The steps below follow the order of the work for this remodel inspiration by room project.
If you live in an older home, odds are that you have plenty of 70’s and 80’s style doors — nice and flat. And purchasing inexpensive new doors adds up — because you can’t replace just ONE door! So instead of replacing, how about refacing? We’ve got over 40 ways for you to update flat and bifold doors that are occupying your doorways and closets.
One thing to remember: many of these projects will add bulk and weight to the door, so you may need to adjust the casing and interior trim like Jenna showed in the middle of this post and if the door is heavier, you may also need to upgrade the hinges, like April shows you how to do here. And bifold doors can quickly and easily be turned into French doors — just follow the second half of this walkthrough!
options + Tutorials to Update Flat and Bifold Doors
Using Trim to Update Doors — Lots of Different Styles!
Using carved molding and/or flat trim to update doors makes for a fairly quick, direct, and inexpensive update to a flat door. And the style is limited only by your imagination!
The classic raised panel style will look wonderful in any home (walkthrough from The Painted Drawer, here on Bekob):
While more detailed configurations will match a more modern style (walkthrough from Driven by Decor, here on Bekob):
But you can use any combination, any style… and you can test any of these out by using painter’s tape on the door to make sure it’s balanced and looks like you want!
And just a note… some of these are shown unfinished so you can easily see the design. Be sure to click over to each site for the finished look and details on how they did it!
6 panel design on bifold closet doors Little Green Notebook
basic 4 panel style Sunnyside Up-Stairs
standard 6-panel layout Home Made Modern
craftsman style door and trim Hammer Like A Girl
(walkthrough is for the trim, but the salvaged door style could be DIYed, too)
black 3 panel door | via Babble
evenly spaced rectangle 4-panel door For the Love of It
board and batten style, on extra tall doors Vintage Revivals
classic full 5-panel doors Jenna Sue Design — featured here on Bekob
4-panel bifold closet doors Burlap and Tin
5-panel bifold doors (turned French doors) Wife in Progress featured here on Bekob
And any of these could be changed up by adding a second layer of trim for extra texture — via Our Old Abode
Adding Trim and More to Flat Doors
Take your door update to the next level by adding a little something else along with the trim and by getting a little more creative with your overlay patterns.
Combine the trim with textured wallpaper for a classic carved look Frugal Home Designs for Bekob
or try beadboard Pretty Handy Girl
The beadboard panel can cover up a dated louvered door, too Vintage direct Home
beadboard plus fancy hinges on a flat sliding closet door | via AKA Design
use mirrors The Savvy Stylist on Bekob
and add trim around the edges or on top Lilikoi Joy
(not a door, but straightforward enough to see how it would work)
add burlap or fabric for texture Beautifully Contained
color!! painting a door black or a fun color gives such life to space Little Green Notebook
And then some more alternative trim styles to give your door some extra style, too
barn door overlay Blue Roof Cabin
barn door wardrobe doors Jenna Sue Design
bifold to barn door walkthrough The Painted Hive
full wood overlay barn door Simpsonized Crafts
modern geometric (inspiration only) | via Better Homes and Gardens
modern squares and circles Little Green Notebook
greek key door overlay vivid Shiny Things
striking chevron detail (inspiration only) This Old House
and how about some inspiring colorful bling via Houzz?
Handmade Painted Doors
Looking for an even easier update? Look no further than the paint section! Some of these are even done using contact paper or washi tape to be renter-friendly!
painting doors a solid dark color adds such drama! Bekob
paint and glaze closet doors and add some hardware Batchelors Way on Bekob
use painter’s tape to fake the paneled molding look | via Design Sponge
trompe l’oeil painted paneled door | via Redbook Mag
two tone painted door | via DecorPad
overlapping geometric design | via Bedford Brooks
double V design using contact paper Likainen Parketti
polka dots (using removable vinyl) Sarah Hearts
striped sliding barn door A striking Mess
painted frames, removable | via Curbly
painted chevron on a flat door Camille Styles
chevron on a paneled door (sorry, not technically a flat door but I like it! The Handmade Showoff
stenciled Better Homes and Gardens
and this one is so creative without being kitschy — a phone booth closet door! from Polish the Stars
