Give your closet a new function as an entryway.
If you have a closet that is near your front door and you want to maximize your space, consider converting your closet into an entryway. An unused closet can be converted to make an inviting entryway for your guests. Walk-in closets can provide a spacious entryway, while smaller sized closets can provide a small foyer for your guests to walk through to access the rest of the home. After developing a plan for the new space, you can begin to make the necessary architectural changes. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Take detailed measurements of the closet space. Measure the length, width and depth of the space. Plan a new layout for the closet. If the closet door needs to be relocated, make a notation of this information on your drawing. Remove all contents from the closet, and find a new location for them. Remove any closet bars and shelves so you have a completely empty space to work with.
2. Remove the closet door from its hinges and remove the hinges from the wall. Remove the door casing with a pry bar if you are moving the location of the door opening.
3. Cut drywall sheets to the measurement of the closet door. Hang drywall to cover the closet door opening. Use drywall tape to cover the seams between the drywall and the adjacent closet walls.
4. Spread joint compound with a 6-inch drywall taping knife. Cover the seam and the drywall tape with the joint compound by holding the knife at a 30-degree angle. Start in the center of the tape and work your way outward. Smooth out any air bubbles that form. Let the compound dry, and sand it smooth with 120-grit sandpaper. Add a second coat of compound and spread it over the tape and seam with a 14-inch trowel. Sand down any ridges. Add additional layers of joint compound if the tape is exposed or the coating is uneven. Continue to sand until you have a smooth surface that blends in with the nearby walls.
5. Cut out a new opening and exit from the closet if necessary. Use a drywall saw to cut out the new openings to the desired width and height. Cut out the opening in the drywall from the inside of the closet, as well as the wall in the adjacent room.
6. Cut pieces of door trim with a table saw. The door trim should be between 2 to 4 inches longer than the height of the door. The side pieces of trim should have a 90-degree angle on the bottom portion of the trim piece and a mitered 45-degree edge at the top. The top piece of door trim should have two mitered edges that match the side pieces of trim.
7. Place the top piece of door trim above the opening. Nail it in place with a hammer and finishing nails. Place one side piece of trim flush against the top piece of trim so the mitered edges align. Predrill a 1/16-inch pilot hole with a drill and drill bit in the top center and side center of the trim. Hammer 3d finishing nails in the holes to secure the trim. Repeat the process with the other piece of side trim.
8. Change the flooring if it does not match the flooring by the front door. Lay new carpet or tile or install hardwood to match the flooring by the door.
9. Paint your new entryway. The color should complement the other paint colors in your house that are visible from the front door. Add wallpaper to soften the look or to make a focal wall if you prefer.
10. Hang a new light fixture in the middle of the entryway. Closets often lack adequate lighting, and your new entryway will be one of the first spaces that guests see, so it needs to be well lit.
11. Add furnishings and decorative items to the space. Place a small console table against a wall. Hang a mirror over it. Add a small chair or two if you have the space. Personalize the space with family photos or paintings.
Tags: closet door, door trim, front door, joint compound, opening drywall, trim should
