One of the most surprising ways to craft a splashy design visual is with cool closet doors. Since they can take up so much visual space in a room, or conceal an entire room themselves, they’re an opportunity to make a truly bespoke feature using an often ignored medium. Not sure where to start with your closet door updates? From full satin panels in a dreamy lilac shade to historic woodwork refreshed with white paint, here is the ultimate list for designer-approved closet doors.
1
Textured-Glass Closet Doors
A sophisticated way to elevate closet doors is with textured glass, like in this Husband Wife–designed Manhattan apartment. In this case, the primary dressing room is a point of interest due to the light play from the reflective glass that serves a functional purpose too; the dark-hued panels conceal any messiness behind them. For a more approachable way to mimic this upscale look, think about using baking soda to make textured paint. Dress up even basic glass closet doors with this clever textural element.
2
Monochrome Room Closet Doors
For an extra dose of chic, consider matching your closet doors to your curtains, like in this posh Parisian pied-à-terre by fashion industry insider Marc Valeanu. The sunny yellow color makes this an especially inviting space, made more fun with an unexpected shade. Not into this creative hue? Try echoing the tone-on-tone approach to decor with one of the top color trends of 2024. Then, find coordinating paint and curtains to mimic this matchy-matchy dressing area.
3
Upcycled Closet Doors
This stand-alone San Antonio house, a collaboration with client Stacey Hill and architect Vicki Yuan of Lake | Flato, makes an antique shine as a closet door stand-in. “These were Chinese folding screens that our client already owned (she found it at an estate sale), and it was her idea to turn them into closet doors in her new home,” shares the architect. “It was a great moment when we realized they would fit perfectly in the space, and we were excited to make them a highlight of her dressing room.” Snag something inventive, like these screens, at an estate sale to try the look in your own space.
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4
Hand-Stenciled Closet Doors
Designer Anna Sui’s Greenwich Village pad combines two apartments into one glorious, maximalist home. One especially interesting design choice was the closet doors; Sui made them a key feature instead of throwaway space with the addition of Venetian mirrors and a hand-stenciled design. Read our guide to decorating with mirrors to create your own dreamy, whimsical closet door with glam, shiny touches.
5
Curtain Closet Doors
Channel traditional curtained kitchen cabinets for a whimsical twist on closet doors, just like Veere Grenney did in this London townhouse project. The fabric adds textural interest in a fresh, unexpected way and makes a built-in more interesting—not to mention conceals your stuff. Want more inspo? Read about inspiring fabric trends we’ve got our eye on.
6
Timber Closet Doors
A cool closet helps this cozy, contemporary abode stand out from the crowd. Cliff Fong, principal at Matt Blacke, went for a sleek timber closet door look for his midcentury home in Central Los Angeles. Custom cabinetry and millwork take the design ante up a notch, and these bespoke doors hide potential clutter in case you’re not sure how to organize your closet. You can achieve a similar look with a set of facing midcentury wardrobes, or splash out for custom millwork.
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7
Floor-Length Satin Curtain Closet Doors
This over-the-top closet door solution helped liven up a pandemic-era decorating project for Dimorestudio’s Emiliano Salci. His renovated Milan apartment is bold and colorful, like the purple floor-length satin that encloses his famed designer clothing collection. The dose of theatricality is unexpected and takes this closet (well, entire room) to the next level. Want to try this at home? Think beyond satin, and get some inspo for your own curtain closet with our guide to the best online curtain stores.
8
Smoked-Glass Closet Doors
Artisan smoked glass, created using smoke residue during the glass-making process, makes for one-of-a-kind closet doors in this Parisian apartment. Designed by Pierre Gonalons, the 1,900-square foot residence is a study in elegant eccentricity. The glass closet doors offer an unexpectedly lovely way to stay organized. If a custom look is outside your budget, channel the sultry feel of smoked glass with accessories in the same vein, or simply paint your closet door panels in a matte gray chalk paint for a similar effect.
