How to Make Saloon Style Swinging Doors

Measure the width of the door opening. Allow at least one-half inch clearance on both sides of the door for the swinging hinge. Leave at least one-half inch or more for a gap between the doors. Divide that amount by two to determine how wide each panel needs to be. Determine how long you want the saloon-style doors to know the final dimensions for each of the swinging doors.

Select wood or other materials for the doors if you don’t find door panels to your liking. Louvered shutters, lattice panels, decorative panels and barn siding are all possible ideas.

Measure and cut framing material from 1-by-3-inch lumber, if necessary. Cut four pieces the length of the door and four pieces the width of the door, using a circular saw. Sandwich the edges of the door material between the lumber. Secure the lumber frame to the door panel with at least three screws per side.

Sand any rough edges on the door material with fine-grit sandpaper. Give the wood a coat of primer and allow it to dry. Give the wooden door panels two coats of paint, allowing each coat to dry before proceeding.

Attach two hinges to both of the outside edges of the saloon door panels, using screws from the hinge kits. You'll want to use double-action barrel hinges, which allow the door to swing 180 degrees in both directions. The hinges will also return the doors to the closed position.

Hold one of the doors in place against the doorjamb. Use a carpenter’s level to get it straight horizontally and vertically. Mark the location of the hinges.

Drill pilot holes into the doorjamb for the hinges, using a drill. Hold the door panel back into position and attach it to the doorjamb with the screws from the hinge kits.

Hold the second door in place against the doorjamb. Use the level to get this door straight vertically and horizontally. It also needs to be even with the first door.

Drill pilot holes for the hinges of the second door. Secure the second door to the doorjamb with screws from the hinge kits.