I found these bifold doors for practically nothing last summer at a garage sale. I didn’t have any particular need for them at that time but they held too much promise to pass them up. I was sure I would be able to upcycle the bifold doors into something spectacular. I brought them home and put them under a cover and then was so busy with making my root cellar that I pretty much forgot about them. It wasn’t until I was looking for projects to make as displays for up at our fairgrounds that I thought about them again.
I decided to upcycle the bi-fold doors into a lovely privacy screen with shelves.
Bifold Door Privacy Screen
I am really happy with how the shelf turned out and I love the way it folds down so nicely for storage and transport.
Materials Needed to Upcycle Bifold Doors:
bifold doors
2 sets of bifold doors (4 total)
1×8 boards treated with wood effects (charred wood)
54 inches (2) shelves
wood effects
Minwax wood affects charred wood
Antique-looking hinges (9)
Caulk
White chalk paint
White primer
finishing wax
Jolie Clear finishing wax
Tools to Upcycle the Bifold Doors into a Privacy Screen with Shelves:
Drill (for pilot holes)
Electric screwdriver
Miter saw
Oscillating saw
Paintbrush
Wax brush
orbital sander
Orbital sander with 80 grit sandpaper
mouse sander
Mouse sander with 120 grit sandpaper
Assembly of the Upcycled Bifold Privacy Screen Shelf:
remove hardware
Begin by removing the old hinges and handles.
sand doors
Sand the doors down just enough to rough up the surface of the old finish and remove any possible splinters.
remove 1st and 16th slat
Use an oscillating saw to remove the bottom and the 16th slat. This will create openings for the shelf to go through. All the doors have to be the same or they will not line up.
primer the doors
Use primer on all of the doors.
Caulk all holes
Caulk all of the screw holes and the holes where the slats you cut out went in.
Chalk paint doors and shelves
Use chalk paint on the doors and the shelf boards. Reapply until they are sufficiently covered.
mark hinge positions
drill pilot holes
attach hinges
Now that all the parts are prepared it is time to put them together. Using 3 hinges, connect the 2 center doors. Measure and mark the center and 12 inches in on each end, make pilot holes, and attach the hinges with screws. Flip the 2 doors over and set the 2 remaining doors next to them, one on each side. Connect these to the first 2 doors with the 6 remaining hinges. Attaching the hinges this way allows the doors to fold in on themselves in an accordion style. This makes it so that the shelf can slide in and so that it lies stacked for easy transport.
slide in the shelf boards
Now that the hinges are in, stand up the doors in a zigzag-type shape and slip in the shelf boards. Adjust the doors so that it is a tight fit over the shelf.
It is now ready to be placed and decorated however you desire.
Note: This is a little top-heavy so be careful if you have it in any area where there is wind.
