I needed an outdoor table. I decided I could make one so I headed to the local salvage store and bought door. Soon after, I happened upon a table I couldn't live without — bought table. The "door" was left to spend the rest of the year weathering in the backyard, much to my significant other's dismay. I was issued what would be the last warning — "Do something with the door or I will". I sanded through layers of paint and revealed one gorgeous door! So gorgeous in fact, I'm a bit stumped with how to use it, for fear I'll ruin its vintage beauty. So here lies the culmination of my door-repurposing search. Perhaps some of you will be as inspired as I was.
Door Repurposing Ideas:
- Freestanding shelving unit
- Garden decor or planter
- Chalkboard
- Headboard
- Book display
- Ceiling panels
- Corkboard
- Table or desk
- Potting bench
- Kitchen pot rack
- Folding screen
- Room dividers
As you can see, the possibilities are endless. I might be more confused now than I was before! I don't need a new table and I'm pretty sure my type of door won't look right as a headboard. Currently, I'm leaning towards painting the top panel of the door with chalkboard paint and adding a narrow shelf for small potted plants just below where the doorknob would sit. I'll keep you posted on my progress, but what are your faves?
And in case you need even more inspiration, here are a few more door-related posts from our archives:
- Repurposed Doors and Windows
- 5 Creative Reuses for a Paneled Door
- Roundup: New Takes on Old Doors
- Look! Repurposed Door In The Workshop
Images: 1, Salvaged Grace; 2, Salvaged Grace; 3, reNOUNed nest; 4, Emily A Clark; 5, shelterterrific; 6 & 8 Cactus Creek Daily; 7, Design Sponge; 9, home Made; 10, home sweet homemade; 11, Paper Street Antiques; 12, Junk Market Style; 13, Apartment Therapy: San Francisco; 14, re-nest; 15, House Beautiful via CiaoInteriors; 16, Inside Real Estate; 17 & 18, MHenry
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I have a door headboard, so I obviously am for that idea, lol! But a chalkboard door in the bathroom. Really?
doorgeous headboard ;-)
I like the idea of a plant adorned door in the garden, might have to try that here. Thank you Kimber!
where would one get a vintage door like that to use? I love it behind the crib, but wouldnt even begin to know where to look. Ebay?
KatieG1234 - If you have any local salvage stores, check there. We have a couple in b-more and they have literally hundreds of doors! Otherwise, Craigslist or Ebay - somewhere you can pick it up so you don't have to pay for shipping. Doors are heavy.
Diane - Your welcome... Love the table!
Funny, I just saw this on an episode of Steve and Chris, I think yesterday. Great ideas.
I was very pleasantly surprised by this post. Some of these ideas are insanely gorgeous.
the problem with old doors is old paint. please think twice about salvaging an old door if you have kids - lead paint is no joke.
The doors as ceiling panels -- wow!
I've seen doors cut in half and installed as wainscoating, which looks great.
But I do agree with dckitty -- lead is an issue. It was used more in old gloss enamel for woodwork than in flat wallpaint, so old doors are always a prime suspect. I'd paint them before I'd use them.
Except for the restaurant applications, the rest look like you've moved to a dumpster.
i just adore the chalkboard door in the bathroom. so creative, yet luxurious.
and mm... i love m.henry's!
Hi, Ruthie here from Community Forklift, a nonprofit salvage yard in the DC area. We get a ton of reclaimed doors all the time, and I know the same is true at many places like ours. In fact, we often have to put them on sale in order to make enough room in our door department! So you can snag them pretty cheaply (when they're on sale, ours usually go for $10 or $15). So thanks much for this post - I wish more people would put them to good use.
I know people often wonder how to find thrift stores for building materials in their area. Unfortunately there is no one comprehensive listing, but we do link to a bunch of national and state directories on our website. Just scroll about halfway down the page at http://communityforklift.com/links.cfm
- you'll see links to all of the directories.
P.S. -
I agree with the comment about lead - to be 100% safe, you can get the doors stripped (there are stripping places that specialize in safely removing the paint from old woodwork and furniture).
Of course, you could always just give it a fresh coat of paint, or seal it with a clear coat to preserve the patina. However, even when you paint over the lead, doors and windows are still considered dangerous, because they are prone to chipping or rubbing as they are opened and closed.
I am no lead expert, but I have heard that if you coat it or paint it, AND you are using it in a fixed position (like a chalkboard or mirror), then it's less hazardous because it's not rubbing and moving around and generating lead dust. Again, it's not 100% safe, but it's less dangerous than not coating it at all.
Personally I like what the artist Doris Drabbe has done with doors. Taking rustic old doors and turning them into beautiful works of art: www.doris-drabbe.com. You can check out the doors here: http://www.doris-drabbe.com/Portfolio/portfolio-doorse.html
Enjoy!