Turning an old door into something useful when you replace it not only extends its usefulness, but it also saves you money. Here are dozens of innovative DIY hacks you can use to upcycle an old door.
Our personal favorite idea has to do with hanging an old door on your wall. It might seem crazy to do this, but when you find out why people around the world have been doing it, you might just do the same thing at your home. It’s surprisingly artsy and actually functional too!
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1) Construct an Outdoor Swing
You can also use some doors to create an upcycled swing.
Here‘s how they did it at Huckleberry Lane. Perfect for a front porch.
Just hang some pots on a door to create a cute planter. You can find the step-by-step instructions on how to make the one below
here.
You can toss some legs onto an old door and turn it into a table. It’s rustic, unique, and the best part? You get to use materials that would otherwise be thrown away.
4) Build a Jewelry Organizer
Add some hooks to a door, and use it as a jewelry organizer. Choose metal hooks or easy-to-hang self-adhesive hooks (you can spray paint them!) to make it your own.
If you hang a door and use some chalkboard paint, you can turn a door into your family’s message board. Just paint the partitions and you have a super cute piece.
6) Construct a Garden Fence
Using doors to create a fence creates a beautiful focal point in your yard. You can make a foundation for your doors or secure them with some posts.
This is a simple project that involves hanging some shelves on a door frame. You can attach a built-in light if you want to make it fancier.
Another method for this project is to remove the door’s inlays and use the wooden pieces as a shelf.
8) Construct a Hallway Table With Storage
You can attach a door to an existing small set of drawers to create this hallway table stand. You can even add a shelf up top and also include some hooks.
You can upcycle a door and a table to create a DIY potting table for your garden. You can find a tutorial and check out different designs
here.
You can create a beautiful bench from some doors in only about 60 minutes. Get the tutorial
here.
11) Construct a Garden Shed
This garden shed is absolutely adorable and was made with a few old doors, some creativity, and some elbow grease.
12) Install a Drink Station or Bar
This is the most adorable project and is perfect for inside or outside your home when you are entertaining. There are lots of different designs for these so you can get creative. You can find instructions on how to make one
here.
13) Turn Into a Kitchen Island
If you have some carpentry skills, you can create a base and add a door to it to create a kitchen island. Place a piece of glass on top and you have a beautiful focal point.
This nightstand was crafted from an old door, some pieces of fencing, and two squares of wood. You can get the directions on how to make one on your own
here.
15) Create an Outdoor Nook
You can attach four doors with some hinges and install a roof to create this darling little nook. How cute is this in your backyard?
16) Turn Into a Room Divider
These glass doors were repositioned and used to create a closed-off little nook. It’s a room within a room without having to buy all new materials.
17) Build an Accent Table
This door was combined with a half table and shelf to create an adorable garden station or accent table. Perfect for that farmhouse-chic look that’s so popular right now.
18) Use as a Bedframe Accent Piece
This vintage glass door was positioned above a bed frame to create a shabby chic-looking accent piece for your bedroom. Just gorgeous!
19) Repurpose Into a Mirror
This door was repurposed into a mirror along with a convenient hook to hang clothing from. If your door had a window, simply knock it out and replace with a mirror.
This door is now a headboard that includes a convenient lamp. Of course, this idea will require some cables, lighting, and a bit of handywork.
A few floating shelves were added to this old door to make a neat shelf. Looks lovely in the corner of a room or as a statement piece in your entryway.
22) Turn Into a Family Calendar
You can slap a coat of some chalkboard paint to create a unique family calendar. Doors and chalkboard paint seem to be quite the combo!
23) Build a Bathroom Organizer
Why go out and buy an expensive bathroom organizer? All you need to do is attach a simple hanging shelf and towel rack to an old door.
24) Make a Laundry Folding Table
Just nail the door frame to your wall, leave the hinges attached, and use some chains to secure the door in order to create this really neat-looking laundry table.
25) Make a Picture Display
You can use an old door to create this charming photo display. Who knew that some simple twine and clothespins could be so adorable?
26) Construct a Coffee Table
Need a coffee table? Chop up a door, put it back together again in the shape of a box, and add some casters to it. The possibilities are endless!
27) Turn Into a Coat Hanger
A few hooks and crates were added to this old door to make this really cool coat hanger. Could you imagine seeing this piece as you walk into a home?
28) Build a Garden Trellis
The frames of this door were salvaged and repurposed into a garden trellis. Plant ‘climbing plants’ nearby and watch it transform into a whimsical piece.
