22 Game-Changing Closet Door Ideas to Transform Your Bedroom

In this Charlap Hyman & Herrero-designed Miami apartment, shells are everywhere—even on the doors. The added bonus of this door is that, when closed, it disappears. To create a similar illusion choose a material that can adapt to any size or crevice and cover the space surrounding the door with the same material. This door of seashells was fabricated by the artist Me She with Openstudio.

In this Landed Interiors-designed home, the design firm took a cue from Swiss ski chalets’ built-in forms of storage. If you are renovating a second home with recreation at its center, perhaps look to the playful cut-outs and colors found in traditional Alpine architecture.

In Jean Liu’s Gilded Age era pied-a-terre, she covered the walls with hand-embroidered de Gournay fabric. The same goes for the door, nearly hidden to the right of her Pierre Frey mohair-covered daybed.

In Giorgio Armani’s home, closet doors are camouflaged by way of printed silk. Here, the doors were covered in the same silk as that on the walls. This idea works best on walls without excessive trimming or baseboards—a clean line helps drive the visual deception home.

If you have the freedom to decide the dimensions of your closet, why not take the opportunity to install antique doors? Something old is always better (for the environment, and often for your eyes!) than something new. In Maryam Montague and Chris Redecke’s home, they installed antique carved wooden doors in a room full of Malian, Indian, and African furniture and art.

A classic option, especially for a smaller space or one with low light, is to mirror your closet doors, like in Kim Hersov’s London home. This works especially if you have doors with paneling (new or antique!).

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.