Image above: closet design guides by Jill Seidner Interior Design on Pinterest
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Why Look at Closet Door Alternatives?
Most of us live with whatever closet doors came with the house. Hinged doors need floor space to swing. Old bifolds rattle and jump their track. Sliding doors only ever show you half the closet at once. None of those are reasons to live with them.
The right alternative depends on three things: how much floor space you have in front of the closet, how tidy the inside is (be honest), and the style of the room. A closet in a guest room you rarely open can take a different answer than the one you dress from every morning.
My post on closet door styles walks through the classic door types. This one is about what to do when you'd rather not have a standard door at all, or want to make the doors you have look new.
1. Closet Curtains Instead of Doors
Curtains are my favorite quick fix for a small bedroom, a kids' room or a rental. They take up no floor space, they open the whole closet at once, and fabric softens a room in a way a hollow-core door never will.
How to make closet curtains look intentional, not temporary:
- Mount high. Hang the rod or track at the ceiling, or as close to it as you can, so the curtain reads as a full wall of fabric. A ceiling track like this ceiling or wall mount curtain track keeps the panels tight to the opening.
- Go wider than the opening. Let the rod run a few inches past the trim on each side so the panels stack off the opening and you can reach every corner.
- Choose a substantial fabric. Linen or a lined cotton hangs better and hides more than a sheer. I like natural linen panels such as these 84-inch linen curtains in a color close to the wall.
- Let them just kiss the floor. Too short looks like a mistake; a long puddle collects dust in a spot you walk past every day.
2. Open Shelving and Open Closets
An open closet is the boldest alternative, and the one that needs the most discipline. With no door at all, the closet becomes part of the room's design, so the inside has to look good every day.
Image via Jill Seidner Interior Design on Pinterest. View the pin
When an open closet works best:
- The opening is shallow or in a dressing area, so the clothes read as a display rather than storage.
- You can commit to matching hangers, folded stacks and a few baskets.
- There's room for lighting. A pair of sconces or an LED strip turns an open closet into a feature.
Plan the inside before you remove the doors. California Closets notes on its reach-in closet page that "utilizing double hanging poles instantly increases the amount of hanging space," which leaves room for shelves and drawers. The same page says custom reach-in systems start around $1,000 for a 6-foot closet, so a simple DIY shelf-and-rod setup is a good place to start if you're testing the look.
Image via Jill Seidner Interior Design on Pinterest. View the pin
Baskets are what keep an open closet calm. Put the visually busy things (socks, scarves, kids' clothes) into matching woven baskets like these hand-woven storage baskets, and keep the open shelves for folded sweaters and a few things you love looking at.
Image via Jill Seidner Interior Design on Pinterest. View the pin
A middle path I use often: open shelving in the center of a closet, with doors or a curtain only on the sides where the messier storage lives.
3. Bifold Door Updates
If your closet already has bifold doors, you may not need to replace them at all. Bifolds are a smart choice for a reach-in closet because they open nearly the full width. Bob Vila's guide to installing bifold closet doors calls them "a space-saving alternative" that gives easier access to the closet's interior, and lists flat-panel, six-panel, louvered, mirrored and glass-insert styles.
Ways to make tired bifolds look custom:
- Add trim. Thin molding glued and nailed to flat bifolds creates a Shaker or five-panel look. One project in Bob Vila's DIY closet door transformations turned plain wood bifolds into faux five-panel doors for about $30 each with casing and paint.
- Paint them the wall color, or go darker. Matching the wall makes the closet disappear; a deep color makes it a feature. A satin finish wipes clean.
- Try louvers or cane. Louvered bifolds let air into the closet, which Bob Vila notes helps prevent a musty closet smell. Cane or woven panels add texture and warmth. Real Homes features rattan-front wardrobes as a way to elevate a dressing room.
- Upgrade the hardware. New knobs and a smooth track make old doors feel new for very little money.
Image via Jill Seidner Interior Design on Pinterest. View the pin
Image via Jill Seidner Interior Design on Pinterest (originally from Real Homes). View the pin
For more on woven fronts, see my post on caned closets. And if you'd still like the doors to slide, my guide to sliding closet door ideas covers barn, bypass and pocket options.
How to Choose the Right Closet Door Alternative
- Tight floor space? Curtains or bifolds. Both stay close to the opening.
- Messy inside? Curtains or updated bifolds. Save open shelving for the closet you'll keep tidy.
- Want the closet to be a feature? Open shelving with lighting, or cane-front bifolds.
- Renting? Store the original doors and hang a tension rod or curtain track; it all comes down when you move.
Whatever you choose, plan the inside first: the rods, shelves and baskets decide how well any alternative works.
Closet Door Alternatives FAQ
What can I use instead of closet doors?
The most popular options are curtains on a ceiling track, open shelving with baskets, and updated bifold doors. Each keeps floor space free and opens most or all of the closet at once.
Are closet curtains a good idea?
Yes, in small bedrooms, kids' rooms and rentals. Mount them close to the ceiling, use a substantial fabric and let them reach the floor so they look finished.
How do I make bifold closet doors look better?
Add trim to create panels, paint them, swap the knobs or choose louvered or cane fronts. My closet door styles post has more ideas.
