6 A/C Closet Door Ideas

If your air conditioning or HVAC unit is inside of your home, chances are, it is hidden behind a door in a small closet designed specifically for the unit.

The door is primarily designed to hide the unsightly air conditioning or HVAC unit, but in many cases, the door itself is unsightly. The door may not add any style or charm to your home, and in many cases, may deter from the aesthetic of the area.

If you have an unsightly A/C closet door, you may have many questions about the door, and/or may be looking for decorative door ideas.

Read on to get answers to the questions you may have about air conditioning or HVAC closet doors and to get decorative AC closet door ideas. 

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1. Paint the Door

If you have an unsightly AC closet door, one of the simplest ways to help ensure the door blends in with the aesthetic of your home is to paint it.

Some people paint the door the same color as the walls in their home, helping the door to blend in, rather than to stand out. Other people simply update the existing color of the door, painting it a bright white color.

The closet door may fade or become dirty, so refreshing the paint more frequently than other doors in your home may be needed. Lastly, those who are very creative paint a mural or design on the door. This allows the door to be decorative instead of just plain. 

2. Install a Louvered Door

If the door to your AC or HVAC unit is plain, unsightly, or old, you can replace the door itself. One of the types of doors that you may consider installing is a louvered door.

A louvered door closely mimics the look of plantation shutters. This is the perfect door option for AC closets that need ventilation, as the slats in the door help airflow in or out of the closet.

This type of door is perfect in tropical-style homes or in classic-style homes, as the door fits in perfectly with both of these aesthetics. 

3. Add a Bi-Fold Door

Another type of door that you can replace your existing AC closet door with is a bi-fold door. Bi-fold doors slide and fold in half, allowing you to access the closet.

This is the ideal type of door to use in places where you may not have the ability to swing a traditional hinged door open all of the way. Bi-fold doors come in many different styles and color options, including wood doors and vinyl doors.

They can be slated if you need to ventilate your AC or HVAC closet or they can be paneled if you want to block the space off completely. 

4. Install a Sliding Barn Door

Sliding barn doors may be the perfect option as you look to replace an AC or HVAC closet door, especially if you have a country-like aesthetic in your home.

A sliding barn door is placed on a track and slides left to right or right to left, opening up the closet when needed. This is ideal if your AC is in a tight hallway where there is not a lot of space to open up a traditional hinged swinging door.

A sliding barn door typically has a lot of character to it, making the door itself a decoration. 

5. Place a Secret Door That Looks Like Shelving

In many households, homeowners feel like their homes never have enough storage. If you feel like you could use more space to store books, toys, or other knick-knacks, a secret door that looks like a built-in shelving unit can be a creative AC closet door idea.

These secret doors look exactly like they are a built-in shelving unit that has been built into your wall, and they function as such. This provides you with shelves to store items.

However, when you pull on the shelves, the door may pull open, revealing your AC or HVAC closet. 

6. Create a Chalkboard Door

The final way to disguise an AC closet door, or to make it more decorative, is to paint it with chalkboard paint. This allows you to use the plain door as a chalkboard.

You can allow your kids to draw on the door or you can use it to write down things like events or appointments coming up or a chore list for your kids.

This allows you to take a door that is hardly ever utilized and turn it into something that is usable and makes sense for your family. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Do AC Closet Doors Need to Be Vented? 

Some AC closet doors do need to be vented, while some do not. Newer models of AC and HVAC units are ducted. This provides the combustion air that is needed without having to have a vented or slatted door to your closet. However, older units may need to have a slatted or vented door. Always read the owner’s manual for your AC or HVAC unit, or talk to a heating and cooling professional. They can let you know if your specific model of air conditioning or HVAC unit needs to be placed behind a vented or slatted door. 

What Kind of Door Does an AC Unit Closet Use? 

Louvered doors have long been the most common type of door used on an AC or HVAC closet. However, as newer models use ductwork for ventilation instead of slatted doors, the types of doors used on AC and HVAC closets are increasing. As long as you do not need slatted doors, you can use nearly any type of door outside of your AC closet. 

