To cover a doorway without a door, take measurements of the height and width of your door opening. Then, cut a piece of fabric to the same measurements. Opt for a stylish curtain rod the length of the door opening and drape the fabric over it.
You don’t always need a door to cover a doorway and divide rooms.
Other things that can cover a door stylishly and uniquely include accordion dividers, heavy curtains, barn doors, folding screens, roman shades, and even a bookcase.
The best part? You can change whatever option you select every once in a while to refresh the interior of your home without much effort, time, and of course, money.
Now, let’s learn how to cover a doorway without a door in various ways.
How to Cover A Doorway Without Door: 11 Clever Ideas
People usually cover their doorways for more privacy or as part of their redecorating or home renovation.
However, having a door isn’t always the best option for various reasons like looks, functionality, or project size. Moreover, a design without a door will allow for more freedom of movement, so let’s look at other ways to cover a doorway.
Not every option below will match your room’s layout, so go with whatever suits your space.
1. Beaded Curtains for A Chill Vibe
If you’re looking for budget-friendly and modern doorway coverage, look no further than beaded curtains.
They’re available in different materials, colors, and designs, so you have many options to choose from.
We suggest bohemian beaded curtains as they promote a chill vibe and open look to any room. Keep in mind that they don’t provide much privacy or soundproofing.
2. Heavy Curtains for A Classy Look
Another cost-effective and stylish doorway coverage is heavy curtains. They’re also available in different materials, colors, and designs.
They have 2 key advantages over beaded curtains, including increased privacy and improved sound blockage.
A quality pair of heavy curtains can also help keep your doorway discrete and make the room look bigger.
So, if you’re looking for a doorway coverage solution for small rooms, opt for heavy, white, or light-colored curtains, as dark-colored ones work better for larger rooms.
3. Folding Screens
If you hate having doors on all sides of your entryways but want privacy, use folding screens. They’re super versatile, affordable, and easy to install.
Moreover, if you don’t want to block off access through the folding screen, you can fold it up against the wall so that only a portion of the opening stays visible.
Here’s the real kicker. You can choose from folding screens made of rice paper, wood, fabric, etc. They also come in various sizes, colors, and patterns, so you have many options when choosing the right ones.
4. Accordion Dividers for A Vintage Vibe
If you’re into retro-style, use accordion dividers. They were popular back in the ‘60s and ‘70s and are making a comeback.
Accordion dividers come in wood, papery, plastic, and solid fabric materials, so you have a large selection of contemporary options.
If you prefer mid century modern styles and décor, opt for this solution and give your home a retro and earthy appearance.
5. Turn Your Bookcase into A Hidden Door
You can also cover your open doorway with your favorite bookcase.
If you have one piece that can cover the whole entrance, you’re in luck because you can just place it before the doorway and call it a day.
If you don’t have a wide bookcase, you can place 2 smaller ones along both sides of your entrance and give your room a unique look. If you don’t need to block off the whole entrance, leave a gap in between.
6. Macrame for Soho-Style Enthusiasts
Also known as rope dividers, macrame makes a great choice for covering doorways. These unique, old-fashioned curtain-like coverings complement spaces with a Middle Eastern touch and a Southwestern twist.
Therefore, if you’re a Soho-style lover seeking unique solutions, opt for a macrame that matches the interior design of your home.
7. Barn Doors for A Rustic Feel
If you’re searching for a way to hide your doorway while also taking your decoration skills to the next level, consider barn doors.
They’re available in many different designs, including sliding glass doors, doors with windows, etc. They often consist of wooden slats that slide horizontally across each other.
In our opinion, they’re cool and provide a rustic feel to any home. So, if you’re looking for something unique, check out barn doors.
8. Roman Shades to Keep the Heat Outside
We love roman shades as they’re ideal for separating rooms, but here’s the kicker – they also provide great insulation properties and enable natural lighting to enter the room.
Therefore, they’re perfect for summer days as they keep the heat outside but let sunlight pass through.
Usually, people use roman shades to cover windows, but who says they can’t also cover doorways? They can!
They’re made with bamboo or various other fabrics, making them easy to clean. Some types of roman shades can be washed in the washer as well.
Also, you can install these over transparent glass doors in your home for full privacy.
9. Pocket Doors for Occasional Privacy
Pocket doors take convenience seriously. They’re the perfect alternative to regular doors because when they’re opened, they’re fully hidden by the wall.
In other words, they stay out of the way and decrease the risk of pinched fingers.
10. Turn A Piece of Art into A Hidden Door
Another thing you can turn into a hidden door is your favorite piece of art. Until you open it, no one will suspect it exists.
Most people use large bookshelves to conceal a door, but you can take your decoration game a notch and use a painting.
Or you can turn your old door into a piece of art. Have someone paint something on it. If you’re good at painting, you can do it yourself and save money!
11. Oriental Vibes with Shoji Sliding Doors
Lastly, we suggest Shoji sliding doors for concealing your doorway. They’re popular Japanese sliding doors that originated in Japanese architecture and were typically made by fastening translucent papers to bamboo frames.
Nowadays, they’re usually made with regular glass panels and wood frames. Also, these doors are space-saving.
Why Cover Your Doorway Without A Door?
Some people prefer covering their doorways without a door because it’s convenient for disabled and older people as well as kids who can’t reach handles.
Do You Need A Bedroom Door?
It’s not necessary to have doors anywhere around the home, so it’s totally up to you and your loved ones.
If you’re wondering about the official definition in real estate terms, you should have a door in the bedroom. Also, local building codes require installing real doors as a part of your bedroom’s build.
In other words, not having doors can be a code violation.
Do You Need A Bathroom Door?
In most parts of the US, the lack of bathroom doors would violate building codes. Therefore, you must have one.
Also, we wouldn’t suggest living in a place that doesn’t have bathroom doors, as they prevent moisture from entering the rest of the home. They also ensure privacy.
So, in our opinion, they’re a necessity.
How to Hide A Door: 4 Easy Ways
If you have a room that you don’t use at the moment, you can hide the door using a bookcase, curtains, mirror, poster, or wall panels.
1. Bookcase
You can easily hide a door by placing a large bookcase in front of it.
They double as shelving units, so they’re perfect for hiding a room that you want to keep private.
2. Curtains
Most people use heavy curtains to cover open doorways, but you can also install a good pair of curtains over your existing door and obscure your room.
3. Mirror or Poster
It’s not the most creative idea, but it’s still effective.
If you have a large floor-to-ceiling mirror, you can easily hide the door behind it. You can also use a large poster, but we like the idea of having a door behind a mirror better because it’s a great way to add to your home’s ambiance.
4. Wall Panels
If you’re searching for a full-blown way to cover a door, consider wall panels, as they can hide doors completely.
You can use the same wall panels you have used for your walls and have your door blend in with the background.
FAQs on How to Cover A Doorway Without Door
How to finish a doorway without a door?
You can easily finish a doorway without a door by installing a door frame and sheet of plywood or some other material over the opening.
How to soundproof without a door?
You can soundproof using acoustic tiles or hang blankets on the walls.