Make your garden look like another dimension with this magical garden door. Just prop up a door against your fence, and make a creative doorway for it. Add some reflective paper behind the windows of the doors to make it look magical. Find out how it’s done
here.
30) Use as an Outdoor Backdrop
If your patio or sitting space is looking a little bare, try giving it a backdrop. Placing two vintage doors together is the perfect way to create the backdrop. It gives the space a unique feel.
You can also turn some old doors into a sweet outdoor swing. This project even uses parts of a table so it’s completely upcycled. Learn how to make it
here.
32) Turn it Into a Tool Shed
Create a beautiful shed from old doors. This design uses four. Learn how to make it
here. It’s easier than you think it would be.
33) Construct an Outdoor Message Board
You can turn an old door into a really cool outdoor message board with a coat of chalkboard paint. You can change up your inspirational messages each season. It’s a very simple project to do.
34) Transform it Into a Pergola
Doors make the perfect building materials for a pergola. These ones are brightly painted to create a bold accent in the garden. All you have to do is create some structure for the roof.
35) Build a Sliding Pantry Door
Attach the old door to a track and add some rollers to the bottom to make a perfect sliding pantry door. Take the ‘barn door idea’ to the next level.
36) Turn It Into a Desk With Shelf
Stand an old door up, and attach a table. Follow this with some corbels and planks to make a desk with a shelf.
37) Use as an Outdoor Hanging Table
Hang your old door from a tree branch using some sturdy rope. The door makes a perfect table for a picnic when used this way. Could you imagine the dinner parties?
Tear apart your door, and use the wood to build a sofa frame. Add some cushions for comfort. It will take some carpentry work, but clearly, it’s worth it.
39) Construct an Entryway Organizer
Need a place to toss random things on when you come into the house? Affix a door to a shelf or chest, and paint them the same color. Learn how to make the one below
here.
40) Turn it Into a Corner Shelf
Save some space by cornering your shelving with this colorful old door. The directions can be found
here. It’s much easier than you think.
With a little ingenuity and creativity, you can take an old door and turn it into a super cute spice rack and backsplash in your kitchen.
42) Make a Garden Entryway
Create a unique entryway to your garden or backyard using some trellis and a pair of old doors. It will make you feel like you’re walking into a whole new world.
43) Another Bedframe Idea
Here’s another absolutely adorable bedframe idea using a vintage or antique door. Just add a small shelf to the top and you even have extra storage.
44) Create a Gorgeous Lounge Area
Who knew that few old doors could create something so gorgeous? Arrange them in a way to create a daybed, add some cushions of your choosing, and now you have a relaxing area that you’d never want to leave.
Sconces on the wall look beautiful, but if you attach them to some vintage/antique doors first? Now they’re statement pieces. Once again, you might need professional advice for these, but they’re definitely DIY.
An office desk and workspace has never looked better when you create the desk out of an old door. Stain it in a color that will work for you, attach some legs, and place some glass on top.
As we’ve seen in previous slides, chalkboard paint can work wonders when it comes to transforming an old door. But, did you know that there’s magnetic paint too? Oh, yes.
48) Hanging Kitchen Shelf
Replace the wood in the body of your door with some panes of glass, hang from the ceiling, attach some hooks, and voila! You have a one-of-a-kind hanging shelf for your kitchen. You can even see what’s stored above!
49) Create a Multi-Photo Picture Frame
If you have an old door with multiple inlays, knock them out and turn those spaces into picture frames. Of course, this will take a bit of work, but look at the outcome! So worth it.
Barn doors are beautiful but French-style barn doors? Even more gorgeous! This particular idea seems to involve screen doors for extra air flow and ventilation. Here’s the tutorial.
An old door, or even a shutter, can be used to create a fun accent piece in your living or dining room. This idea took an old door and some silver binder clips to make an absolutely stunning piece of decor.
52) Headboards for the win!
If we’ve learned anything during this slideshow, it’s that old doors are meant to be transformed into headboards. We just love this brightly-colored look contrasting against the neutral-colored wall.
Sometimes an old door is just a statement piece on its own. Simply prop it against a wall or in the corner and you instantly have a bold decor piece worth swooning over.
54) Transform Into A Clock
“With the right perspective, art is everywhere. This idea takes two things not typically associated with each other – doors and clocks – and jams them together,” says
Homemade Home Ideas. Here’s the
tutorial.
Disguise an old coat closet with the help of a cool-looking, old vintage door. Take some inspiration from this beautiful project below. Just stunning!
Not only can upcycling an old door give an area in your home more character, it is good for the environment too. Consider the previous DIY upcycling projects to turn your old doors into useful items around your home.
