Ever since we saw an image on bhg.com a few months ago with open shelves and baskets, 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?
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
We just used some spackle and a putty knife. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
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.
Wow… nice ideas… I’m sure this is also liked in Europe.
I love your closet! Our bathroom is laid out very similarly to yours. I was thinking of taking the door off our closet but we have horrible green tile floor to ceiling in there. Some of it has fallen off but the rest can’t seem to be removed without taking much of the wall with it. Any suggestions on ways to hide that?
Hmm, maybe you could wallpaper over it with something cool like grasscloth? Or even hang fabric to obscure the tile? Good luck!
xo,
s
I want to try this idea but I have wood on the floor of the closet and tile for the rest of the bathroom. I see that the floor in your closet is different from the rest of the bathroom tile. Do you think painting my wood floor white would make it look a bit more cohesive?
Also, I know you sold this home. Did the new owners say they wanted to put the door back on the closet or if they liked the open look?
Thanks!
-Sarah
Hey Sarah,
We actually used that door to build a desk (which we took with us) so it wasn’t available to the new buyers, but they didn’t seem to mind at all (they must have liked the open look as they never inquired about the door). As for the floor, painting it would definitely make it look more cohesive! You also could place a large basket or hamper on the floor in there once it’s painted to further obscure the fact that it’s not a perfect match. Good luck!
xo,
s
I love this idea too, but have one question. Where are you hiding your dirty towels? We currently have a towel hamper in our linen closet and if that door came off the hamper would obviously need moving.
Hey Billie,
We just toss dirty towels into the hamper in our bedroom.
xo,
s
We did the same thing for our master bathroom – taking off the door. The door opened into the bedroom and I just hated how it looked both opened and closed. Some might think it weird to have no bathroom door, but since it’s our private bathroom and the toilet is not in line-of-sight from the bedroom, it’s worked great for us and gives us privacy. Plus, we now get lots of light from the window in the bathroom, so that’s a bonus!
Love your blog and all your great ideas!!!
I just discovered your blog last week and I am working on catching up to the present day. I love love love this post. I am crazy jealous of your linen closet since I don’t have anything like it. I’m too nervous to do this to any of my closets, which are all in the hallways–too open for my tastes. Keep doing what you’re doing!
Hi there- I some how came across your site in search of bathroom remodel ideas. In the 2nd pic I LOVE the valance hanging can I ask where you got it from???- Its just darling & exactly what I am looking for.
Thanks, Lynn
I think they got that fabric at William’s & Sherrill (a fabric store here in Richmond) and had it made. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Love your blog! Can you tell me how you took the door jamb off? Did it come off easily? I’m getting ready to do this to a closet that I’m turning into a mudroom and trying to find the easiest way.
Thanks!
I just pried it off with a crowbar and puttied the holes. Then I sanded everything down to make it even and painted.
xo,
s
Inspiration! I have a door/closet exactly like this in my bathroom where the doors clash if one is open while the other and it’s very very tiny width wise.
This would be a fabulous idea for me to do with our closet, a lot of work with our closet though!
Our closet is pretty deep though, was yours?
Yes, I believe it was a standard depth, so it wasn’t shallow or anything. We just used baskets up near the front that we could grab so nothing got shoved too far back. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
I have the exact same dilema in my bathroom-2 doors back to back constantly banging into each other. My family has ruined several door knobs over the years. I could easily do the same but keeping the closet super neat would be a night mare in my house. I’m looking for a slim folding door that mighr fit or a curving wall pocket door as I do have a wall next to the closet.( I think I only dreamed that kind of door). Anyone who knows where I could find such a door and/or a talented carpenter willing to take a risk and try to make it work I’m all ears. Otherwise its open closet for me. Thanks for the idea.
Anyone have any ideas for Janet?
xo,
s
So, we have the exact same bathroom door issue and I took off the linen closet door right after we moved in. A few minutes ago, I got out the crowbar and hammer and took off the door stop, but that exposed a gap between the jamb (?) and the frame (?). Did you have that? It’s a pretty good sized gap and I’m not sure that joint compound/spackle alone will fix it.
Did you have that issue? If so, what did you do to fix it?
Oh no, we didn’t have that. I would try spackle though. Hope it works!
xo,
s
Great minds think alike! I have exactly the same layout in my bathroom, and last week I came up with the idea to go with the open shelving too. While looking at some DIY projects today, I stumbled upon this page. Your closet looks great! My bathroom is all white tile except for the gray tile in the tub/shower. I will be refinishing my tub, toilet and vanity in black, and I plan to add splashes of red in accessories to add a little color. With this color scheme in mind, and since I love bold colors, I plan to paint the closet shelving and frame white, and paint the interior of the closet a bright red to bring some color and excitement to my predominantly black and white bathroom. Although I love the look of baskets, being a bit of a germaphobe I do not want my clean towels etc. exposed to bathroom germs, I plan to use various sizes and styles of metal/tin/wood decorative boxes with lids to hold personal items and towels, etc. along with some other decorative items. Thanks for showing us how yours turned out–it certainly is inspirational!
Love that! Sounds awesome!
xo
s
I just found this old post and I’m going to get this going in my bathroom pronto! One question, I have powder blue tiles on 3/4 of the wall in the entire bathroom that my boo refuses to paint or sanction tge painting of (I’m not afraid to use a paint brush!).
Anywho, the walls above the tile are white and I’m looking for some color. Any suggestions?
Thanks!
Molly
Hmm, white looks great with blue so I love that for the wall above the tile, and then maybe add more white (fluffy white towels, and a soothing white shower curtain) along with some smaller pops of one other color (like emerald green or daffodil yellow) in some art or a pretty glass soap pump would be nice.
xo
s
Hi, I finally re-found your post on bathroom closet door removal. That is a pretty standard building error, in my opinion…..putting the closet door and the room door in each other’s way.
Im going to take ours off too, but the problem is that our floor tile stops, the wood closet floor is there, and we don’t have any add’l tile to fix it with. and No funds to redo the whole bathroom. What would you recommend? A little piece of rug? Some faux tile/linoleum item? A tray or other flat thing to cover the sub floor?? Help!, if possible! thanks:)
Maybe try sanding the wood floor and priming/painting it a color that’s extremely similar to the tile for a cohesive look? Maybe once it’s painted and you rest a tall basket or something on it, it’ll be hard to notice?
xo
s
that sounds like a great idea. I think I will do that. As for the big tall basket, yes! There is already a fairly large space there (due to access panel for tub plumbing), so it could even be a hamper/basket, maybe with a lid….there are currently only 3 evenly spaced shelves to work with. Could easily have 5…so I guess we may be ripping those wood pieces off and putting new ones on to give us a few more shelves. Thanks so much for taking the time to respond, Sherry. You guys are very fun! (I also especially love your idea of making the bedroom closet into a fun space….going to work on that one, too:)
You’re so sweet! Good luck Colleen!
xo
s