Here’s a little quick-hit for you today from Jennifer Squires who gave her plain closet door a Shaker-style makeover. It was supposed to be a quick-hit anyway, but then I wanted to be sure I was correct with the terminology, so I googled ‘Shaker style furniture.’ A deep-dive into Wikipedia later, and I now know everything I ever wanted and needed to know about that topic. Here’s a summary:
“Shaker furniture is a distinctive style of furniture developed by the United Society of Believers in Christ’s Second Appearing, commonly known as Shakers, a religious sect that had guiding principles of simplicity, utility and honesty. Their beliefs were reflected in the well-made furniture of minimalist designs.”
Then I laughed at the irony in giving a completely plain door a ‘Shaker-style’ makeover, when Shaker-style aims to embody minimalism, but I’m realizing now as I’m typing this that this is probably only funny to me, I don’t know you guys, I’m tired.
REGARDLESS, it looks awesome. I’m going to Shaker-style up every plain door that crosses my path from now on, and you can too.


Such a simple way to add interest to your home. Check out Jennifer’s blog to see how!
And speaking of shaking like we totally were, here’s a link to one of my very favorite Jack White songs, I’m Shakin’, which will surely set your day on fire and make you dance, you don’t get a choice, you must dance.




10 Comments
Sheree L
July 27, 2018 at 8:14 PMJennifer did a fabulous job! It looks so much better now! I’m so glad you are posting again, Lindsey. Thank you for sharing 🙂
Jennifer Squires
July 28, 2018 at 5:07 AMThanks for featuring my door Lindsey! Love what you found out when you looked into. And I’m a HUGE Jack White fan! We just saw him when he was in Toronto last month. Always have him cranked up nice and loud when I’m in the studio!
Lyndsey
July 28, 2018 at 1:21 PMThis looks great! I love this sort of makeover.
LeeAnn
July 28, 2018 at 3:59 PMShaker style has been my favorite for years. Simple & beautiful.
Mary Ann E.
July 28, 2018 at 6:01 PMLOVED your take on a Shaker simplicity ‘makeover’ — as always, you find the funny and it (always) makes me SMILE!
I’ve done something similar to doors, and it always looks so much better. Adding trim and caulking (seams) is the easy part… but, painting doors is a whole other story. (along with extending the jamb because the door sticks out further)
Mumzy
July 30, 2018 at 7:15 AMI love this!!! It looks amazing!
Peggy
July 30, 2018 at 8:00 AMThis is one of my favorite diy upgrades. I’ve done it on all my flat doors, using the cheap primed underlayment plywood from Lowe’s.
Elaine Wagg
July 30, 2018 at 1:16 PMI like it! But what’s with the handle up so high? I don’t mind it, but is someone trying to keep little kids from opening the door? My dad is a woodworker and as a result I have 3 Shaker style chairs in my home. I used to have a bench too but when I downsized and my parents simultaneously upsized their housing, it went back to them.
Patty
July 30, 2018 at 8:07 PMI totally get why you laughed. Years ago an online friend talked about how she wanted to simplify her life. That day I was in a decorating store and saw a little pillow with “simplify” embroidered on to it. I debated on getting it, but figured I would just come back if I really wanted it. I came back the next day and they were all gone!. So I sewed a pillow and embroidered “simplify” on it and sent to her. And I laughed as I sent it to her.
Lindsey @ Better After
August 2, 2018 at 8:31 AMYour comment just sent me on an internet hunt for a picture of sign I once saw … I couldn’t find it, but someone had snapped a picture in a boutique of a wooden sign that was hand painted with the word SIMPLIFY on it, and it had all these embellishments on the sign, including a plastic garland of leaves and sunflowers that wrapped around the whole thing, oh BOY, it was sooo unintentionally hilarious.