How to Make Asian Screen Closet Doors

The Shoji Screen Theme

• 1

  Leave the existing closet door intact and measure its width and length with a tape measure. Subtract 1/2 inch from the width and 1/2 inch from the length of door, and record the measures on a piece of paper. This prevents any overhang of the paper over the edges of the door once the design pieces are assembled together.

  Using the existing doors works, as light does not need to pass through the screens, and the contents of the closet need to remain concealed.

• 2

  Transfer each door's measurements to the paper or fabric Shoji screen. Mark the paper or fabric with a pencil; draw straight cutting lines with the pencil using the straight edge.

• 3

  Cut the paper or fabric for the screen with scissors.

• 4

  Line up the paper or fabric to the closet door, leaving about a 1/2-inch gap between the material and the door's edges. Use a staple gun to tack the paper or fabric to the door by stapling all around the material's perimeter. Orient the staples to come out parallel to the edge of the door. Repeat the same process with the other door or doors.

• 5

  Measure and cut the top and bottom 1/4-by-2-inch strip pieces using each door's width measurement. Apply a bead of wood glue, align one flush to the top edge of the door and one flush to the bottom. Then, nail to the existing door with 1-inch brad nails.

• 6

  Measure the vertical distance between the top and bottom 1/4-by-2-inch-strips, and use this measurement to cut two long, vertical strips of the same wood for each door. Apply a bead of wood glue along their lengths, align them to each vertical edge of the door and nail in place with the 1-inch brad nails.

• 7

  Add additional wood strips horizontally and vertically over the center part of the door to complete the Shoji screen look. Divide the vertical, and then the horizontal, space evenly, measure and cut the wood strips to fit in the design, and then nail and glue the 1/4-by-2-inch strips into the door.

  There are several ways to orient the wood strips in a pattern on the doors, such as only putting horizontal strips, the traditional horizontal and vertical box pattern, or even a contemporary, Asian, geometric design.

• 8

  Stain the wood strips with a wood stain that coordinates with the room's decor, then coat it with one to two coats of polyurethane.