The Clever Hack You Need To Give Plain Closet Doors A Trendy Upgrade On A Budget

Have your plain closet doors left you feeling uninspired? Are you ready for a revamp? There's no need to entirely replace them — there are many budget-friendly closet hacks that include giving your closet doors a well-deserved makeover. You may be thinking, "I'm no good at DIYs" or "I don't have the time to embark on a big project," but don't worry — this clever faux paneling hack will give your doors a stylish upgrade in no time at all.

There's no need to question whether or not wood paneling is coming back in style — paneled walls and doors have become a modern design staple, and for good reason. It gives interest and character to an otherwise plain wall or door without dominating a space and making too much of a statement. But, as this trick proves, you don't have to invest in the real thing, a very similar look can be achieved with a permanent marker!

To pull off this hack, all you're going to need is a pencil, a ruler, and a gray permanent marker. Wipe down your closet doors (if you find it easier, you can always remove them from the hinges and lay them out onto the floor) and begin penciling out your faux panel lines using a ruler and a pencil. Choose the width of your panels depending on what best suits your personal style. Once you are happy with your panels, go over the pencil lines with a gray marker and your budget-friendly closet door makeover is complete.

If this simple hack doesn't quite achieve a big enough transformation for you, then you may be looking for other ways to amp up your closet doors. A great way of taking this hack to the next level is to paint your closet doors a different color before adding the paneling effect. Pro tip: Once you've found a paint color that you love, be sure to pick it up in a satin or semi-gloss finish to ensure your high-touch surface is easy to clean.

The particular paneling style that features in this tutorial mimics the look of tongue and groove planks or shiplap, but if you prefer another style of paneling, such as shaker style or wainscoting, then the same rules apply. Simply pencil out your design first, then go over it with a gray permanent marker to create your desired look.