A quick and easy cosmetic facelift turned these old flat doors into beautiful panel doors. This is such an easy makeover that makes cheap hallow doors look expensive!
Closet doors don’t just hide the occasional wardrobe clutter or Santa’s Christmas presents for your kids. They make a statement – elegant, dependable but always practical.
They greet you warmly as you wake up or encourage you as you make a dozen frantic outfit changes before heading out a big event.
I was not happy with my plain flat, hallow closet doors! Originally, I had several quotes to replace them but since they were custom-made (5-ft non standard height), new doors were going to set me back close to $400!
Then, one day, I was strolling around Lowe’s (isn’t that where we all hang out on the weekends?!). I was looking at trim for a DIY mirror project when I came across some ¼” thick trim. It made me think of several ideas I’d come across on Pinterest.
Without even as much as measurements, I bought 15 pieces of the ¼” trim and took it home. The next five hours flew by as I measured, cut and painted….and finally, stared in amazement at my beautiful ‘new’ doors, for a fraction of retail price!
Here’s how you can make this happen:
What you will need:
- ¼” wood trim boards
- Brad Nails
- Handles for door (your choice of style)
- Optional – longer screws for installing handles
- Measuring tape
- Compound miter saw
- Wood Glue
Step 1: Measure the door panels
Measure the height of your door panels to get the length of the vertical trim.
To calculate the width of the horizontal trim panels, measure the width of the door panel; then, subtract the total width of both of the vertical trims.
Step 2: Choose the layout of the panels
Decide how many square/rectangle “panels” you want on each door. If you’re really detailed, you would do some math here.
I was too lazy and just eyeballed where I wanted them to go.
Step 3: Cut the trim pieces
Cut lengths of the trim to match the measurements of your door with the miter saw.
Step 4: Apply trim pieces to the plain doors
Using wood glue and some brad nails, secure the vertical strips in place.
Then, attach the horizontal pieces with the layout you planned.
Repeat the above steps for all doors.
Step 5: Sand and finish the door panels
Use wood filler or some caulk to fill in any spaces that you may have.
Sand down the caulked areas if necessary. Paint with two coats of primer (I used Benjamin Moore Fresh Start primer). Let dry for 24 hours.
Then, paint.
Step 6: Install new handles
Before we wrap up this plain door makeover, we need to attach some fancy new hardware. You’ll most likely need to buy longer screws than what is supplied with the hardware, since they are meant for cabinets. I used these screws:
If you are not good at installing door hardware, make yourself a template using painter’s tape. Put the tape on the hardware and punch through the holes with a pencil – instant template!
Drill from the outside of the door to prevent the wood from splintering.
And that’s it! Sit back and enjoy your plain door makeover with these updated closet doors!
I’m so glad I didn’t spend money to replace these doors – a few hours of work transformed them into doors that look a lot more expensive than simply repurposed old doors!
Closet Door Makeover - from Plain to Panel
Don't waste money replacing your closet doors - upgrade them with simple wood trim!
Materials
- ¼” wood trim boards
- Brad Nails
- Handles for door (your choice of style)
- Optional – longer screws for installing handles
Tools
- Measuring tape
- Compound miter saw
- Wood Glue
Instructions
- Measure the height of your door panels to get the length of the vertical trim.
- To calculate the width of the horizontal trim panels, measure the width of the door panel; then, subtract the total width of both of the vertical trims.
- Decide how many square/rectangle "panels" you want on each door. If you're really detailed, you would do some math here. I was too lazy and just eyeballed where I wanted them to go.
- Cut lengths of the trim to match the length of your door with the miter saw.
- Using wood glue and some brad nails, secure the vertical strips in place. Then, attach the horizontal pieces with the layout you planned.
- Repeat the above steps for all doors.
- Use wood filler or some caulk to fill in any spaces that you may have. Sand down the caulked areas if necessary.
- Paint with two coats of primer (I used Benjamin Moore Fresh Start primer). Let dry for 24 hours.
- Finish with a semi-gloss white paint.
- Attach some fancy new hardware. You'll most likely need to buy longer screws that what is supplied with the hardware.
- If you are not good at installing door hardware, make yourself a template using painter’s tape. Put the tape on the hardware and punch through the holes with a pencil - instant template!
- Drill from the outside of the door to prevent the wood from splintering.
- Sit back and enjoy your new closet doors!
*UPDATE* If you enjoyed this post, check out how I converted my bedroom closet bi-folds to french doors!
Can the trim pieces be easily cut to size with a hand saw? I don’t have a power saw. Wondering if I could get clean, even cuts with a hand saw.
