Custom closet doors can spice up a bland space
Custom closet doors give a room a unique feel that some homeowners enjoy. They're more challenging to make and install than prefabricated closet doors, but many feel the added flair is worth it. A novice carpenter can pull off this project over the weekend; the hardest part is making sure wood pieces are cut to the correct size. Pick a design that matches the rest of the room and one that is within your technical ability. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Measure the opening to the closet. You'll be building two doors that meet in the middle and swing outward, into the room. Calculate how wide and how tall the doors should be. Be sure to leave 1/4-inch margins on each side to allow the doors to swing freely within the frame.
2. Cut the wood to size. Use a type of wood that matches other wood and upholstery in the room. It is possible to use a single piece of wood, though this option is more expensive and creates heavy doors. Other options include using a cheaper wood (plywood for example) and adding an expensive-looking veneer. This latter option is preferable for many.
Place these wood pieces near where they will stand as doors to make sure you don't get confused about where hinges go relative to handles.
3. Decorate the wood to your liking. Perhaps you'll sand and stain the wood, allowing it's natural beauty to shine. Perhaps you'd rather paint the wood in an exotic design or in a bold color to spice up the room. Get creative, perhaps by carving something into the wood or having children or friends draw on the doors.
4. Install hinges along the outer edges of the doors. The hinges should come in packages with the proper hardware and instructions.
Screw the hinges into the door at the top, middle and bottom of the door. Place the door up to the frame to see where the hinges will sit. Slowly, carefully and evenly chisel out a space for the hinge to sit. Be careful, as this cannot be undone and chiseling improperly can make the finished product look amateurish.
Repeat for the other door, making sure the two doors are at equal heights. Test to see that they swing properly and close snugly but not too tightly.
5. Install the handle. The handle will also come packaged with hardware. Look for a lighter-weight door handle that is suitable for interior use, as opposed to a heavier, larger, exterior door handle. Drill a hole that is the correct size for the handle mechanism through the left side of the right door about waist height. Drill an additional hole perpendicular to this one to allow the closure mechanism to fit through.
Drill a hole in the right side of the left door to allow the closure mechanism to fit into place and hold the doors shut. The handle should come with instructions on how large these holes should be. Be sure to align the door handle with the corresponding hole exactly.
Tags: closet doors, door handle, allow closure, allow closure mechanism, closure mechanism, correct size
