5 New Uses for Old Doors
- Michael Franco
With imagination and elbow grease, you can transform that old door into a one-of-a-kind piece that’s both useful and beautiful.
1. Salvage Time
photo: trendir.com
Salvage yards are full of old wood doors waiting to be put back into action. But you don’t have to use these swingers in entrances or exits. Instead, you can repurpose them in a variety of ways to create something affordable, functional, and best of all, impressively unique.
Related: 16 Ways to Use Salvaged Wood in Your Home
2. Message Center
photo apartmenttherapy.com
One of the easiest and least expensive things you can do with an old door is cover it with chalkboard paint for an instant in-home message center. If you find a door that has multiple panels, try using each panel for a different purpose. Paint one section with chalkboard paint, attach a cork board to another section, and fasten a piece of sheet metal in yet another for a magnetic memo square.
Related:10 Reasons to Go Crazy for Chalkboard Paint
3. Hang It Up
photo: greenweddingshoes.com
To create a striking outdoor table, hang your door from the beams of a porch or a strong tree branch. This creates a dramatic focal point for an outdoor room. Also, it allows more seating options, as there are no legs or supports to jockey around. For hanging, drape strong twine over the beam or branch, drill holes in the door, thread the twine through and tie large knots. Eyelets secured with a bolt under the table work well with hanging chain.
Related: 12 Ways to Wake Up Your Tired Outdoor Furniture
4. Simple Storage
photo: indulgy.com
Many doors are the size of bookcases, making them perfect for that (re)purpose! You can install shelves on the front of a door for a quick and easy storage solution. (Be sure to anchor the door properly to the wall or install wooden feet beneath the bottom shelf.) Or you can add top, bottom, and side panels to form a full-fledged bookcase. Put a clip-on metal lamp on the top for some extra form and function.
Related: Shelf Life: 10 Bookcases You Can Make Yourself
5. Goodnight
photo: decoist.com
Carl Jung once said, “The dream is the small hidden door in the deepest and most intimate sanctum of the soul,” so it seems fitting to place a door above your bed. To keep things simple, you can just lean two or three doors side-by-side behind the bed. For a more formal look, consider mounting an architecturally interesting door lengthwise on the wall.
Related: 9 “Dreamy” Headboards You Can Make
