneer facing down when you make your cuts. After the paper (or paint) is applied to the panels, glue them in place with construction adhesive. By the way, a better-quality bifold can really improve a home's interior. If you search the Web or visit lumberyards, you'll find bifold doors with a variety of designs and features, such as arched panels or glass panels (known as lites). You don't have to settle for basic paint-grade pine: Bifolds are made out of oak and maple too. How to Easily Repair a Water Heater How to Clean a Mattress Should You Fix or Nix Your Refrigerator? How to Install Bead Board Wainscoting Why Are Those Furniture Screws So Hard to Drive? How to Repair Drywall How to Fix Washing Machine and Dryer Problems What to Do When You Find Old, Disconnected Wiring Behind Your Walls How to Make Speaker Holes in Your Ceiling 4 Tips for Building Your Own BarLouvered, or shuttered, closet doors allow air to circulate and discourage mildew, making them a perfect solution for bathrooms, utility closets and laundry rooms.
Cleaning, repairing or replacing them can seem daunting but there are useful tips that that don't require complete disassembling. Slats in louvered or shutter doors can be made of wood, polyurethane plastic molding or particle board. When slats break and need to be repaired or replaced, simply secure lattice strips or plastic molding with a small nail. Slanted slats can easily accumulate dust and can be time consuming to clean. Magnetic dust cloths make cleaning them easier. Let your kids earn allowance money doing the dusting – it's simple, fun and right at their height. Replacing louvered closet doors can be easy if the tracks are not bent or damaged. You’ll probably need an extra set of hands when you're taking the old doors down and putting in new ones. Bifold doors, curtains or sliding doors can be alternatives and can be matched to complement your style. A fresh coat of paint can spruce up a functioning set of louvered or shuttered closet doors but take care not to allow any drips on the track and watch for drips between slats.
Be careful when taking doors down and reinstalling them after painting so that you don’t bend or damage the track. If you're replacing louvered doors measure the distance, beginning with width, of the door opening. Always allow for carpeting or deep floor coverings when measuring the height. See also: Closet Planning Guide Bifold Closet Doors: Options and Replacement Closet Doors: Design Ideas and Options Pocket Doors for Closets Sliding Closet Doors: Design Ideas and Options Options for Mirrored Closet Doors Closet Curtain Designs and Ideas Closet Door Hardware: Knobs, Pulls and Hinges Louvered Closet Doors: Designs, Repair, Replacement How to Replace a Closet Door Track How to Repurpose Mirrored Closet Doors Update Old Closet Doors to Look Like Shoji Screens How to Build Sliding Closet Doors Our Radiata Pine Louver Doors provide the necessary airflow where it is needed most whether it is for a laundry room, HVAC or bedroom closet.