How Do You Hide an HVAC Door? 

In most cases, you cannot hide an HVAC door. The HVAC door is often noticeable if you are in the area near your HVAC closet. As such, you should try to make your HVAC door less noticeable, rather than trying to hide it. Making the door decorative helps to ensure the door fits in with your overall aesthetic, rather than standing out like a sore thumb. 

What Can I Use As a Closet Door Instead of an Actual Door? 

If you have an indoor AC or HVAC door, you may find yourself wondering what you can use to seal off the area instead of a door. If you desire, you can use things such as beaded or macrame curtains to block off the area, rather than a door. However, HVAC and AC units can get hot when they are in operation, and they should not be touched. If you have children or small pets, using a door is the best way to keep the AC or HVAC unit out of reach, ensuring everyone stays safe. 

Do AC closet doors need to be vented?

AC closet doors do not necessarily need to be vented. Electric units and many HVAC or AC units do not require the ventilation provided by louvered or vented closet doors. However, it is crucial to determine if the AC unit utilizes the door for air intake. If it does, it is necessary to select an air-conditioning closet door that allows for this function.

Does closing closet doors help with AC?

Closing closet doors does not help with AC. It is actually recommended to keep interior doors open in order to balance the air pressure inside your home. When doors inside are closed, it creates pressure differentials, causing your AC to work harder to maintain a steady airflow. On the other hand, keeping the doors open can minimize the strain on your HVAC system.

Should you leave doors open or closed for AC?

Doors should be left open as often as possible for AC in order to allow air to flow freely from room to room, which will prevent pressure problems in the home and make it easier for the air conditioner to cool the home evenly and with less energy.

Should you close doors and vents in unused rooms?

Closing doors and vents in unused rooms: Is it advisable? For optimal efficiency of your HVAC system and to ensure your comfort, it is not recommended to close off unused rooms. It is best to allow the air to flow through your home as it is designed to do.

Do you have to vent a stand alone air conditioner?

The stand-alone air conditioner does not require venting, but it is not efficient to operate it without proper ventilation. It is recommended to use it without an exhaust hose only in dehumidifier mode, although this will only increase the room’s temperature instead of cooling it down.

Can you sound proof an AC closet?

The AC closet can be soundproofed by constructing it with solid walls and a sturdy door. It is important to use dense insulation that can effectively absorb sound waves while being safe for use near the AC unit. After ensuring proper insulation, it is crucial to thoroughly seal the closet to maximize soundproofing effectiveness.

Why do closet doors have vents?

Closet doors have vents to prevent the air around clothing, blankets, or toiletries from becoming stale, which is beneficial as it allows warm or cool air to circulate between rooms, even when the door is closed.

Can you vent a portable AC out a door?

It is possible to vent a portable AC out a door. Most portable ACs are designed to be vented through a window to release warm air, but if you have a windowless room, there are alternative options available. You can choose to vent the warm exhaust air through the wall, the ceiling, the door, or even the dryer vents, depending on what is most convenient for you.

How do you vent a closet door?

To vent a closet door, one option is to install an exhaust fan similar to the ones commonly found in bathrooms. However, it is important to note that this method may not be ideal as it can result in blowing air into the attic and necessitates the relocation or addition of ductwork, as well as extensive electrical wiring. Alternatively, you can consider adding a two-way vent above the closet doors.

Why is my AC closet so cold?

The AC closet is so cold because there may be leaks or breaks in the ductwork, allowing cool air to enter. To address this issue, check for any leaks or breaks around the AC unit and seal them with foil tape or AC mastic. Additionally, if there is a register vent in the closet, closing it may make a difference in the temperature.

How do you insulate an AC closet?

To insulate an AC closet, one can effectively enhance soundproofing by incorporating additional layers of drywall. The structure of drywall makes it highly adept at absorbing and dampening sound waves, making it an ideal choice for this purpose.

Why should you keep your closet doors closed?

You should keep your closet doors closed because closing off non-climate-controlled spaces, such as closets, can help reduce your home cooling costs. This is because any additional square footage requires the air from your HVAC system to travel a longer distance to reach the desired room temperature.

