How To Build A Barn Door

25 Materials
$250
2 Days
Advanced

This DIY barn door is cheap to make and has a fun modern style. We’re also giving you a little weekly check in on our progress of our master bathroom renovation.


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Step 1: Cut MDF Panel. Using the table saw, cut one of the MDF panels down to a couple inches larger than the finished door will be.


Step 2: Cut MDF slats. To save some money, you can rip larger MDF sheets down to 4 inches wide using the table saw. Alternatively, you could buy 4 inch wide MDF trim that is already cut down (but it’s a little more expensive)


Step 3: Prime everything. Apply primer on all sides of MDF (all of the cut slats and sheet) with a 4-inch roller. Let dry throughly.


Step 4: Find center. Measure the center of both the vertical and horizontal edges of the MDF sheet and draw two straight lines with level and pencil in the middle.

Step 5: Mark wood for middle diagonal slat. Start with the first piece and have it go directly through the middle of the panel. You can make sure you are lined up correctly by measuring on the bottom where the corner of the MDF sheet hits the slat. Should be exactly 2 inches if you cut your slats to 4 inches.


Step 6: Cut middle diagonal slat with circular saw.


Step 7: Attach middle diagonal slat. Apply construction adhesive to the back and then push it down into place, paying close attention to make sure it’s lined up in each corner so the angle is right.

Step 8: Continue with X Design.


Step 9: Repeat on back side of the door. We actually decided to just do a simple horizontal design on the backside of the door (this will be the side facing the bathroom). With the horizontal design, we didn’t need to mark each piece individually. We could just cut them all at once on the miter saw and then attached.

Step 10: Fill nail holes.Using a putty knife, apply wood filler to all nail holes. Let dry and then sand until smooth. Clean surface well after sanding.

Step 11: Paint the barn door. I used a smooth finish 4 inch roller and applied two coats of this paint to both sides and all edges of the door. 


Step 12: Attach handle and hardware. Attach handle and hardware to the barn door per your instructions provided with the items you buy. 


Step 13: Route out a line on the bottom of the door for the guide.


Step 14: Hang the barn door!

I’m just going to be over here staring at this beautiful thing!


If you love this DIY barn door and want to learn more like it, be sure to check out all of my DIY tutorials in the archives here!

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Chelsea @ Making Manzanita
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Frequently asked questions
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  3 questions
  • Jessica Rea Jessica Rea on Feb 28, 2020

    Love this! Could you please share a picture of the back side (facing inside the bathroom)? I’m a visual person. Thank you so much for sharing! I really want to do this in my master bedroom for the bedroom and closet.

  • CS CS on Feb 28, 2020

    Just what are you gluing the mdf slats to? Is their a door size center support?

  • RJ Baetig RJ Baetig on Mar 26, 2020

    Price ? And what do you use to hang the door?

    I've been looking in Home Depot for awhile & last summer I found door and all hanging material for $179 cnd... I still insisted on building one, and eventually priced it all. Realized the $179 was a heck of a deal. By the time I went back to buy 2, all sold out. Still don’t have my sliding barn doors. Waiting for this summer...

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