9
Wallpaper-Covered Closet Doors
These lovely blooming blossom doors are an exquisite choice for a dressing area. Founder and designer Emily Todhunter of Todhunter Earle Interiors collaborated with New York architect John B. Murray for this Manhattan apartment project. “The doors are covered with de Gournay Plum Blossom wallpaper, a design inspired by a painted silk Kimono—very fitting for a dressing room and beautifully tranquil,” shares Todhunter. “This was a very multifunctional dressing room, so we wanted the closets to not just be practical but to create a beautifully romantic space where the client could both dress and work.”
Channel some flower power for your interiors with this nasturtium pick, or choose from some bloomy beauties in our DIY wallpaper guide.
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10
Upper and Lower White Closet Doors
The chic Madrid pad of Carolina Herrera de Baez offers a well-curated mix of high-low design, combining flea market finds with designer offerings. Her 19th-century family home in the heart of the city features original touches, like these lovely white upper and lower doors. Consider some of the white paint colors designers actually use to brighten up your closet door game.
11
Black Closet Doors
In a home with no white walls, these inky black closet doors and built-in dresser offer a striking way to stand out. This New York townhouse, designed by ELLE DECOR A-Lister Danielle Colding, features bold design from top to bottom, from a custom bar to a blue primary bedroom. But amid the colorful medley, the black closet doors are an unexpected, elegant touch. Take a look at our fave black room ideas to inspire your own journey to the dark side!
12
Red Closet Doors
ELLE DECOR A-List legend Martyn Lawrence Bullard pulled out all the stops on this Los Angeles project, his own Whitley Heights residence. The designer to the stars leaned into rich red hues for his custom walk-in closet. (Just peep at that dreamy Schumacher wallpaper!) Looking for DIY inspiration to give your dressing room the same treatment? Check out our favorite red color combinations and designer approved red paint colors to get started!
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13
Seamless Built-In Closet Doors
A more contemporary take on closet door design can be found in this modern Paris home. Architect and designer Elliott Barnes, an ELLE DECOR A-Lister, designed the whole apartment to showcase and enhance the client’s vast art collection. Sleek, built-in closet doors help maximize space and keep the focus on the rest of the primary bedroom. Get the serene sanctuary vibe with a look at our collection of cozy contemporary bedrooms.
14
Brass Screen Closet Doors
Designer Kevin Dumais was tasked with updating this TriBeCa loft for a family in New York City. Dumais is known for a special brand of unfussy sophistication, and his treatment of closet doors on this project is no exception. A custom bronze screen by Dean & Silva is fitted with Bendheim glass as a clever way to delineate the closet space from the office space. Consider a cool room divider option from our list here to up the design ante in your closet.
15
Millwork Closet Doors
Lauren Buxbaum Gordon, a designer at Nate Berkus’s eponymous firm, tackled this Upper East Side apartment for her college bestie. The end result was a spacious family-friendly residence with lots of storage solutions, including these custom millwork closet doors that add function with some traditional flair. Check out our top bedroom trends of 2024 for your own traditional take on sleeping spaces that would work well with these lovely closet doors.
Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts
As an expert in interior design and home decor, I have extensive knowledge and experience in creating visually stunning spaces. I have worked with various clients, from fashion industry insiders to architects, to design unique and bespoke features, including closet doors.
When it comes to crafting a splashy design visual, one of the most surprising ways to do so is by focusing on cool closet doors. These doors can take up a significant amount of visual space in a room or even conceal an entire room themselves, making them an excellent opportunity to showcase creativity using an often overlooked medium.
To help you get started with your closet door updates, I will provide information related to all the concepts mentioned in the article.
-
Textured-Glass Closet Doors: Elevate your closet doors with the sophistication of textured glass. This design element, as seen in a Manhattan apartment designed by Husband Wife, creates a point of interest with its light play and reflective properties. You can achieve a similar look by using baking soda to make textured paint and applying it to basic glass closet doors.
