Budget Geometric Barn Door

4 Materials
$90
2 Days
Easy

When we decided we wanted to convert the door of a small on-suite bathroom to a barn door, we knew we didn't want to go with the traditional barn door style. Our plan was to do something more modern. We also didn't want to spend an arm and a leg. This budget geometric barn door was our perfect solution.

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The simple base for this project is a piece of 3/4" plywood. We had the helpful staff at Home Depot cut it to both length and width before we left the store.

Step one to how to build a barn door, since it was already cut to size, was to prime both sides of the door.

Next, we bought several strips of 3/4" x 1/2 square edge molding and 3 pre-primed1/2" wide boards.

To save ourselves some headache, we first designed what we wanted the geometric pattern to look like on paper. Then, we determined where on the door we wanted our "anchor" piece to go. In our case, it was the one strip that ran the whole width of the door. Once we marked that strip with pencil, we used a framing square to mark out where we wanted the other pieces to go. We went with all 90-degree angles to make the cuts as simple as possible. To determine the angles of the cuts on the door edges, we just held the molding pieces in place and traced where they met the edge of the door.

We secured the interior molding pieces with wood glue and used a nail gun to put two finishing nails in each piece, just to be safe. We then used the larger 1 1/2" boards to "picture frame" the door's outer edges. After filling the nail holes, I spray-painted the entire door gloss white.

I used standard barn door hardware to hang the door.

The only modification needed was using a spacer on the front side due to the moldings sticking out 3/4" from the plywood molding.

I also used a thin strip of oak and a few short screws to make a handle on the back side of the door. The back doesn't look great now (primed white), but we plan to cover it with wallpaper when we decide what wallpaper we'll be using to update the bathroom.

Follow me on Instagram at   @woodyworking for more woodworking DIY or home improvement projects. Happy building!

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Frequently asked questions
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  3 questions
  • Janet Janet on Aug 20, 2021

    Where do you buy the barn door hardware?

  • Katen Katen on Feb 28, 2024

    materials list indicates solid wood which can be rather heavy. Could you use hollow core slab door to reduce weight and perhaps a not so heavy duty hardware? I’m sure solid is much better at sound transmission and a more luxurious look but sometimes lighter weight has its advantages too

  • Susan Weininger Susan Weininger on Feb 28, 2024

    How do you slide the door open? There is furniture in the way.

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4 of 18 comments
  • Kerrie Kerrie on Mar 18, 2023

    Just something that will go outta style.

    • Cathy's Happy Tots Cathy's Happy Tots on Feb 28, 2024

      Convenience never goes out of style! With this sliding door, there is no swinging door getting in the way when you enter or leave the bathroom!

  • Linda V Linda V on Feb 28, 2024

    I'm confused, is there a closet behind it? What is the purpose of the door?

    • Lu Lu on Feb 28, 2024

      Go back to the first sentence of the post . . . "to convert the door of a small on-suite bathroom to a barn door".

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