Whether you want to have some fun in your kid’s room or add a bit of whimsy to your own bedroom, you’re sure to find inspiration in one of the nine ideas shown here. Make sure to remove the doors from the hinges and lay them flat before starting any of the painting projects—you’ll find it much easier to work that way. This can be a great way to update those out-of-style mirrored sliding closet doors. Craft stores, paint stores, and online retailers all sell an impressive array of stencils. Before starting, use graph paper to draw your doors and plan out your stenciled design, experimenting until you have the most pleasing layout. Read more about our Diversity and Inclusion Pledge to make The Spruce a site where all feel welcome. Make sure your kids use only dry-erase pens for drawing or writing—never use permanent markers—then simply wipe the marks away with a paper towel or rag to erase mistakes or clean the board. Cover the entire surface of the doors, or just use the chalkboard paint in the door’s centers as shown here—get all the details at Design Build Love.
First, paint the door with a base color of your choosing. (Using glossy paint makes it easier to clean the doors.) Next, paint your canvas stretchers or frames using the same color as the base (as shown here), or go bolder with a contrasting color, a rainbow of frames, or alternating hues. Then, attach the frames to the door using adhesive strips for easy removal. Before attaching the frames, plan out the pattern on the door with light pencil marks and use a level to be sure each frame is perfectly positioned to your liking. Get all the details at Curbly.
Be sure you measure before getting started—you need a rod that is at least a couple of inches wider than your closet door and curtains long enough to reach the ground once mounted. Just slide the curtains to the side, or part in the middle if you are using two panels. Before starting, remove the door from the hinges and lay it flat. Arrange your paper or fabric scraps until you like the design, and then use a decoupage adhesive like Mod Podge to adhere the design to the door. Give the finished design several top coats of Mod Podge to create a wipeable, shiny, and smooth surface.
