You may be looking for closet door ideas to tuck away clutter and make a room appear more minimal, but don’t underestimate their ability to add to your overall design plan too. “Closet doors are an opportunity to make a generic eyesore into something that enhances the feeling and look of the space,” says interior designer Shannon Eddings of Shannon Eddings Interiors. From French doors to sliding doors, there are many options to choose from depending on how much space you have in a room. Finishing touches such as bold paint colors, textured door panels, and eye-catching door hardware can intentionally add value to the overall space. To help you get started on your next closet door makeover, we asked interior designers to share their best tips and design ideas.
“There are plenty of ways to design a functional closet door without using folding closet doors,” says Jennifer Ami Kole of Jenami Designs. Murphy doors, sliding doors, and pocket doors are all good options if you’re looking to save space. As the following closet door ideas show, consider the room’s big picture and use the doors intentionally to add value and texture to the overall space. hopper window
Before adding bells and whistles, remember that closet doors function to conceal storage and should usually be opaque, says interior designer Susan Yeley, creative director and owner at Susan Yeley Homes. “They have the power to make maximalists look like minimalists,” she explains.
There are endless types of closet doors and design ideas, says interior designer Eleanor Tate Trepte of Dekay and Tate Interiors in Palm Beach. But lately, she’s been seeing a lot of French, bypass, and wallpapered doors, along with custom closets when space allows.
“We are seeing a lot of contrasting and unique doors that separate the room with charm and interest,” adds Shelby Van Daley of Daley Home. After all, walking into a closet space is how you start and end your day, Trepte says—you might as well go with a design that makes you feel great and lifts your mood.
Closet doors shouldn’t be an afterthought, whether in a living room, bedroom, or mudroom. “Such fundamental elements of a room like the closet door should be decided fairly early on in the design process to ensure that you can marry function and style efficiently and effectively,” says Kole.
Start by making sure the doors work within the limits of the space. “A good closet door experience should be smooth, almost effortless when opening,” Kole adds. Then, you can add flair through more unique design details.
Now, onto the closet door ideas.
A dark bedroom is cozy and refined, and the same should go for the room’s closet doors. “If we were to just put in plain old white closet doors it would ruin the appeal and mystique of the space—a total vibe killer,” says interior designer Kole of this Chicago primary bedroom. Black paneling adds textural interest to the closet doors while sleek brass knobs elevate the space.
A home with a mix of old and new materials can feel more visually interesting. In this primary bathroom, reclaimed wood closet doors contrast against a bright bathroom with white walls and marble floors. “We sourced them at an antique supplier in Arizona,” explains interior designer Daley, adding that when restoring antique doors she aims to find a different design than the rest of the home to make them stand out.
Sliding barn doors hang flush against a wall, making them a great option in a smaller room. This door style may have traditionally been associated with rustic home decor, but a few finishing touches can make them more modern. “To keep them from looking too farmhousey we painted them a high gloss black and dressed them up with elegant brass hardware from a local antique dealer,” says Sam Sacks, founder and principal designer of Sam Sacks Design. In this Toronto primary bedroom in a converted chocolate factory, the sliding closet doors also allow more space for furniture.
“It’s important to think outside of the box with closet doors to ensure that they aren’t installed in a generic way,” says interior designer Eddings of her decision to upgrade these traditional slab doors with curtain rods. A floral pattern and muted colors give this child’s bedroom a touch of whimsy, and the closet doors feel like an intentional part of the design, as the trim blends in with the rest of the space. Eddings ordered pre-hung double doors without the glass and added custom-made gathered curtain panels to give the effect of a handmade armoire. “It’s very classic and English in style and lends a much higher-end aesthetic to basic closets,” she says.
Nothing creates a focal point faster than a bold pop of color. The bright blue doors in this West Palm Beach bedroom by Dekay and Tate Interiors draw the eye immediately. “Every aspect of this house has interesting shapes, colors, patterns, and lines, and we did not want to overlook any aspect of the design,” says Trepte of the decision to paint these three panel-style doors. The doors to the closet, bathroom, and entrance of the room all match for a cohesive feel.
Closet doors that incorporate natural materials and woodworking can bring instant warmth to a room. In the home office of an Indiana midcentury home by Susan Yeley Homes, closet doors hide office supplies and keep the printer out of sight. The doors are crafted from locally sourced, rift-sawn white oak that adds warmth while concealing any clutter. Sculptural door knobs are an intentional finishing touch, adding visual appeal. “This office is small so we designed the closets to have presence, rather than just receding utility,” Yeley adds.
Adding texture is one of the best ways to turn closet doors into a focal point—just take this young boy’s room in the Hudson Valley. “To stay true to the character of this historic home and reduce exposed Sheetrock, we used beadboard for both the closet exterior and door, painted in a warm brown satin finish to complement the room’s timeless charm,” says Louise Copeland, lead designer and founder of L.B. Copeland Interior Design in Charlotte. Adding beadboard can also be a DIY project for an already existing door. This built-in closet was designed to fit into the small room, therefore changing the shape of the space, but it blends seamlessly into the design.
Bifold closet doors are a handy option when you don’t want doors to swing too far into the room and interfere with furniture. Closet doors open to reveal a hidden bar area in this San Francisco dining room designed by Emily Stegner-Schwartz and Lisa Odyniec, coprincipals at ES|LO Design Studio. Built-in shelving for wine glasses is an additional space saver in the well-designed closet.
Closet doors don’t have to deviate from the rest of your design to make an impact. “Here, inexpensive louvered doors made the most sense as they tuck away neatly without impacting the floor space,” says interior designer Sacks of this four-year-old girl’s bedroom in Ontario. “By spraying them the same color as the millwork and paneling, the overall impact is a much higher-end selection.”
Want to add some cheer to your closet door design? Take inspiration from this colorful guest bedroom, inspired by a Palm Beach boutique hotel-style retreat, with whimsical pattern play. Courtnay Tartt Elias, principal and creative director of Creative Tonic Design in Houston, used Chinese Chippendale millwork to add texture to this walk-in closet. The doors were painted coral along with the trim work, so they’d color-match other linens in the room. “The result is a light, bright, welcoming space with thoughtful details and pops of fun—while remaining sophisticated and elegant,” Elias says. Similarly, you could add patterned decals or wallpaper to an interior door.
Closet doors don’t have to just be functional in a small space, they can also help the room feel bigger and brighter. One of the best ways to do so is with glass mirrored cabinetry, says interior designer Copeland. “It’s perfect for smaller or darker areas since the glass bounces light around and doubles as a full-length mirror without taking up extra room,” she adds. Plus, in this New York City coat closet by L.B. Copeland Interior Design, passersby can take one last look at their outfit before walking out the door for the day.
Magic closet doors have a hidden sliding door track, which makes it easy to access the closet without disrupting the flow of the room, explains interior designer Jessica Quintero of Designed by JQ in Florida, who remodeled this vacation rental on Going Home With Tyler Cameron. Magic barn doors are practical, and the light natural wood tone adds warmth and character to the serene space. “Their minimalist design, free of ornate handles or detailing, allows the beauty of the wood to take center stage,” Quintero says.
Closets aren’t just for tucking away clothes and items you’d rather keep in storage. In this vacation home, closet doors actually hide an entire additional sleeping area. “The folding doors were specifically designed to be a size that could accordion-fold away to fully expose the bunks,” says Margaret Donaldson, CEO and principal designer at MDI Luxury Design in Charleston. “When the doors are closed, you are unaware that the bunk space, which sleeps eight people, is behind.”
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