When I was a kid, someone asked me if I could have a super power what would it be, and I remember very clearly my answer. It wasn’t to fly, or to move things with my mind or anything cool like that. I wished that I could have the power to make things new again. Maybe you think that is a deep and reflective answer? It wasn’t. I literally just wanted to be able to touch old rusty, dented, scratched, ugly things and make them shiny and perfect again. Oh, this old bent stop sign by my house? Poof! New again!
Who would choose that lame super power over FLYING? What kind of weird kid even cares about stuff like that? This kind!
Makeovers are the next best thing. Turning something unattractive into a better, more beautiful version of itself? That’s a super power to me.
Like what Better After reader Christina did with her bi-fold closet doors. Previously, they were … not that cute. Very few bi-fold closet doors are. I’ve yet to meet any.
Until now! Yes, these are the very same doors, just trimmed with quarter-inch pine plywood strips and painted. If you have ugly closet doors in your life, you can do it too! The only super power you need is patience, because Christina reports that this job takes approximately forever.
It required lots of hole filling, sanding, priming, painting, and repeating, plus a top-coat of Varathane to harden the finish. But the end result really is worth it.
9 Comments
Alicia S
August 9, 2016 at 11:48 AMThat is really creative and beautiful, and you could do that with any old door! Feeling inspired, now if I could just figure out how to feel energized!
GingerLola
August 9, 2016 at 2:17 PMWow, that looks fabulous!
Elaine Wagg
August 9, 2016 at 3:49 PMThese doors are awesome but I would NOT have the patience to do that myself!
Gilmer Gal
August 10, 2016 at 7:52 PMSometimes I see DIY on plain ugly door and I think to myself, “Why didn’t I put plain doors in my house so I could make them special.” Sigh..
georgina
August 11, 2016 at 9:09 AMHi
What blog is this from?
Thanks
Lindsey @ Better After
August 12, 2016 at 6:58 AMShe does not have a blog, it’s a reader submission!
Brandi
August 12, 2016 at 11:05 AMThese look great. I think I just found my next project. Thanks to the reader who submitted this, for the inspiration!
Ridley Fitzgerald
October 6, 2016 at 12:11 PMBi fold doors are great, but not if they look like the “before” picture you have here. However, adding that plywood and painting the doors made a huge difference! I need to look at all of the doors in my house now.
Karen
October 20, 2016 at 3:34 PMThose are beautiful! I wish my bedroom closet doors look like that.