TikTok's DIY Completely Changes The Look Of Your Front Door

Some of the most amazing transformations are brought about by very unexpected things. In the case of TikTok user @buildingandbeauty, her front door got a chic new modern look thanks to a peculiar choice of material: Vinyl plank flooring. The DIY enthusiast admitted that she was never a fan of her traditional-looking door, so she devised a way to freshen up its appearance by covering it with wooden-style floorboards. Was she successful? Well, the video's more than 6,000 likes at the time of writing certainly suggest that she was.

This brilliant hack shows how materials can be more than what they were made for, if you can creatively think outside of the box. It also presents a sustainable and budget-friendly way of upgrading your home's entryway instead of buying a whole new door. Take note, however, that this solution only addresses aesthetic issues. If your current door has functionality problems, it's best to do the necessary repairs separately. But if your door is tainted with stains, scratches, and small cracks but still intact, then this DIY project is worth a try.

To pull off this DIY feat, you will need construction adhesive, pin nailers, a saw, and of course some vinyl planks. If you want to achieve a similar look to that from the above video, choose a vinyl design with a light wood tone. As an added upgrade, purchase a sleek modern door handle, preferably in black. You will also need some black paint. Once you're all set, begin by taking measurements. This is crucial to determine how many units of vinyl planks you need and where to cut them. They will cover the door horizontally, so each piece must match its width. Use a saw to (carefully!) cut the boards to the right length.

Once you have your uniform vinyl boards ready, begin peeling off the underlayment and sticking them onto the door's face. Applying construction adhesive and pin nailers will ensure an extra strong bond. Don't forget to remove your old door knob to give way for your vinyl slats first. You can install the new handle once the door face is fully covered. For a finishing touch, paint the door frame black. This will contrast handsomely with the new, light wooden surface, enhancing that smart, contemporary look that you are aiming for. If possible, find a paint variety that exactly matches the door handle for visual consistency.

Luxury vinyl plank flooring, or LVP, is a manufactured flooring material designed to imitate the appearance of hardwood but which is more durable and easier to maintain. LVP usually comes in the form of planks, constructed by bonding together several layers of structural materials such as cork, foam, glass fiber, PVC, high-definition design print, several protective layers, and either wood plastic composite (WPC) or stone plastic composite (SPC.) It's widely considered an upgraded version of the standard vinyl flooring since LVP typically consists of between six to eight layers, whereas the latter only has four. This affords it superior quality and makes LVP a popular material for today's homes. 

In fact, luxury vinyl planks are a go-to for many successful home designers and are even cited as one of the best choices of flooring by some of your favorite HGTV stars. Apart from floors and, evidently, doors, LVP is also used as an alternative material in other home improvement projects by professionals and DIY folks alike. Its water-proof quality makes LVP suitable for coasters, backsplashes, and even as roofing material for building charming birdhouses and dog houses. Likewise, LVP also adds visual appeal thanks to its realistic wood appearance. Thus, LVP serves perfectly as an accent wall and as part of other decorative features.