How should we create a proper doorway?

Sue Mitrani
by Sue Mitrani

We had a master bath remodel that went wrong on so many levels. One of them, was a proper doorway was not created.

  7 answers
  • Oberlinmom Oberlinmom on Aug 28, 2018

    If the walls that are pictured are even and far enough apart for a regular door you could frame it out right there. The wall with the shelf would either need to be closed off or you could leave an opening above the door. You'd need to fill in part of the space above the door for the door frame. This will only work if the door opens out since that closet and the switches on the other wall would be blocked. A folding door might be better.


    As a temporary "fix" you could place a folding screen across the opening. You'd have to go around the screen but it would give some privacy.


    Otherwise without seeing into the bathroom or a farther back view of the room it's hard to imagine where the door could go. You can do barn door style on a track. Or if the partial wall is hollow you build a pocket door. Good luck

  • Leeann Lott Leeann Lott on Aug 28, 2018

    Since it is only the vanity that is visible, why even worry about it. I do not have a door on my master bath cause my hubby was in a wheelchair. The nice high opening is eye catching. You could do a sliding door on a rail....wont take up width....unless you plan to put furniture near the doorway You could use ceiling hooks and a large long piece or art or beautiful framed cloth, or a roman shade, or stained class if you really want to close off the upper part. I would simply use a tension rod and hang a nice tapestry.

  • Natalie Jarnstedt Natalie Jarnstedt on Aug 29, 2018

    How about partial swinging doors like they had in saloons? Make them either louvre or solid, paint them a nice glossy white. They don't have to be more than 2 1/2 to 3 feet high, placed at a strategic level that would work best in your case. Years ago we had a small kitchen off the dining room with no doors - this was a great solution because it was easy to use with hands that were usually full and by obstructing a kitchen mess....

  • Gwendolyn Pyle Gwendolyn Pyle on Aug 29, 2018

    Not having the full measurements... would a barn door work?

  • 17335038 17335038 on Dec 06, 2018

    Another option may be to mount a single sliding mirrored door (such as for a closet door) on the outside of the wall, on the left side of the opening to your bathroom. This would be mounted on double track hardware, with a head rail, and (if desired ) a recessed bottom rail on the floor. To close, slide over the open doorway. To open, slide against the left wall.


    The mirrored side could be facing inside to the bathroom, to make space by the closet more of a dressing area, or to the outside, making the bedroom seem larger. The mirror in either direction would reflect light, resulting in either space being brighter.


    The advantages to this type of doorway covering over 'barn' doors is that due to their lighter weight, they do not require such robust mounting hardware. The mounting hardware is also almost entirely hidden, giving the room a sleeker more refined look.

  • Luz DIYs Luz DIYs on Dec 06, 2018

    Ok, I'm going to assum that you want to do the least amount of work. :) with that in mind... and given that you may just be looking to set some balance and not privacy... how about some curtains? I'm not sure if the walls are even from one end to another, but I can see how a great curtains can be used to define one space from the other. Hope you find something that works. Good luck. Here is my vision. 😉😁

  • Dee Dee on Dec 07, 2018

    I think the best and easiest way would be some kind of barn door if you have the room.

    Here's how you can build a frame.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XnrgSoDbRNI