Give Ugly Bifold Closet Doors An Affordable Glow-Up Without Replacing Them

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It's official: you're determined to make your bedroom as cozy and pretty as can be. You've dressed up your bed, rolled out a fluffy rug, and stocked up on candles. The only problem? Your bifold closet doors stick out like a sore thumb. Sure, their main job is to hide the clutter behind them, but that doesn't mean they have to be ugly. You could ditch your builder-grade closet doors & try stylish alternatives instead — if you have the budget. But if not, don't worry. All it takes is a couple dozen of D-molding strips, or so, to completely change the look of your traditional closet doors.

If you aren't familiar, D-shape moldings (or as some call them, half-round moldings) are slim pieces of wood with round edges. You'll typically find them adorning walls, ceilings, and pieces of furniture. Lined on a closet door, though, and they exude a modern feel, just like wood slat accent walls. Do note that this DIY project can be a bit time-consuming, so you'll want to set aside a weekend for this. But other than that, it's a super easy way to give your bedroom a refresh without spending a fortune. And hey, you could try it out on your entryway or utility closet, too.

First things first, map out how many pieces of D-moldings you need. You'll want to whip out a tape measure, notepad, and calculator for this. But just to give you an idea, Instagram user @cb_loves_interiors_20 from the video above used 18 strips per door. Each one measures around 1-inch wide by ⅕ inches deep by 94 inches long, and costs a little less than $10 apiece from the brand B&Q. You can also head to your local home improvement store for an even cheaper option or snag the Alexandria Moulding Half Round Solid Pine Moulding at $71.91 for a pack of 10, 8 feet tall timber. Still sounds expensive? You can always chop up inexpensive wood into slim pieces if you don't mind a flatter result.

Next, gather your supplies. Besides the aforementioned moldings, you'll need some sturdy wood glue, like the Gorilla Ultimate Waterproof Wood Glue; wood filler (the Gorilla All Purpose Wood Filler is another top pick); chic handles, some primer, and paint.

From there, it's pretty straightforward. Cut the paneling to match your closet doors' height, if it isn't already. Remove your old handles and glue each piece one by one. Once the doors are all paneled, use your wood filler to caulk the gaps between each strip for a more polished (read: professionally done) look. Prime everything up, paint it a cozy hue of your choice, and screw in your new handles. And that's it for the cutest, modern DIY alternative to traditional-looking bifold doors.