The Stunning Air Duct Cover DIY That Turns An Eyesore Into A Statement

Living in a house with central air and heat is truly one of the great conveniences of modern life. When the temps outside are swelteringly hot, your HVAC unit allows you to beat the summer heat indoors. And when the weather is brutally cold, you can cozy up and enjoy a much milder climate inside your home. But for all its comforts and conveniences, one major downside to HVAC systems is that sometimes the air ducts are left exposed, especially if they've been retrofitted to the home. Since duct hoses aren't exactly the most aesthetic pieces of equipment, they can stick out like a sore thumb in your space. Luckily, with a bit of DIY ingenuity, you can easily hide them.

Most builders have a few tried and true methods up their sleeves when it comes to hiding ductwork. Some opt to drop the ceiling so they can create extra space to hide the ducts while others choose to build soffits around the ducts to conceal them. While these are both great solutions, they require professional-level skills that may be beyond the average DIYer's capabilities or budget. If you're looking for an easier and more affordable way to hide your air duct, check out this DIY cabinet door cover. Not only is it a clever way to hide an exposed air duct, but it also happens to add extra storage and style to any room in the house.

If you're looking to hide a protruding air duct, like the one featured in @hollyguffhouse1's TikTok video, the first thing you'll need to create your air duct cover is a base cabinet, which you can find as low as $120 at The Home Depot and $149 at Lowe's. Next, you'll need to add a countertop to the cabinet, which you can either make out of inexpensive plywood or buy a butcher block counter such as this one from IKEA ($79) and cut it to size. Once your counter is installed, you'll need to either build shelves out of plywood or modify a store-bought bookcase like this Walmart one ($49.88) to fit on top of the counter and extend all the way up to the ceiling. Be sure to cut a hole in the back of the shelves to accommodate the air duct hose, and make sure you're not blocking any vents that could disrupt the airflow in your home. This project is very customizable, so you can adjust the process to fit your space and air duct.

Now for the best part — hiding the air duct! Start by ordering a set of custom doors like these ones from The Home Depot, which start at $18.81 per door. You can choose from among various panel styles and shapes, and the size will depend on the size of your shelves. Simply attach the doors onto the shelves to conceal the exposed portion of the air duct, and say goodbye to your ugly HVAC eyesore. Finish off your cabinet and shelves by priming and painting them in a cohesive color and install pretty cabinet hardware to create a polished look.