21 Closet Door Ideas – DIY, Budget-Friendly & Stylish Upgrades


Got ugly closet doors? Not for long after you read about these 21+ closet door ideas. From easy, budget updates to completely replacing them, there’s something for everyone here!


We all have closets, but they’re usually overlooked when it comes to room design. Just because they’re functional doesn’t mean they can’t make a statement!

Today, I’ve rounded up a big grouping of inspiring ideas for you. Some are my own budget DIY projects, and some are from other creative people – and they’re all stylish alternatives to boring closet doors!

Whether you want to transform those plain bi-fold doors, create a custom barn door look, or simply give your existing doors a quick refresh, you’ll find plenty of inspiration (and tips!) here.

Closet Door Makeovers That Transform a Room

Even a simple closet door makeover can transform the whole room! Here are some examples!

add decorative moldings or overlays

In my daughter’s bedroom, we have a set of sliding mirrored doors on her closet. They are very basic,  from The Home Depot. I’ve been wanting to do something with them for a while now. I want to keep the mirrors because those are the most-used mirrors in the house. But I need to amp up the style.

By using a set of custom overlays, I was able to completely transform the mirrored closet doors without replacing them. This was a super easy DIY project with dramatic results!

While searching the web for more inspiration, I found plenty. So much so, that I wanted to keep track of them all. I’ve included all closet door ideas here, not just mirrored.

This one is my favorite. I love the trim!

mirror molding

Gardiner and Larson Homes

Here, the homeowners swapped out the closet doors for beautiful mirrored French doors. This is a timeless idea because French doors never go out of style!

In the next photo, the mirrors were given an antiqued look. I’ve been noticing a lot of this antiqued mirror style around. The 2015 Dream Home even has this in the master bath. You can achieve this look with some paint stripper and muriatic acid. Read the full how-to here.

antiqued mirrored doors

via Loft and Cottage

Once again, adding trim gives the doors a custom look.

mirrored doors with trim

BHG

A similar idea was used on these his and her closet doors.

pretty closet doors

The Lettered Cottage

stylish closet door alternatives

If you’re handy, you can try swapping out exisitng closet doors for something completely different.

French Doors On closet

Here is a non- mirrored closet door inspiration. I love the distressed look of these French doors! Though I don’t know if I would want my closet visible to the room all the time!

vintage french doors

via Picklee

Another closet makeover I did was similar to this. I bought a pair of vintage French doors on Facebook marketplace for only $70 and used them as closet doors. Though I added a curtain to them so you cannot see into the closet. Adding French doors to the closet is one of my favorite makeovers to date!

Sliding barn doors

Sliding barn doors and bypass doors are also great space savers. They are a good alternative to pocket doors. You can see how we built our own sliding barn door for less here.

salvaged doors

Country Living

More barn door inspiration. Here, it looks as if the trim was added to existing doors for more interest.

barn style doors

Painters and Decorators Esher

Another closet door makeover my husband and I tackled was to make our own sliding barn doors because it was much less expensive than buying them new!

makeover ideas for bifold closet doors

If you’re not into building doors from scratch, you’ll like this next idea. Here they used their existing bifold doors and turned them into barn doors, on a tiny budget, too!

bifold to barn doors

Simpsonized Crafts

In our kitchen (of all places!) we used to have ugly, louvered bifold doors on a closet. The closet contained our furnace so it had to be vented which really made it difficult to come up with an idea for replacing those doors.

However, I did come up with a solution for that! You can see how we created pretty new DIY vented bi-fold doors (the easy way) with charming results!

Or combine bifold doors with barn doors for extra interest. These barn doors were a DIY project, and were built from scratch!

unfinished barn doors

At Beneath My Heart, they removed the ugly existing doors and replaced them with these. She found 2 flat panel doors at a Habitat store and added the molding and decorative hardware. Such a great idea!

beadboard closet doors

Beneath My Heart

Curtain panels instead of closet doors

Or you can lose the doors altogether and use beautiful curtain panels instead.

curtain instead of doors

Here is a really pretty example of curtains on a closet. I love how they tied it into the overall room design.

curtains-instead-of-closet-doors-DIY Closet door ideas

Another pretty idea is this one, these were a DIY and made from dropcloths – can you believe that?

curtains instead of closet doors - DIY Closet door ideas

Budget-friendly quick closet door updates

If you’re short on time or money, there are always ways around that in home decorating! Here are some quick and/or inexpensive ideas to transform your closet doors!

painted closet door

Try painting your closet doors a contrasting color to add interest. I especially love that the color carries over to the ceiling here too.

Or go with a muted color that matches the wall, but leave the trim white. So pretty!

french mirrored doors

stenciled closet door

One simple idea I love is to stencil or use a rub-on transfer to update your closet doors. This would be really sweet in a little girls room!

floral transfer on closet door

via Style at Home

chalkboard panels

If you have flat closet doors, you can simply add or paint a chalkboard onto it, especially fun for a kids room. Alternatively, you could add dry-erase panels.

A Few More Options to Consider

Here are a few more options to get your creative juices flowing:

Choosing the Right Closet Door for Your Space

When deciding how to update your closet doors, start by thinking about how you use the space. Sliding closet doors or bifold doors are great for smaller rooms where every inch counts, while French doors or barn doors can make a big statement in larger bedrooms or walk-in closets.

If you’re dealing with an awkward or tight area, consider curtain panels or pocket doors for a creative solution that still looks stylish. The right door not only enhances the design of your room but also makes it more functional.

Balancing Style and Budget

You don’t have to spend a fortune to create beautiful closet doors!

Even a simple coat of paint in a bold or calming color can transform dated doors in a weekend. For a more customized look, try adding wood trim overlays, peel-and-stick paneling, or decorative hardware—all of which can be done on a budget.

If you’re willing to invest a little more, custom-built doors or high-quality mirrored panels can elevate your entire space and make it feel more open and luxurious.

DIY Tips for a Professional Look

If you’re tackling a closet door makeover yourself, preparation is key! Here are some tips that can save you costly mistakes!

  • Take time to measure accurately, especially if replacing doors.
  • Use high-quality primer and paint for a lasting finish.
  • Upgrade your hardware; small details like doorknobs or handles can make a big difference!
  • For more intricate projects (like adding cane inserts or chevron patterns) draw it out on paper first to avoid mistakes.

final thoughts on closet door makeover ideas

If you’re still stumped on where to begin, start with something easy and affordable like paint. You can always work your way up from there if you’re still not happy!

Which of these closet door ideas would you try first? Share in the comments or save your favorite idea to Pinterest!”


Here’s one more door makeover you may like!

FI-Sliding-Glass-Door-Ideas---window-grids

How To Easily Add Window Panes To Sliding Glass Doors


Closet DOor Ideas: FAQ


PIN IT FOR LATER:

Closet Door Ideas The Honeycomb Home

4 Comments

  1. Mary jo murphy says:

    Where can you find mirror doors with design on the mirror like the last photo ?

  2. Debbie La Pan says:

    I love what you did but also love your inspiration do you know where i can buy the bifold mirrored door that inspired you and also the blue french mirrored doors? thank you Debbie P.S. no caps in my email address

  3. Stevefelgate says:

    Have 2 doors at 195 high and 44 cm wide can you make mirror doors up my spec

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