Absolutely! We used to only have a little miter saw box (hand saw) and we would just sand the edges so that they were smooth :-)
I’ve thought about replacing these kind of closet doors, but never would have thought to add onto them the way you did. They look awesome! Pinning for later :)
Thanks Katie! We had quotes done to replace them but since they are custom sizes the quotes came back at $300 per pair..YIKES! This was definitely the more affordable way to go :-)
I just went to home depot to buy all the supplies. Apparently the trim I was going to buy was 1.56 a foot. Seeing that yours was 99 cents a square foot – I cannot seem to see how it only cost you $30? Mine rang up for JUST the wood at $83. Am I missing something? It wasn’t worth it – I could buy brand new doors for that cost. (I have 80″ high doors so it ended up being around 53 feet for the long pieces)
Hi Chrissy,
Are you sure you were buying the correct wood? The lattice stuff is REALLY cheap. I used it to do the board & batten in my dining room too. Now, I always get mine at Lowes but I’m sure Home Depot must have it too. You can get a 10 ft piece for about $6 or pre-cut 3ft pieces for about $1.50 each (depending on the type of wood you choose). Did I say somewhere that it was 99c a foot? That seems like a typo. I feel like that’s how much I paid for a 3ft piece but the price has gone up a bit lately. (Just noticed that I said that in a comment…totally wrong! I definitely didn’t spend more than $30 in total)
Hi! What a great idea for the closet door “upgrade.” I am looking for those 1/4″ wood trim pieces and Lowe’s and Home Depot online leads me nowhere. What section of Lowe’s would I find these? Another name for them perhaps? I tried “1/4″ thick wood trim”, “wood edging” “picture frame trim” and I used their chat offering and no one came up with anything! Any suggestions?
Hi Parker!
At my local Lowes they are in the wood section (with all the 1x2s, etc) but located on shelves underneath. They are easy to miss! They are usually called “craft wood” or “lattice wood”. I believe if you search “wood lattice moulding” on the Lowes website it will come up. I hope that helps!
I looooove this! Such a great idea! I’m pinning it so when we are not renting anymore I can use it.
Thanks Juliana!
Ooooo, I love this. I’m going to try this but I’m curious what is the total width of your closet opening? My closet opening looks wider, which would make for bigger doors. I’m concerned it would look awkward. Menards makes double doors that are 72″ inches wide (each door being 36″) so maybe it will work, I just want to compare with your picture. Thanks!
Hi Jenna! I work with Cassity over at Remodelaholic.com, and we would love to feature you and your closet facelift! I couldn’t find an email address to contact you at, so if you’re interested, just drop me a line at hello@remodelaholic.com and we’ll discuss the details. Thanks!
Have a great day,
Lorene
love this look, now that you have had them a while have you had any issues? does the added weight interfere with how the doors function?
Thanks Amanda! Nope, I’ve had no issues…the wood is so light you wouldn’t notice the difference!
Your closet doors are gorgeous, what a transformation! I have three sets of bi-fold doors in my bedroom, one in my son’s room and one in the family room and up until I saw your post, I strongly disliked them. Now I am inspired and happy to know there is hope for them. Thank you
Love how your closet doors now look like paneled doors! Pinned and sharing on fb, great project.
I agree with everyone else. You are really talented to be able to do this by yourself. Me? I have the vision with no flow through expertise. Luckily I’m married to a handy guy that is Mike Holmes’ good! Haha. I see=he makes it happen. Win win. I have to give you props…I wouldn’t have even given the boards at Lowes a second glance! Gorgeous project. *golf clap*. Lol.
Amy you’re so sweet! If I had a Mike Holmes-type husband I would be in heaven! haha My Dad is an engineer, so I’m assuming that where I get my genes from!
Beautiful! Do you mind sharing how much the wood cost? I’m wanting to swap out some doors for these kind and I’m wondering if it’s cheaper to buy the cheap-o doors and upgrade them DIY style or if I’d be better off buying the ones that come like this.
XO
Hi Corinna,
The wood was 99c for about 3 foot. I think I spent about $30 in total including the hardware for the door. The issue with my bi-folds is that they were custom made for the room so I can’t easily replace them!
Hope that helps!
Jenna
these turned out great, what a terrific idea!
Thank you!!
This is a beyond genius idea!! The doors look like brand new high end doors! Love it! Pinning! Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof
Thanks Jenna! I’m very happy with how it turned out. I have 2 other similar closets in my house now begging for the same treatment! :)
fun! love how it turned out
Thanks Carissa!!
Oooooh, this looks fantastic! If I ever have a closet like that I will have to keep this project in mind… :)
Thanks Megan!! :-)
Very nice work! Wonderful transformation!~~Angela
Thanks Angela!
What an incredible transformation! Now I’m all inspired :)
Thanks Leanne! :-)
Amazing!
Thanks Kim!
Hi Jenna,
That looks great! What a fancy facelift!
Your description makes it sound so simple and easy. I’ll have to give it a try someday :)
Becky
Thanks Becky! It really was easy! :)