Open Wide
Ever since we saw this image on bhg.com a few months ago, we started thinking about taking the door off of our bathroom’s linen closet.
We realized that a few chic baskets could convert our claustrophobic closet into clean and functional open shelving (by now you know we’re crazy about open living). And then when we crashed Lesley & Jeff’s fabulous home, her doorless bathroom closet sealed the deal:
But first some photographic proof as to why our current closet door situation was so not working for us. Check out the serious door war that regularly occurred between the linen closet door and the bathroom door. Argh! Talk about a design flaw.
So one day while John was sittin’ pretty at work, I took a screwdriver, a hammer and a crowbar to the door and off it came (along with the door jamb so that the opening looked a lot more like a built-in shelving nook than a doorless linen closet).
After we erased any evidence that a door once existed (by caulking the hinge holes and removing the door latch) I extended the bathroom’s soothing tan wall color into the nook (Glidden’s Sand White) and painted the door frame and the shelves a crisp glossy white.
Then I just reused the baskets that already housed our sheets and towels and introduced some other creative storage solutions from a few objects that we had laying around the house (two cheap white Ikea planters for nail polish and toothbrushes). Even the toilet paper looks great in its newly spiffed home.
But the entire project wasn’t entirely free, we did splurge on two bigger baskets (for a few more towels) to stack on the floor of the closet. Luckily we scored ‘em at Michael’s for 50% off, so we basically got two large rectangular woven trunks for the price of one (25 measly bucks total). Not bad for the entire bathroom closet project.
So what do you guys think? Could you live with an open linen closet or do you think some things are better left behind closed doors? And don’t worry, we’re totally aware that we’re waaay more into open storage than the average bear. Luckily we’re also waaaay more compulsively neat than the average bear (to a somewhat insane degree) so it’s perfect for us. Whatever works, right?
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Comments
We took the doors off the closet in our daughter’s room and used a white shower rod and white tab-top curtains to “close it up.” Allowed us to put the crib right up next to the closet and not lose any functionality (or precious space in her tiny 9×9 room.
LOVE the closet without doors! My husband and I just purchased our first home and have kind of the same issue but it’s with the actual master bedroom door. It opens to the right into the vanity so you’d have to close it to get around it to the bathroom – definite flaw! I’m thinking of changing the hinges so it opens out (kind of awkward) or exploring alternatives like a disappearing door (not sure if this is possible with electrical locations) or installing some kind of door on a track so it would roll parallel with the wall. Will post pics – would love your input…it would be a challenge for sure!
I LOVE this idea. Open storage really opens a space up, I just wish the rest of my family was as neat as I am so we could actually do this.
I’ve lived in my condo to nearly 3 years now and we actually inherited an open closet in our master bedroom. I saw this post and headed straight to Target this weekend to buy some very nice and inexpensive baskets. It makes a world of difference!! The closet just looks way me organized and it’s way easier on the eye.
I have an almost identical closet with no door in my bathroom. (PS: my entire bathroom is very similar to yours). I am repainting my light mossy earth green walls to a medium mossy earth green for more contrast with white, but I am doing the closet inside totally white. I noticed you did your inside the color of the walls.
QUESTION: Do you like the inside of your closet the wall color…or would you reconsider doing it totally white? Does the wall color seem to make the closet seem dark & shadowy…or not an issue??
Thanks much!
Gayle
We love it the wall color because it makes the room feel larger and more cohesive instead of feeling interrupted. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Hi, I love your idea to just take the door completely off. I have the same issue. my linen closet door and powder room door cannot be open at the same time. They are directly across from one another and there is only aproox. 2 1/2 ft of space between the two. I was contemplating doing a bifold louvered door or the double door style to lessen the problem. But that may cost more money than what I want to spend. I noticed your inside shelves didn’t come directly up to the door frame before the remodel, but after they do. (I have this issue with my shelving.) Did you buy different shelving or and shelving?
Thanks for giving me a less expensive option! I love it!!
Alison
Our shelves were actually just planks of wood held up by 2x4s on the side wall of the closet so we just pushed the boards forward so they looked more flush. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
I love your website! There are so many great articles, I feel like I can get lost in all of it (lost in a good way, LoL). My question for you is, I love those open woven baskets you use around your house. Where did you buy them? Thanks!
totally not related (and I love the doorless closet – if only I could organize/pare down my hair supplied enough to feel I could remove the barrier!), but are those hooks on the back of your door drilled into your door? Or are they sticky hooks? We just put up new interior doors (hollow) and obviously we don’t want to drill hooks into them only to have them ripped out by putting things that are too heavy on them…and your hooks look just perfect. :)
We drilled them in and used Liquid Nails on the flat part of the back (that sticks to the door) to make them extra strong. So far they’ve been great!
xo,
s
Our closet has a drawer in the middle so I am not sure if it would look ok with the doors gone. But I do have the same problem with the doors hitting each other. What do you think?
Definitely go for it! Just paint the drawer the same color as the shelves so it looks like a nice built-in unit. You can even add decorative drawer pulls to finish it off. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
How did you fill in hole that use to house the door latch. We really like this idea and are planning to do this to our bathroom.
Thanks,
Leslie
I like the idea of taking the doors out, I have the same problem in my bathroom, I think I will save some more space, thanks for the idea.
Just took off my linen closet door for the same reason. Seeing this I think I’m going to try for the open look. I really like yours. The inside “stuff” is getting a big overhaul anyway. Thanks for the idea!