Decorating with doors

Doors can be more than just the entry to a home. They can also be used as decorative elements inside the home, especially if the door has interesting carvings and some character.

The price of a used door spans a wide range, depending on the type of door, its antique appeal, and origin.  A standard six panel door from a warehouse store will be less expensive than an antique Moroccan Moorish Carved Door, so it's important to establish realistic expectations when shopping for a door. 

How to reuse doors as home decor

The dimensions of most entry doors provides a generous amount of design material, and can be re-purposed to make beautiful interior decor in many ways.

• Room divider – Use hinges to attach two or three doors together to form an impressive room divider
• Headboard - Doors create a unique look above a bed. Turn one door on its side and you have instant headboard, or line up a few in different textures or colors standing on end for a headboard that really makes a statement. They can be attached right to the wall, or directly to the bed frame (directions here).
• Wall Décor – Doors that have carvings or iron inserts create a “wow” wall hanging and bring an old world feel to any room. Since this type of door can be quite heavy, it should be bolted into the wall with wall anchors.
• Table tops – A door makes a great dining table top or can be cut to create coffee or end tables. Add custom sized beveled glass to cover the finished table to create a smooth, flat surface that allows the beauty and character of the door to show through.

Shopping for a door with character:

When shopping for a used door, look for solid wood with a weathered finish or interesting characteristics. A few dings and imperfections can be worked into any design style and just add to the door's unique look. The older the better because old wood doors usually come with intriguing etchings and carvings, stained glass, etc. inherent to the way all doors were crafted at one time. Shop flea markets, yard sales, antique shops and salvage yards. New doors can be used if preferred, but should be roughed up a bit to make them look as if they have already seen a useful life. Intentional distressing can be accomplished by using chains, hammers, screw drivers, etc.

In Phoenix, Arizona, contact the following businesses to determine their stock of doors:

Stardust Building Supplies
Several locations
480-668-0566

Razmataz
Several locations
(623) 215-0500

Mexamigo
17442 North Cave Creek Road
Phoenix
602-992-3624

The Town Dump
6820 E Cave Creek
Cave Creek, AZ
480-488-9047

J&K Furniture
2811 E Bell
Phoenix, AZ 85032
602-992-6990

Re-conditioning  the Door

If the door will be used in a rustic, old world, country or coastal living decor, the door probably won't need to be refinished, just brushed down with a wire brush or steel wool,  cut to size and used as is. If the design plan calls for paint or stain,  sand lightly to remove any rough patches and loose paint chips.  Then clean the surface that will be painted or stained by wiping down with a solution of 2 teaspoons TSP to a gallon of water. If there are visible splinters, be sure to sand those spots with a sander until smooth.

The door can then be repainted with a crackle or
shabby chic finish, or stained with gel stain.  It's important, however, not to get too carried away with trying to make the door look new again. Instead, take advantage of the door's aged imperfections by restoring just it to a usable condition, and  then celebrate its past rather than trying to erase it.  Let that door and its history talk to you and your guests as it fills your home with warmth and old world charm!