During these times of the novel Coronavirus, DIY is becoming more and more popular, so we thought we’d hop onto the trend. We appreciate that people’s budgets are probably a little tighter at the minute, so what better time to upcycle something old and no longer useful?
While not everyone has an old door lying around, if you’re thinking of getting some new doors in your home, then here are some great ideas for what to do with your unused ones. Here are 40 ways to get your creative brains ticking and learn how to upcycle your old doors.
1. Create your own Outdoor Nook
On the topic of COVID, people have been spending a lot more time in their homes. Whether you’re working from home, or simply can’t spend as much leisure time away from your house, then it makes perfect sense to create a beautiful outdoor area for you and your family to spend some time in. This pretty nook was created using four doors and a roof.
2. A garden fence
Do you happen to have a lot of old doors lying around? Then this might be the one for you. Create a unique garden fence that will leave all the neighbors wishing they had one!
3. A garden shed
Have you ever seen something as pretty as this? This shed is more adorable than anything you could buy at the store and was made with some vintage-looking doors. We love the pop of teal.
4. Build a bookshelf
This idea is so creative, that we didn’t even realize it was made from a door at first! It’s so clever how the panels were tipped back to make the shelves. Simple but effective!
5. A Hallway table with storage
For the more creative of you, this is a perfect piece of DIY to spend your time on. Not only does it look pretty, but it’s super practical as well. Who doesn’t need more storage?
6. A drink station/bar
When we’re allowed to entertain guests again, this little makeshift bar would be the envy of all your friends. As far as we can see, pretty much the entirety of this bar has been made out of one door, so it’s super thrifty as well. The great thing is that it’s totally your choice what extra little touches you want to add.
7. A potting table
If you’re super into DIY and gardening, then this could be the project for you. Potting tables make things so much easier than working on the ground, and we love that this person added in a little homemade birdbox as well. How adorable!
8. A rustic bench
We’ll have to admit, we’re not the biggest fans of the generic metal benches that are popping up all over cities. This bench is made out of a door, and it has a beautiful quality that we don’t see very often when we’re out and about. The addition of the wreath just brings it all together.
9. An outdoor swing
Outdoor swings are a great way to make your house feel more like a home, and if you can’t find any in the stores that you like, then now could be a perfect time to make your own. This chair is so expertly crafted that it’s hard to tell that it was made from a door! The cushions are perfectly to our taste, too.
10. A planter
If you’d like to spruce up an old door but you don’t quite have the skills to be doing some extreme DIY, then take a look at this upcycle. It’s not too difficult to secure your plant pots to the door, but the end result looks so beautiful! Just imagine when the plants are growing and trailing out from the pots.
11. A handy table
You don’t have to be a DIY expert to transform an old object into something new, as we can see in this picture. This thrifty person needed a table but decided to make one out of an old door instead of buying one. This is the kind of unique piece of art that can’t be bought from a store.
12. A Jewelry Organizer
If there never seems to be enough room for your jewelry, then it may be worth creating your own holder for them all. This is another pretty simple piece of DIY, as all you have to do is add hooks to the doors. Now your jewelry is organized, and it looks pretty.
13. A kitchen island
Similar to the table, all that this door requires is a polish, a lick of paint and some legs to turn it into an island. First, take your measurements and create the correct sized frame for the door. Next up, add your door on top and secure. A pretty vase full of flowers will complete the look.
14. A chalkboard calendar
Not only is this idea really inventive, but it’s also pretty useful as well. In a busy family home, it’s often easy to forget about where we’re supposed to be at what time. But with this calendar chalkboard, it’s easy to keep tabs on what everybody’s doing.
15. A divider
If you’re working from home but only have a small space, then this could be perfect for you. The glass doors allow you to still be able to see what’s going on while giving you a much-needed workspace at the same time. This looks pretty simple to put together, as well.
16. A cupboard door
If you want to give your house more of a rustic feel, why not replace a cabinet door with an older one? This is perfect for giving your home a bit of character, and would be the talking point for any bathroom.
17. A bookshelf
We love seeing all the different ways people can make a bookshelf out of their old doors, and this one looks like it can hold a lot. It appears that the whole thing has been made out of two doors, so this person has obviously been pretty thrifty. Save this picture for next time you’re updating your doors!
18. An inspiring wall piece
If you’re more of the creative type than the DIY type, why not create your own inspiring wall piece on your old door? Add your favorite poem or motivational quote, then just prop it in the corner of the room. You will feel more positive every time you read it.
19. A headboard
We’re honestly amazed at where people get their creative ideas from, because never in a million years would we have thought that this could look good- but it does! Just made sure that they’re secured in properly. You wouldn’t want one of these to fall on your head when you were sleeping.
