Closet Doors From Pallet Wood

If you have a closet without a door (or just a door you don't like), find some pallets & build a beautiful closet door!

Pallets

Screws

1x4s

1/4 Plywood

Sandpaper and/or a power sander

Sliding door hardware kit (I found some that attached at the top, but barn door style would work too)

Basic tools (cordless drill, circular saw, miter saw, tape measure, and possibly a table saw)

1. Measure your closet opening (both height and width).
2. Find some pallets with boards wide enough to work for your opening (I found pieces long enough to form two doors with a small overlap).
3. Take the pallets apart (I find that a large crowbar, small prybar, and hammer work well together).
4. Remove any large splinters from the planks, but final sanding will take place at the end.

1. Using your measurements of your closet opening, make two vertical pieces to form the framework of the closet doors. I used 1x4 pine available at my local lumberyard.
2. I also cut the horizontal pieces close to size, but waited to finalize their length until laying out the pallet planks.

1. Look at each of your pallet planks and determine which way they look best. I tried to alternate colors & widths to make it look as random as possible.
2. You may have to cut one or more pieces on a tablesaw for the top and bottom. I wanted to make sure the bottom and top pallet plank would offset the width of the horizontal 1x4 frame pieces.
3. When you have them all arranged on your 1x4 framework, flip the the whole thing over so that the backs of the pallet wood are facing up (I flipped the 1x4s over on the floor next to the pieces, then flipped each pallet plank over one by one).
4. At this point, I cut & added the horizontal 1x4 framework pieces by sliding them underneath.

1. Use your tape measure to check the diagonal distance from corner to corner. If both distances are the same, your door will be square.
2. Put a couple screws into each corner (through the pallet wood into the 1/4) to ensure it remains straight & the middle pallet planks remain in place (friction holds them pretty well).

1. Use a chalk line or long straight edge to mark & trim your pallet wood so they are all even lengths (I used a circular saw...make sure the depth is set so it only cuts the pallet wood!).

1. Cut your 1/4 inch plywood to fit the length & width of your door. This will be the interior of your door that comes in contact with your clothing, so try to get a nice smooth piece of plywood.
2. Decide which side of the plywood to "hide" & place that side against the backs of the pallet wood.
3. Screw the plywood to the pallet wood (I used 2 screws into each end of the pallet boards...be sure your screws don't protrude through). You could glue it if you prefer.
4. If you have a lot of gaps or holes in your pallet wood, you can paint or stain your plywood first to lessen what shows through the cracks.

1. Give it one more check of square by measuring the diagonals.
2. Sand it well. Remember, this will be in contact with clothing, so you don't want anything to snag that favorite sweater or Mötley Crüe t-shirt from high school

1. Install your hardware according to manufacturer's directions. I had planned ahead & knew that my thickness of my door would match the hardware.

When it's done, you shoud definitely show it off to visitors to your home (just be warned, they might as you to help them make one for their home).

I even used the leftover pallet wood to cover a linen cabinet (I just used hinges instead of sliding hardware)