Closet doors are designed to hide a multitude of clutter, but that doesn't mean they have to be boring, sliding slabs. For this project we replaced two large ordinary sliding hardboard doors with mirrored ones. The transformation was quite remarkable. Once the doors were hung, the room seemed dramatically brighter and more spacious as light from the window reflected around the room.
Because the new doors were destined for a child's bedroom, we chose ones coated with a special plastic film applied to the back that keeps the mirrors safely in place should they accidentally break and shatter.
Sizing the doors was a straightforward process. We simply measured the overall opening and went to our local building supply centre.
Once we determined the necessary size, it was time to pick a style. There are several choices of trims and finishes available. We decided a simple silver mirror finish with white painted metal trim and tracks was the right choice. Other finish options include a dry-erase whiteboard or a chalkboard finish.
Locating the upper and lower tracks is probably the trickiest part of the the installation. Ideally, the track should be set on the floor and ceiling so the doors can run flush with the walls. Unfortunately, in some cases the walls are not flush to each other-which was the case in this installation. To compensate, install the track on a diagonal line so it is a similar distance away from each wall, so the doors run flush across the closet opening.
The doors for this project were oversized at almost 90" tall, which meant they had to be custom-ordered. Delivery took about a week, but the installation took less than two hours, even including removal of the old set of doors. The custom size added to the cost, which was approximately $450. Standard-size doors are significantly less expensive in most cases.
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