Sliding Chalkboard Closet Door

Want a fun, functional closet door for a playroom or kid's bedroom? Or a simple project to add some functionality to a plain office, workshop or craft room door? This door is it! It's super simple to build and costs under 200 for a large 5' door!

I was so tired of the bypass doors on the closet in my kid's playroom. The doors kept coming off the tracks, and it was difficult to store large items in the closet without having to play Tetris every time I put something in there. However, I didn't want to just take the doors off because I still wanted to be able to "hide" some of the stuff being stored in the room, and I didn't want to have to worry about putting closet doors back on if we ever sold our house.

I've never been a huge fan of bifold doors, so those weren't an option, french doors take up too much floor space, and a pocket door would be a ton of work, so a sliding door seemed natural and since we have the 5' space next to the closet to install a sliding door, it was a doable option. The only problem I had with it was the potential loss of wall space...space that could be used for shelving or other furniture. But, adding the chalkboard surface to it made it more functional when open or closed, and made it seem more like a piece of furniture in and of itself. Plus, it adds tons of character and fun to the room. Besides, there are three other walls to use for storage and furniture, right?!

This door can easily be customized to fit your space. Just change the height and width measurements and be sure to purchase a sliding rail that is at least double the width of your door.

Materials (for a 5'x 7' door):

- (4) 2x6x8 or 6' if you have access to those

- (1) 3/4"x4x8 Plywood

- 2 1/2" Pocket Hole Screws

- 2" Pocket Hole Screws

- Wood Glue

- Paint or Stain for the 2x6s

- Chalkboard Paint for the Plywood

- (1) 10' Sliding Door Kit

- 1x6x10 to mount the sliding door rail to the wall

- 2 1/2" wood screws for mounting 1x6 to wall studs

Tools:

- Tape Measure

- Pencil

- Square

- Pocket Hole Jig

- Drill

- Circular Saw or Table Saw (miter saw will work for some cuts)

- Stud Finder

- Level

- Safety Equipment

Start by attaching the frame with 1 1/2" pocket holes, 2 1/2" pocket hole screws, and wood glue (at least 2 per end) . These holes will be on the back side of the door and can be filled with pocket hole plugs and sanded flush, or with wood filler. Cut the 3/4" plywood to fit in the center of your frame (it's best to make the frame first, ensuring it is square, then measure for the plywood to get an exact fit). The plywood will be attached with 3/4" pocket holes and 2" pocket hole screws along each side as well as the top and bottom. The plywood will be flush with the back of the door frame so that there is a 3/4" inset on the front side of the door. All pocket holes will be filled and sanded.

After assembly, fill all the holes and sand the door very well. Make sure the chalkboard surface is nice and smooth (using sanded plywood will help with this). Finish and paint the door as desired and attach the hardware as instructed by the kit. Be very careful that the holes you drill for attaching the wheels are straight or you will have a difficult time hanging the doors with crooked wheels.

Hang your sliding door rail by mounting a 1x6 to the wall studs and then attaching the rail to the 1x6. This seems to be the easiest method, as stud width can vary by house, and the holes in the rails might not line up perfectly with your studs. Double check all your measurements to make sure you are hanging the door high enough off the ground for it to slide easily. Measure the distance at all locations along the track, especially in older homes where the floor and ceiling may not be level! Hang your track as level as possible so that the door does not slide open or closed on its own.

As a side note, there are many different hardware options for door guides, research what you would like to use before you make the door. You may want to cut a groove along the bottom 2x6 for a door guide if you choose the kind that requires this. That would best be done before assembling the door frame. Also, a wall mounted guide may require some adjustments to your baseboard.

Here are some options:

Wall Mount Center Door Guide

Wall Mount Roller Track

Floor Mount Guide

Sliding doors are a fun addition to any house and can be an economical way to update or add doors! These doors are super simple to build and there are endless design possibilities for the creative!