10 Unexpected Ways To Repurpose A Screen Door In Your Home And Garden

Are you working on an entryway upgrade and aren't sure what to do with that old screen door you've replaced? While you could take it down and let it sit in the back of your shed or garage, this is a surefire way for it to fade into the background and be forgotten about. Eventually, this piece of DIY gold would likely end up in a landfill, and you'd miss out on the opportunity to repurpose it into something new and functional. Instead, with a little elbow grease, you can turn that old screen door into anything from a sliding barn door for the interior of your home to a garden trellis for your favorite climbing plants. 

Before you grab your toolbox and jump into this DIY, it's important to understand the components of a screen door and what makes them ideal for repurposing into something new. Screen doors are lightweight and often used as a way to help bring extra light and fresh air into a home while still having adequate protection from insects. These are often grouped together with storm doors, but the two have distinct differences. Storm doors tend to be heavier and often have glass panels instead of or in combination with screens. Screen doors can have glass, too, but it's typically a variation that can be opened and closed versus a stationary panel.

Do you love the look of a sliding barn door but don't want to run out and purchase all new materials to add one to your home? Grab that old screen door you've been meaning to take out on trash day and use it to create your very own sliding barn doors. All you'll need to do is purchase the track hardware and attach it to the screen door. You can keep the screen if you want an airy feel or add a piece of frosted glass for privacy.

A garden trellis is the perfect complement to climbing plants and gives them a place to thrive. While you can purchase a trellis or even construct your own from scratch, using a screen door as the main structure is a shortcut that can truly simplify the process. For this screen door repurposing DIY, remove the flimsy screen portion and replace it with fencing wire. You'll also need to stabilize your new trellis by building legs for it to stand on or lean it up against a wall for a fun, rustic appearance.

Tired of constantly untangling necklaces or hunting for that one missing earring? You don't have to pay high-end prices for jewelry storage if you have an old screen door hanging around. The best part? Choosing this way to repurpose a screen door only requires a few materials for long-term payoff. For example, just add some S-hooks to the frame and you've got places to hang earrings or even bags of items like rings or pendants. You can lean the door against the wall, similar to a blanket ladder, or mount it for a more permanent design.

Looking for alternative kitchen pantry door ideas that you can tackle at home in DIY fashion? You can swap out a solid pantry door for an old screen door to add that classic farmhouse charm to your kitchen without having to buy any new materials. While you may not have considered using a screen door on the interior of your home, having a structure you can see through can truly simplify the process of peeking in to see what ingredients you have on hand.

Chicken owners can breathe a sigh of relief knowing there's a cost-effective way to either replace a damaged chicken coop door or upgrade their space altogether without having to spend a fortune on materials. Using an old screen door as a chicken coop door is functional and can also help to keep their space filled with good airflow. However, you'll need to replace or cover the screen with a form of hardware cloth to keep chickens safe from predators.

Are you looking for a simple way to take your garden space from average to whimsical? Adding an old screen door as an entrance to your outdoor garden is an ideal way to make the space feel like a storybook and adds a one-of-a-kind charm. You can build a simple frame to support the door or add it to an existing arbor for a simple installation. This entryway is functional and works as an actual way in and out. It also helps to keep out hungry critters looking to snack on your plants.

Another way to repurpose a screen door that's often overlooked is to use it as a replacement for one of your solid interior doors, like a bedroom door.You'll hang it from hinges like a standard door, but instead of being closed off, you'll have a solution that provides airflow and light to enter the room while keeping out insects or even pets instead of a safety gate. If you're not sure which type of door you like more, install both so you can have the best of both worlds given your needs on any day.

A chalkboard message board is ideal for busy families that have overlapping schedules and feel like they're always on the run. Yet, instead of buying one, this DIY is as easy as popping out the screen from an old door and replacing it with a plywood panel coated in chalkboard paint. Once dry, you can hang in an entryway or office as a way to keep things organized. Another way to simplify this process is to DIY your own chalkboard paint with tile grout and paint.

While a screen door may not seem like an item you can customize as a photo display just as is, there are numerous ways you can repurpose the piece into stylish home decor. For example, you can replace the flimsy screen with a type of sturdy chicken wire as a base for hanging pictures and other decorative items. Looking for something more modern? Add glass panels to the door and transfer your images to them for a truly unique piece.

Your old screen door can help with the dirty work of sifting compost or soil. To repurpose a screen door as a garden sifter, build a simple wooden rectangle that fits over a wheelbarrow or bin, then staple the screen door mesh across this frame. Some may even lay the door itself directly over the wheelbarrow. Shovel your material onto the mesh and shake or scrape it through to be left with the fine particles you can use all around the garden.