Simplicity in the South

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{small Home/ BIG Ideas} How to Turn A Bifold Door Into French Doors

DIY Projects· DIY Woodworking Projects· Remodeling· small home/ BIG IDEAS series

 
By using the existing hardware, it is possible to convert your bifold doors into french doors just by changing the placement of the hinges.
 
Woohoo! Tomorrow marks Simplicity In The South’s one-month-old birthday! Today, I’m bringing you part two of the Small Home/ Big Ideas Series.
 
I’m sharing budget-friendly ideas to make your small home more functional while adding character in the process.
 
Back in the day, before Pinterest and Houzz, my main source of house-eye-candy was Decorpad. This is where I discovered that it was possible to convert bifold doors (or louvered doors) to open up like a set of french doors.

Here are the bifold doors to our laundry room that I made into french style doors.

By using the existing hardware, it is possible to convert your bifold doors into french doors just by changing the placement of the hinges.

Some might ask, “Why go through the trouble?”

Well, after countless hip bruises from bumping the laundry basket into the door and a couple of pinched toddler fingers, we needed to nix the doors, or change them up.

I chose the latter.

That was back in 2009. So, despite our youngest two active hyperactive boys running in the laundry room to hide and slamming the doors behind them, the doors have held up well. And no pinched fingers…thus far.

But nothing changes the fact that I’m a klutz and may run into doorways at any given moment, but at least I have an extra half-foot of clearance!

 
 I used the original hardware.
By using the existing hardware, it is possible to convert your bifold doors into french doors just by changing the placement of the hinges.
 
At the top of the door, magnet latches help hold the doors shut. You can find these in the knob and hinge section of the home improvement stores.
 
By using the existing hardware, it is possible to convert your bifold doors into french doors just by changing the placement of the hinges.
 
Since there is an inevitable gap between the doors when they are closed, I had to add a 1″ wide wooden lattice strip along the edge of one of the doors.
 
 
This has worked out so well that we decided to do the same for our master bathroom.
 
By using the existing hardware, it is possible to convert your bifold doors into french doors just by changing the placement of the hinges. How to change a bi-fold door to french style doors.
 
We took down the hollow core door and replaced it with a pair of bifold door panels that I found at the Habitat For Humanity. The old hollow core door opened into the bathroom, taking up what little space we have.
 
It also covered up the mirror that you see on the right side. I use this mirror all the time to see the back of my head when I’m fixing my hair.
 
Change a bi-fold door to french style doors.
 
Now that I can actually SEE the back of my head when I fix my hair, I can prevent this from happening…
alfalfa sproutNote to self: Check hair before leaving the house
 
The Alfalfa sprout is only cute on Alfalfa.
 
 

Click here to see every post in the small home / BIG IDEAS series!

 
 

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Comments

  3. I loved your post…and your keen sense of humor – ” Alfalfa hair”..had me chuckling !! As a creative gal, I am always on the lookout for ideas that I KNOW may seem ” weird’ to some..but I know it can be done! Thanks for showing that it can be done !! Yes, LONG before ” pintrest ” and ‘ houzz’, I have been salvaging furniture , giving it new life and re-purposing things…that was some 30 plus years ago …..and now , it is mainstream…everywhere…its a huge ‘ business’.

    Reply

  4. Pretty great post. I just stumbled upon your weblog and
    wished to say that I’ve really loved surfing around your blog posts.
    In any case I’ll be subscribing in your feed and I am hoping you write again soon!

    Reply

  5. Valuable information. Fortunnate me I discovered your web site accidentally, and I
    am shocked why this accident didn’t took place in advance!
    I bookmarked it.

    Reply

  6. Heello there!I cpuld have sworn I’ve bee to tis website before but after reading through some off tthe post I realized it’s new to me.

    Nonetheless, I’m definitely delighted I found it and I’ll be book-marking and checking back frequently!

    Reply

  9. Hi! Just found your blog from Savvy Southern Style’s linky party. I am so impressed and can’t wait to steal some of your ideas!! Do you think that double bi-fold doors would also work as a French-style door? I might just try it. PS I just subscribed to your blog.

    Reply

    • Hi Diana! I’m so glad you found my blog! I’m emailing you right now about the bifold doors to double doors.

      Reply

  10. This is a great idea! This has solved my bathroom door dilemma. I had been trying to find a good bathroom folding door, but had my doubts about how much privacy it would provide. I had not thought about this third option!

    Reply

  11. I seriously need to do this for my pantry door, our kitchen is tiny and I could really use the back of the door for spice storage.

    Reply

  12. Brilliant! I’m going to have to pin this so I can remember your genius when I get to changing my bi-fold doors into french doors.

    Reply

  15. Awesome!!!! Great picture:). I can’t even tell you how much I love your blog,you have such unique ideas. Sending you an email tonight,
    Jen

    Reply

  16. Such a fabulous idea! I just found your blog and I love it! I’m looking forward to following along. Jana in Texas

    Reply

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