Soften The Look Of Outdated Doors With A Renter-Friendly Fabric DIY

While there are many ways of adding texture and softness to a room with textiles and soft materials, doorways can often be a mixed bag. Many homes are stuck with boring, builder-grade doors, outdated flat doors, and other nondescript entry points. There are many ways to decorate plain interior doors, from cool DIY projects which add architectural interest to more temporary methods like wreaths, swags, and other decorations. If you're renting or simply don't want to make a permanent change to your door, you just might love this cool temporary technique to add softness and a romantic feel to a door in just seconds. Even better, you can use the fabric of your choice and customize other decorative details.

All you need is a length of fabric that's long enough to span the door, top to bottom. The Facebook DIYer we'll get to below uses a transparent delicate lavender tulle, but any fabric that can be pleated or gathered will work well. This technique is great for Victorian rooms, cottage spaces, and whimsical rooms like nurseries. It can also be a great way to decorate your doors temporarily for holidays. 

To get this soft look, wrap the fabric around the door vertically. The above DIYer creates a sleeve with one end sewn together that slips over the door easily. Pull it in at the center, gathering it with ribbon or twine in the middle of the door and tying it off. You can use a single column of fabric in the center of the door, or add more side by side for a more fully contained look. While this works ingeniously for standard sized doors, you could also use a smaller version on cabinet doors or use it to add privacy and style to a fence or gate using the same technique. 

The options for fabric choice are many. For a natural, neutral look in farmhouse spaces, use undyed cheesecloth or burlap on the doors. For boho- and cottage-style homes, use lace or crochet-style netting. Tulle and organza offer a more romantic, feminine look. You could also use linen or velvet to add more texture and a touch of luxury or choose a patterned fabric that matches your other décor. 

Great ways to style your door fabric include adding a wreath or wall hanging, like a whimsical mobile over the center of the fabric. You could also add a sign, a piece of word art, or a monogram to the center of the door. To tie off and gather the fabric, use a pretty ribbon, a rope cording with tassels, or a jute twine. You could also finish your tie off with something pretty like a large button or vintage brooch for some extra visual interest and style

For seasonal decorating, use a shorter second piece to fashion a giant bow. Just use a single stretch of fabric and wrap the door like a giant present. You can even add some battery-operated twinkle lights behind the fabric for a soft, pretty glow along with holiday elements so the piece comes together like ornaments and sprigs of greenery.