20. A bathroom organizer
If you’re like us, and you feel like there’s not enough space to hang all of your family’s towels, then why not use an old door to create a bathroom organizer? This person added a shelf and a towel rack, but you can add on whatever you need.
21. A bench
We’re obsessed with the cut-out design on this bench, and we think it looks so modern and unique. You can hardly tell that this one was made from a door, and it’s clear that a lot of craftsmanship has gone into it. We’d love to have one of these in our garden.
22. A coffee table
Coffee tables are pretty expensive to buy these days, so if you have the skill, then you could easily make your own out of an old door. The great thing about making your own coffee table is that you can make sure that it’s the perfect size for your living area. This one is simply adorable.
23. A bed
This entire bed has been made out of a door, and it’s one of the most original designs we’ve ever seen. This bed would be perfect for a little boy or girl, and they would love the fact that it was one of a kind.
24. A garden bench
When you’re making your own crafts, who needs to follow the rules? This adorable piece of furniture could be a one-seater bench, or maybe a shelf to hold some outdoor bits and pieces. The choice is yours!
25. A noticeboard
Noticeboards aren’t just for your college days- they’re also a great way to organize and plan for the week ahead. Think of it like a fridge that you’d stick magnets onto- except better! We think this is such a clever idea.
26. A Table
Undoubtedly, this table was once a door, and we love that the designer even left in the handle! (Though admittedly, it might get slightly in the way if you were trying to eat there.) This pastel blue color is positively dreamy.
27. A bookshelf
If this slideshow has taught us anything, it’s that upcycled doors make great bookshelves! No matter what the design, they always turn out looking brilliant, and it’s such a great way to clear up some clutter around your house. If you don’t have that many books, you could always use the shelves to store ornaments and candles, like this person has.
28. A table and chairs
Cheap dining sets are hard to come by, and if you can make your own, then you definitely shouldn’t waste that opportunity! This table and bench set were made entirely from old doors, which is crazy since they look brand new! Can this person come and redesign our kitchen?
29. A sliding door
This super-creative idea sees an old door be taken off its hinges and reinstalled with a rail along the top, similar to curtains. We’re not entirely sure if we’re looking into another room, or into a mirror, but either way it looks pretty effective.
30. A cane for your plants
If you want to help your plants grow to their full potential, then why not fill in an old door frame with some wire mesh and attach your plants to it? This allows heavier plants to grow upwards towards the sun without drooping down, and the old doorframe will give your garden some character.
31. A chair and a coathanger
Put this clever design right by your front door, as not only will it hold your coats, but you can also use the seat to sit down as you put on your shoes. This design is definitely for more of the experienced DIYers, but if you’re willing to give it a go, then definitely do!
32. A table and a shelf
The great thing about these designs, is that you can honestly do whatever you want with them. This crafty piece could be a dressing table, potting station or kitchen countertop, and it’s guaranteed to brighten up any room. We love how the glass panels have been kept in the back of the door.
33. An accent table
This door was combined with a few extra pieces to create a table and a shelf, and the end result is simply adorable. The farmhouse-chic style is oh-so-popular right now, and you just know that you wouldn’t be able to buy something like this at a store. It’s so creative!
34. A laundry folding table
Folding the laundry is always one of the most boring chores, but with this pretty red table, at least you have something to smile about while you’re doing it. It’s really clever how this person also kept the doorframe so that the table can be closed when it’s not in use. What a great way to save space!
35. A garden door
This unique door is giving us The Secret Garden vibes, and it looks so magical. Simply prop your door up against the fence and add some reflective plastic. You can also personalize it by writing the name of your garden along the top. Find out how it’s done here.
36. A garden swing
There’s nothing we love more than a garden swing, and this one is absolutely beautiful. The door was already stunning in itself, which we can see from the intricate markings and patterns on the wood. But as a swing chair, we think it really comes to life.
37. A 4 door shed
If you happen to have four doors lying around, then this could be the perfect project for you. Simply paint your doors, add a roof, and stick up some shelves inside. Okay, so it’s not the most simple of projects…
38. A pergola
Doors make the perfect structure for a pergola, and they’re actually pretty easy to build. We don’t know if the doors were originally this bright yellow color or whether they’ve been painted, but we’re in love. We imagine that this pergola will be surrounded by butterflies and bees in the summertime!
39. A mirrored shelf
If you have a bare stretch of wall in your house and you’re not sure how to fill it, then why not make one of these mirrored shelves? You can personalize it however you like, but we love how this person has added some white ornaments and beachy shells.
40. A set of shelves
Is there anything that these shelves don’t have? This person has kept things pretty simple by just adding two shelves onto their old door, but it looks so effective!