When you're no longer using a room, all you're left with is an unused doorway. Not only is it an eyesore, but it can be a nuisance too. Who knows how many guests are going to try to use it. So, it leaves us with a predicament - how do we hide it? If you need ideas, let's go over some!
The first thing you'll need to consider is where the unused doorway is located. The second aspect to consider is how creative you want to get. If you'd like to keep things simple, you can place a bookshelf or mirror in front of the doorway. For a more creative approach, you can install a built-in bookcase.
Of course, the perfect way to decorate an area is a matter of opinion. Some people will like to play it safe and keep decorations simple. Others might prefer a more creative approach that involves a bit more effort. Regardless, it's better to get concepts flowing before settling on one idea. If you'd like to explore more, keep reading ahead.
Hiding An Unused Doorway
Let's start with the simple concepts. This way, you can cover it immediately and have more time to think about what to do.
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Drapes, Headboard, or Triptych Set
First, where is your unused door located? If it's in the living room or the hallway, a simple way to hide it would be to install drapes. It might look out of place. However, it gets the job done.
If the doorway is in your bedroom, there are a few simple and creative ways to hide it. The first would be to place your bed in front of it. Of course, this isn't all that you can do. You can also purchase a room divider headboard to make it look lively.
What if you don't want to purchase a headboard? The alternative would depend on how you store your clothes. Do you own a clothing rack? Move it in front of the door.
You can also combine this idea with the drape one if the doorway is that much of an eyesore. Drapes or curtains are often readily available compared to headboards.
So, if you want to get it out of the way, curtains are often the quickest way to do so. You can refer to the picture above to see how it'd look in person.
This idea can also work for unused doorways in living rooms. Instead of a bed, you can move the couch in front to completely block the way.
For those that love posters and paintings, you can use them as a focal point to divert attention away from the door itself.
You can arrange three tall pictures and hang them in place of the door. It's called a triptych set. If you'd like an idea of how it would look, refer to the picture above.
Mirrors
This next suggestion requires a bit more effort. You'll need to plan how you'd like to set them up. The simplest one would be installing a mirror that spans wide and tall enough to cover the door. Again, it depends on where the doorway is located.
You'd have to be cautious if it's a door that leads to a room that you frequently use. For example, a door that leads to a kitchen. In this case, you wouldn't want to install a mirror. If a guest accidentally tries to open it, you'll be left with a big mess to clean up.
Bookcase or a Cabinet
In this case, you'd want something that wouldn't budge easily. A bookcase or cabinet can do just the trick. It'd depend on what type of passions/hobbies you participate in. Do you love drinks?
You can install a wine cabinet - or a cabinet for drinks in general. Of course, some of them will have an open-back design. You can use your imagination to decorate the wall space before placing a cabinet in front.
It doesn't necessarily have to be for drinks. Do you have a figure collection you want to show off? Perhaps this is a good use of space to do that.
Another idea to consider will relate to what you currently own. Do you own a home theater set? More specifically, a station that contains a big screen tv, stereo speakers, and other tech-related equipment. These stations require a lot of space - it can even get confusing where you should place it.
Placing it in front of an unused doorway would be the perfect solution. This way, you free up space for other furniture you might want to use.
The ideas above require more attention to detail. In that case, you can always fall back on the bookcase idea. It's simple and adds a bit of liveliness to the room.
Additional Notes
We're all liable to change our minds relatively quickly. You might want to block the door off now - but certain factors in the future might make you regret doing so. If you're hesitant to use any ideas above, it's always best to go with the simple things.
As some suggest, it's probably best to keep it simple and cover the doorway with curtains. In any case, make sure the door you want to conceal isn't too important to the floor planning before you move furniture or decorate in front of it.
How Much Does It Cost to Drywall a Doorway?
For some, decorations to hide the doorway will be a temporary thing. Maybe it's not within your budget to remove and fill it in. However, that begs the question, how much would it cost to drywall the doorway?
It depends on how much space you'll need to cover and what you plan to do. In general, it will cost anywhere around $300 to $800 to remove the door and fill it in.
Sealing the doorway involves framing, drywalling, and painting. If you'd like a more accurate estimate, you can always call up your local contractor to see if it's an option within your reach. Otherwise, we'll have to head back to the drawing board to find out how to hide it.
Can I Wallpaper a Door?
Wallpapering a door is also a good option. Though, it will have the slight problem of drawing attention. In this case, you'd want to make your intentions clear on what you want that space to do. Meaning, make it clear that it's just a decoration.
You can do that by removing the doorknob and filling in the doorknob hole. However, it would be a tricky job. If you'd like to try it out, here's how you can fill it in:
- Measure the thickness of the door.
- Use that measurement to find a wooden block - or material - of the same thickness.
- Drill out the plug with a saw.
- Make adjustments as needed to make it fit in the doorknob hole.
- If it's not enough to fill in the entire area, you can use wood filler or putty to fill in the remaining space.
- Once you've plugged the hole, you can sand it as needed to make it level with the door.
- Finally, paint it to match the color of the door.
Now you can wallpaper the door and make it clear that it's only a decorative piece.
How Do You Cover a Door With Wallpaper?
Covering the door with wallpaper is a simple but time-consuming project. If it's an option you're interested in doing, let's briefly go over the process of applying wallpaper to a door.
The tools you'll need are:
- Scissors
- Utility knife
- Wallpaper
- Hardcover book or anything similar
- Needle
Now, let's get an idea of how the process would go:
- You'll want to remove the doorknob first. Of course, if you've decided to plug the doorknob hole, you don't have to worry about this step.
- Clean the surface of the door thoroughly.
- Measure the height and width of the door.
- Using your measurements, trim the lengths of the wallpaper. Leave 1/2-inch on top and bottom. This way, if you mess up slightly, you can trim off the excess.
- Align the edge of the wallpaper with the edge of the door.
- Work your way down and finish applying the first half.
- If there are any bubbles, smooth them with the spine of a hardcover book. Use a needle to release the air if necessary.
- Apply the remaining half of the wallpaper.
- Once it's on the door, use a utility knife to trim the excess.
How Do You Hide a Door in a Wall?
Hiding a door in a wall will take some paint and a bit of creativity. If you're not keen on the idea of placing furniture in front of it, you can paint it to match your wall. At the foot of the door, you can also install trimming. This way, it can flow naturally with the wall.
Here's a YouTube video explaining the concept if you're interested:
Final Takeaway
If you're not using a door anymore, it can be tough to think of ways to hide it. Luckily, we can use online ideas to save the day. We hope some of the ideas we've shared are useful for your situation.
Before you go, do you need more ideas? What if your doorway doesn't have a door? If you'd like help covering it up, check out our post:
How To Cover A Doorway Without A Door [6 Awesome Ideas!]
Do you have a lot of items plugged into an outlet? We give you some ideas to hide them! For more information, check out our post:
