Louvre doors, also referred to as shutter doors, slatted doors or louvered doors, can be traced back to the Middle Ages. The design consists of a frame with horizontal wooden slats installed at an angle. To this day, louvre doors continue to be used as closet doors, bathroom doors and pantry doors.
Louvre doors work brilliantly as double swing doors and are available in various lengths. They also offer great ventilation and are also extremely budget friendly. As they’re very popular in traditionally designed homes, they can often be viewed as a bit old fashioned.
So, if you’re looking to update your decor and give your interior a refresh, you might be considering removing your louvre doors and replacing them with another style. This is certainly an option however, you could also consider updating them by hiding or masking the slats in a way that blends into the room. There are many ways to completely transform the way your louvre doors look without compromising their usefulness. So, if you’re wondering how to modernise louvre doors, we’ve got you covered. Here are eight ways
1. Update Door Hardware
Sometimes, updating the hardware of your louvre doors is all you need to modernise them. If you want to replace your door handles, you can shop our door hinges and door hardware sets. There are a plethora of materials available as well as hardware sets with and without locks.
2. Painting Louvre Doors
You might decide that simply sanding down and restaining your louvre doors is the best option for you. You could also decide to paint them in a colour that better suits your decor. If you’ve got an artistic streak, maybe you could paint some simple designs such as flowers or lines. If you do decide to stain or paint your louvre doors, it is best to paint them elevated from the floor. Leaning them up against a wall could cause problems with dripping and streaking. You’ll also want to make sure you paint both sides of the doors, particularly if they are bifold doors.
3. Cover The Slats
An artist’s canvas is a great way to cover louvre doors because they can fit snugly over the slatted panels. Measure the height and width of the entire louvred area, as well as the back side of the canvas from one side of the stretcher bar to the other. Then select a canvas that will fit over it. If you can’t find a pre-made canvas that fits, you can purchase canvas stretcher bars, cut them to size; then staple it over the frame, stapling the fabric on the back. If you’d rather not do the job yourself, some art supply shops custom build canvases to your specifications. You can then paint the canvas to match the room’s decor.
4. Replace Louvres with Panels
If you want to be rid of the slats altogether, think about swapping them out for panels. You could paint a piece of plywood to fit inside the frame, then attach it to the door. You could decorate it with a colour that coordinates with the room, or use chalkboard paint to turn the door into a message board or an ever-changing art station.
5. Add Fabric Panels
Making your own fabric-covered panel for the louvre doors is also another great option. Measure the height and width of the louvred area, and cut out a piece of corrugated cardboard the same size. Cover the front and sides of the cardboard with a piece of fabric that picks up an accent colour in the room. Press the cardboard in place over the louvres to make it fit. Wrapping paper or repurposed clothes can be used in place of fabric.
6. Decorate The Louvres
If you’d like to get a little more creative with the decoration of your louvre doors, you could use ribbon or rope to weave through the slats. Secure them with a staple gun, covering the wood with fabric.
7. Hide The Doors
Consider adding a curtain over the door. Consider using lace, voile or linen. Or, if the door is being used for a closet and the room is spacious enough, consider a standing screen. There are many different materials, from metal to carved wood. There are even screens made to hold photographs, for a more bespoke feature.
8. Repurpose Your Louvre Doors
If you’ve decided that you want to replace or completely get rid of your louvre doors, there are great ways to repurpose them. You could turn them into an artistic canvas and use it for a decorative piece in the house. You could also turn it into a table top or use a pair to build a bookshelf. We hope this blog has helped you with tips on ways to modernise your louvre doors. Thinking about purchasing new ones? Shop louvre doors.