Recycled Door Room Dividers Project

The Materials

• The first step towards creating a beautiful room divider is getting the right materials. Local scrap and salvage stores may have previously used construction items -- like doors. Another place to look is local antique stores. Flea markets might also have a selection of doors from which to choose. Ideally, room dividers are constructed out of 3 to 5 doors. Some dividers use doors that are all the same size, but doors of varying sizes may be used to create a shabby-chic look.

How it's Designed

• Before building a room divider, it's important to determine how the finished product to look. Many people want to keep the doors' natural finishes, or they may want to sand and stain the doors to a consistent natural finish. On the other hand, the doors may be painted with a bright color to match one's decor. Finishing touches might include stenciling designs onto the doors, or installing decorative knobs to create an intriguing look.

How It's Built

• Building a room divider is a 2-person project. Someone holds the doors in place while the other person installs the hinges. Holes are drilled for the hinges at the same height on each door with 2 to 3 door hinges being installed on the first door. The unattached side of the hinge is then attached to the second door. This process is repeated until all of the doors are attached to each other.

How It's Used

• Room dividers are great for dividing large spaces or creating a small private area like a dressing room. Room dividers are used in the home by closing or opening each door slightly to create a zigzag pattern. This room divider is also very versatile because it can be repainted to fit into a new location or decor. Finally, a room divider can be dressed up by draping a decorative scarf or beads over the tops of each door.