What to do with your louvered doors?

 I have a love hate relationship with louvered doors.   I like the free flow of air into closets,  but I dislike each of the vertical lines and fussiness.   Many houses integrated the eighties sport such type of door.  We have removed many of ours and replaced these with a contemporary looking slab door more commensurate with the streamlined look I like, so we decided to update others.


And here's the final remaining set we have now just anticipating a facelift.....

How to update louvered doors

Designing Home: Updated louvered doors 

All you need is 1/8 inch MDF or plywood  (some doors can have enough room for 1/4 in. ) and construction adhesive, (PL Premium is my favourite). 

 Lay the doors using a table or bench and study the size of each panel area.  Cut the wood  to cover each  louvered panel section,  add a dot of adhesive every third slat next to the border and press the wood panel set up.  It should fit snugly, otherwise you can always caulk any seams before painting.

Use clamps or add something heavy to carry each panel set up and let it dry overnight.  Add new handles which you decide on.

Reusing louvered doors achievable projects 

When you take away the doors towards new ones that you are left with two perfectly good doors that requirement a new life.  

Designing Home: Louvered bathroom cabinet

Here's the cupboard my husband manufactured for our summer house  from the very best half of two closet doors.  It nestles nicely in to a small alcove in the primary bath and holds stuff you don't want on display. It also provides a great surface for changing vignettes.  We decided against hardware since you can easily open using a louver being a pull.  It also accounts for a more contemporary feel. And now what things to make from your bottoms???

There so many creative ideas for louvers on Pinterest.  I admit that a great many of them employ a country or beach feel for many years,  but should you crave a much more contemporary look it is possible to achieve it.

These are my top three faves:

Headboard 

source

Painting the louvers  black  the headboard  a very contemporary feel that I quite like.

This treatment is much more country, but could be updated  if they were painted charcoal and the bedding was adjusted accordingly.


Sofa table 

The straight lines of this table make it suitable for any decor. Colour and what you put on it can automatically update the look.


Standing Shelves 

Jessica Monroe

If you wanted this undertake a more contemporary feel you might paint shelves and sides a similar colour and add plain crown to the top level and bottom.

So many creative uses of louvers.  I wish to see materials finding a new life!