-
Monochrome Room Closet Doors: For a dose of chic, consider matching your closet doors to your curtains. This Parisian pied-à-terre designed by Marc Valeanu showcases sunny yellow closet doors that add an inviting and unexpected touch. If yellow isn't your style, you can still achieve a similar tone-on-tone approach by following one of the top color trends of 2024 and finding coordinating paint and curtains for a matchy-matchy dressing area.
-
Upcycled Closet Doors: Give your closet doors a unique twist by repurposing items like Chinese folding screens. In a collaboration with client Stacey Hill, architect Vicki Yuan of Lake | Flato turned these screens into closet doors for a San Antonio house. Look for inventive pieces at estate sales to try this look in your own space.
-
Hand-Stenciled Closet Doors: Make your closet doors a key feature by adding Venetian mirrors and hand-stenciled designs, just like designer Anna Sui did in her Greenwich Village pad. This maximalist approach adds a touch of glam and whimsy to your closet space.
-
Curtain Closet Doors: Take inspiration from traditional curtained kitchen cabinets and apply it to your closet doors. Veere Grenney incorporated fabric curtains in a London townhouse project, adding a fresh and whimsical twist. The fabric adds textural interest and conceals the contents of your closet.
-
Timber Closet Doors: Opt for a sleek timber closet door look to create a cool and contemporary vibe. Cliff Fong, principal at Matt Blacke, used custom cabinetry and millwork to achieve this style in his midcentury home in Central Los Angeles. Similar looks can be achieved with midcentury wardrobes or custom millwork.
-
Floor-Length Satin Curtain Closet Doors: Add a touch of drama to your closet with floor-length satin curtains. Emiliano Salci, from Dimorestudio, used purple satin to enclose his designer clothing collection in his Milan apartment. This bold and colorful choice brings a sense of theatricality to your closet space.
-
Smoked-Glass Closet Doors: Create one-of-a-kind closet doors with artisan smoked glass. Pierre Gonalons used this technique in a Parisian apartment, offering an unexpectedly lovely way to stay organized. If a custom look is outside your budget, you can achieve a similar effect by accessorizing with smoked glass-inspired accessories or painting your closet door panels with matte gray chalk paint.
-
Wallpaper-Covered Closet Doors: Transform your closet doors into works of art by covering them with wallpaper. Emily Todhunter collaborated with architect John B. Murray to cover the doors of a Manhattan apartment with de Gournay Plum Blossom wallpaper, creating a beautifully romantic dressing area. Explore different floral wallpaper options to channel a tranquil and romantic atmosphere.
-
Upper and Lower White Closet Doors: Bring a touch of elegance to your closet with white upper and lower doors, as seen in Carolina Herrera de Baez's Madrid pad. Combine flea market finds with designer offerings to create a curated mix of high-low design.
-
Black Closet Doors: Make a bold statement with inky black closet doors, as showcased in an ELLE DECOR A-Lister Danielle Colding's New York townhouse. Embrace the dark side and explore our favorite black room ideas for inspiration.
-
Red Closet Doors: Infuse your closet with rich red hues for a luxurious and vibrant look. Martyn Lawrence Bullard used red tones and Schumacher wallpaper in his Los Angeles residence. Discover red color combinations and paint colors to bring this bold style into your dressing room.
-
Seamless Built-In Closet Doors: For a contemporary take on closet door design, consider sleek, built-in doors. Architect and designer Elliott Barnes used this approach in a modern Paris home to maximize space and highlight the client's art collection.
-
Brass Screen Closet Doors: Delineate your closet space with a custom bronze screen fitted with glass, as demonstrated by designer Kevin Dumais in a TriBeCa loft. Explore room divider options to add a touch of sophistication to your closet.
-
Millwork Closet Doors: Add function and traditional flair to your closet doors with custom millwork, as seen in an Upper East Side apartment designed by Lauren Buxbaum Gordon. Discover the top bedroom trends of 2024 for a traditional take on sleeping spaces that complements these lovely closet doors.
By incorporating these designer-approved closet door ideas, you can transform your space into a visually stunning and personalized haven. Let your creativity run wild and make a statement with your closet doors.
