DIY Petite Double Doors From Bifold Doors

Joy
by Joy
3 Materials
$150
2 Days
Medium
Easily solve a bathroom door issue by creating DIY petite double doors from bifold doors with this quick tutorial! Sometimes, when revamping a space, it takes more than paint and tile choice. It takes creative problem solving. I have found this to be true whether I am dealing with old or new construction. Case in point, this project. Read more on how the DIY petite double doors from bifold doors tutorial solved my issue and created much needed character.
When I sat down to pull the design together for the girls shared bath, I wrote down everything I did not like about the space. Under each “dislike” I wrote why I didn’t like it. Then under that space I wrote how or what would make the negative function better.This is the same approach I take with clients when I am working on projects outside of my own. It has never failed.Room:Girls Shared BathroomNegative:The toilet/shower doorSwings wide into the tub area which makes it difficult entering and exiting the area.Nothing can be hung behind the door aka a towel rack due to the expansive swing area needed.Positive:If a smaller door could be used, it would provide more room for the person in the shower area and it would allow for a towel rack to be placed.Goal:Minimizing the door without sacrificing privacy when needed.Solution:Rework bifold doors to create petite double doors.
TA DA! We have an avenue to turn the negative into a positive! Bifold doors are relatively inexpensive when compared to changing the size of the door frame or reconfiguring a wall to install a pocket door. They can be easily converted into petite french doors. Here’s how: 

SUPPLIES:

Basic Bifold doors – primed if you are paintingTwo sets of hinges (one set for each small door)Four knobsBall catch latch hardware to allow the door to shut securely1in x2in x1/4in plankPaint or Stain This project is really quite easy. I did not take pictures of the process because we were in a time crunch during the Jeffrey Court Tile challenge. I will include a few links to tutorials in each step to help you. I have a feeling that I may be repeating this process soon so I will update pictures at that time. 

STEP 1:

Take the bifold doors apart by removing the original hinges.

STEP 2:

Knock off the “burrs” or rough edges of the bifold doors with a fine grade sandpaper. If you are using stain grade doors – you will want to follow the steps needed to create a smooth evenly stained surface. Minwax has a great link to help ensure your doors look beautiful, click  here f or the link. 

STEP 3:

Use wood filler or spackle to fill in the old hinge areas. Sand smooth. Install hinges on the opposite side(s) of the doors.

STEP 4:

Add the 1in x 2in x 1/4 in plank to close the gap created by separating the two doors. Otherwise the whole privacy part is null. Attach the plank to left side if facing the door, like this diagram. Hang the doors.  Here is a tutorial for hanging double doors.

STEP 5:

Install ball catch latch at the top.  Here is a tutorial to help you with installation.  

STEP 6:

Paint your new double doors. I chose Sherwin Williams Dust Blu in satin finish. I painted the hinge on the double door side the Dust Blue and the hinge on the door casing the color of the trim. *always paint with the grain of the wood or faux wood.

STEP 7:

Install Knobs. I fell in love with a particular Liberty Hardware knob but it felt a little small on the double doors. I added a backplate from a knob set I purchased at Hobby Lobby. I love the mix! To create the double knob for the doors – use a piece of “all thread” metal cut to size (add the thickness of the door to depth of the knob interior).
That’s it! Problem solved!
This bathroom project has so many great projects and I will be sharing more. My apologies for the photos- this bathroom is VERY awkward and small – getting gorgeous photos of the entire room(s) is impossible. But trust me, it functions so much better than it did!Till Later,Joy
Resources for this project:
Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Hometalk may collect a small share of sales from the links on this page.More info
Joy
Want more details about this and other DIY projects? Check out my blog post!
Go
Frequently asked questions
Have a question about this project?
3 of 4 questions
  • Debra Holland Debra Holland on Apr 04, 2020

    Do these block the sound the same as a regular door?

  • Rena Noele Rena Noele on Apr 05, 2020

    Since it's a bathroom, what keeps others from bursting in? How much privacy does a ball catch latch provide.

  • Sherri Sherri on May 09, 2020

    Joy, Did you glue the plank onto the left door?

Comments
Join the conversation
2 of 11 comments
  • Sherri Sherri on May 09, 2020

    I live in a very old house. The standard doors are taking up too much space. I am so excited about trying this project. First I will do the bathroom and a bedroom door. I think it will add charm to my small space. Thank you for sharing your creative idea.

  • MountainMichele MountainMichele on Jul 05, 2020

    Thanks for the inspiration! I loved this idea and decided to try it with my linen closet doors. It was a lot more work than I anticipated due to issues with the door frame, and. It turns out the doors were not perfectly flat after hanging in my house for over 30 years. So I had to re-hang one door with the bottom hinge slightly out of alignment so that the slightly warped doors would line up in the middle. I went with heavier hinges because I may hang some racks on the inside of the doors for storing extra toothbrushes and guest supplies. I love how it turned out.

Next