How can I hide this entrance to furnace room?

Elizabeth Neal
by Elizabeth Neal
When the original part of my home was built in the 50's, a fuel oil furnace was used. They accessed this furnance from outside. This is still the only way I have to access my updated furnace. I'm looking for a way to disguise it or hide it, that I can move easily the few times I need access to it. The door is sometimes mistaken as an entrance, so it has a padlock, but a padlocked door is not a good look, for a number of reasons... Any ideas appreciated, but the cheaper the better! Thanks in advance!
  7 answers
  • Janet Pizaro Janet Pizaro on Mar 20, 2018

    http://www.plowhearth.com/self-watering-planters.htm?aff=9199&.......just a thought for you to get the idea,obviusly it needs to be higher

  • Charlotte Erickson Charlotte Erickson on Mar 20, 2018

    I would use siding on the door to blend it in and it wouldn't be mistaken for an entrance door.

  • Dan32679009 Dan32679009 on Mar 20, 2018

    take the knob off, resurface door with siding that will match the walls. paint. replace the knob with a keyed deadbolt , leave it exposed, or place a cover that will swivel clear. (fake dryer hood, or other small metal box?). i think just leaving it exposed will be fine. remember to leave a finger pull of some sort so you aren't using the key in the bolt to swing the door open.

  • Nancy Turner Nancy Turner on Mar 20, 2018

    As long as it looks like a door and has stairs leading to it, it will get mistaken for an entrance to the house. Clean it up and paint it to match the siding. Put a note on the door that it is not the entrance. Our front door is seldom used because the kitchen entrance is on the driveway, we put a note on the door to come to the side kitchen entrance with packages, etc. (it is easier to control the dogs from the kitchen). Most people are ok with not using the front entrance. You could perhaps put some kind of cover over it, but it would still be a door with the stairs.

  • Pat Russell Pat Russell on Mar 20, 2018

    How about a vertical planter on wheels? There are numerous instructions for using pallet wood, etc. Or, a trellis in a long ceramic planter, still on wheels. I agree the padlock look is a bit off-putting!

  • Kathy Gydus Kathy Gydus on Mar 20, 2018

    Try covering it with a 4' by 8' piece of plastic trellis. You could even put some hidden hinges on it so it will open like a door. Try to find some spring type of hinges so it won't need a "door handle". Just stick your finger into one of the holes opposite the hinges and in you go.

  • Sharon Sharon on Mar 20, 2018

    Get some of that siding and remove the door trim, cover the door with siding and put in a pressure closure so its barely visable.