How do you use dead space in a closet?

To make use of dead space in a closet, one can consider adding hooks, shoe bags, or racks to the backs of doors. Additionally, installing high shelves for infrequently used items and utilizing decorative bins or clear containers to store items neatly and provide easy access to their contents can be helpful. It is important to think creatively about neglected spaces in your home.

How can I make my closet doors more interesting?

To make your closet doors more interesting, you can use frames to create paneled doors. By simply painting the door with a base color of your choice and adding canvas stretchers or frames, you can add dimension and visual appeal to your closet doors. This DIY project is ideal for single-door closets or folding doors, but it is not recommended for sliding doors.

How do you take advantage of vertical space in a closet?

To take advantage of vertical space in a closet, one can maximize storage by incorporating shelves, drawers, and storage units that span from the floor to the ceiling. Enhance vertical storage capacity by implementing hanging closet organizers, utilizing over-the-door hooks, incorporating a chest of drawers, and utilizing stacking bins and boxes.

Why do closet doors have slats?

Closet doors have slats in order to facilitate ventilation or air circulation. The slats are designed to maintain privacy while still allowing for the flow of air between the separate areas divided by the door.

How can I cover my closet without doors?

To cover a closet without doors, one option is to incorporate a combination of glass and curtains, similar to the illustration. This setup not only adds a decorative touch but also helps to minimize dust accumulation. When the closet is organized, you can easily open the curtains, and when it becomes untidy, simply draw the curtains to conceal the contents. This approach offers great convenience in managing the closet’s appearance.

What can I do without a walk in closet?

You can make do without a walk-in closet by purchasing or creating a clothing rack (or multiple racks) and hanging your clothes, while also using curtains to separate them. Additionally, you can utilize a utility shelf or bookshelf and incorporate storage baskets. Another option is to transform a wall or corner into a built-in closet or stack wooden crates or boxes for storage. Hanging unique wall hooks is another creative solution, and you can also make space for a wardrobe.

How do I make my closet secret?

To make your closet a secret, you can transform a wardrobe into a hidden entrance. This can be achieved by either removing the back of the wardrobe to reveal the hidden room when the outer doors are opened or by adding a secret door to the back of the wardrobe to make it appear more like a functional dresser.

What can I replace bifold closet doors with?

You can replace bifold closet doors with sliding doors, which are a great alternative. Sliding doors are particularly suitable for small rooms or spaces with limited floor space as they take up less space when open. Moreover, they are easier to use daily and less likely to become jammed compared to bifold doors.

Why are bifold doors no longer popular?

Bifold doors are no longer as popular due to their space-consuming nature both indoors and outdoors. However, it is important to note that this issue is not exclusive to bifold doors, as other types of doors such as French doors and side doors also occupy space when left open. Therefore, the claim made in the Sunday Times article about bifold doors being the only ones to take up space when open is inaccurate.

How do you modernize a bifold door?

To modernize a bifold door, you can give it a fresh and vibrant coat of paint, incorporate stylish decorative trim, update its appearance with thin plywood refacing, transform it into a chic French door, and enhance its look with decorative hardware.

What is a pivot closet door?

A pivot closet door is a type of large door that has hinges attached vertically to its top and bottom, rather than on the sides. These hinges are positioned away from the door’s edges, enabling the transfer of weight in a vertical direction instead of horizontally from the side frame.

Why are bifold closet doors so expensive?

Bifold closet doors are more expensive due to the additional engineering required for the seamless folding of multiple sections. Unlike standard sliding glass doors that mainly consist of glass, bifold doors involve more hardware and a door profile, especially when it comes to exterior bifold doors.

Can you replace bifold closet doors with French doors?

You can replace bifold closet doors with French doors by repurposing the existing door, making it a simple DIY project that requires minimal materials and know-how.

Are bifold doors better than sliding doors for closet?

Bifold doors are a preferable option over sliding doors for closets due to their ability to fold back to one or both sides, providing full access to the entire width of the closet. Additionally, they occupy only half the floor space compared to swinging doors.