How to make your hollow core doors look expensive when you're on a budget.

Nearly every home has at least one – boring, flat-panel hollow core doors. In this blog, we’ll show you how to quickly give your home a more elegant and modern touch without breaking the bank when you try one (or more!) of our favorite DIY hollow core makeovers. It might look like you spent a fortune on upgrades, but you’ll know better.

Panel doors for every budget

Little Vintage Cottage offers a step-by-step tutorial for using trim molding and wood glue to give a hollow core door the illusion of being a paneled door, like the one pictured above.

You can also check out This Old House’s detailed tutorial on adding panel molding to dress up a hollow core door. We’re talking a transformation from slab door to grand entranceway.

If you’re up for a project that requires a bit more advanced tools and techniques, we have something for you, too. Jenna Sue is at it again over on Remodelaholic. She updated this old, synthetic closet door by adding veneer and authentic details. Say hello to a beautiful, rustic new look.

When an all-new garage entry door proved to be too expensive, Simply Beautiful by Angela used plywood left over from another project to turn a flat door into a three-paneled masterpiece. Add to that a Schlage Accent lever with Camelot trim in Aged Bronze finish, which matches the other hardware and fixtures in the entryway, and this space went from drab to character-filled at very little expense.

If cutting and trimming and molding and measuring is more than you’re looking for right now, take a page from Seeking Lavender Lane’s book. They used drop ceiling tiles to give that same paneled look with hardly any tools.

Renting? We've got you covered

For renters who can't make modifications to their living space, peel-and-stick wallpaper or even contact paper is the perfect solution. Little Vintage Cottage used this approach to quickly makeover the door from her dining room into the garage.

There’s no need to limit yourself to just patterns or certain colors. Choose a mural decal to create the illusion of a scenic vista or an all-new room. Because sometimes the dream of a secret bookcase door never dies, no matter how old you get.

Just Add Paint

If you’re thinking those sound great but more than you want to take on – project burnout is a real thing – then keep it simple. Rain on a Tin Roof shows us how striking a pantry door of all things can look with black paint and new hardware.

Consider different types of paint, too. Welsh Design Studio used chalkboard paint to turn a boring garage door into a chalkboard door for the whole family to enjoy! This idea is great for a child's bedroom or playroom door, or try it on a kitchen pantry door and use it to make your grocery list or as a command center.

No matter how you give new life to your hollow core doors, remember that a refreshed set of door hardware can help complete the look. Be sure to visit our product page for help finding the perfect look for your doors. And don’t forget to find us on Pinterest and Instagram for even more inspiration.