One of the most surprising ways to craft a splashy design visual is with striking closet doors. Since they can take up so much visual space in a room, or conceal an entire room themselves, they’re an opportunity to make a truly bespoke feature using an often ignored medium. Not sure where to start with your closet door updates? From full satin panels in a dreamy lilac shade to historic woodwork refreshed with white paint, here is the ultimate list for designer-approved closet doors. 1Jib DoorsChris MottaliniIn this Charlap Hyman & Herrero-designed Miami apartment, shells are everywhere—even on the doors. The added bonus of this door is that, when closed, it disappears. To create a similar illusion choose a material that can adapt to any size or crevice and cover the space surrounding the door with the same material. This door of seashells was fabricated by the artist Me She with Openstudio.2Alpine DoorsYoshihiro MakinoIn this Landed Interiors-designed home, the design firm took a cue from Swiss ski chalets' built-in forms of storage. If you are renovating a second home with recreation at its center, perhaps look to the playful cut-outs and colors found in traditional Alpine architecture. Advertisement - Continue Reading Below3Fabric Lined Closet DoorsHaris KenjarIf you are looking to turn your dressing area into a bucolic retreat, consider opting for country-coded closets with bottom halves in wood, and top halves in glass. The cherry on top of this aesthetic plan is lining those glass doors with a contrasting fabric—check is best in the countryside. In this Nickey Kehoe-designed dressing room, the mustard yellow closets and cabinets were lined with Fleurons d’Helene fabric. 4Upholstered DoorsNoe DewittIn Jean Liu's Gilded Age era pied-a-terre, she covered the walls with hand-embroidered de Gournay fabric. The same goes for the door, nearly hidden to the right of her Pierre Frey mohair-covered daybed. Advertisement - Continue Reading Below5Camouflaged DoorsTodd EberleIn Giorgio Armani's home, closet doors are camouflaged by way of printed silk. Here, the doors were covered in the same silk as that on the walls. This idea works best on walls without excessive trimming or baseboards—a clean line helps drive the visual deception home. 6Antique Closet DoorsSimon UptonIf you have the freedom to decide the dimensions of your closet, why not take the opportunity to install antique doors? Something old is always better (for the environment, and often for your eyes!) than something new. In Maryam Montague and Chris Redecke's home, they installed antique carved wooden doors in a room full of Malian, Indian, and African furniture and art. Advertisement - Continue Reading Below7Mirrored Closet DoorsSimon UptonA classic option, especially for a smaller space or one with low light, is to mirror your closet doors, like in Kim Hersov's London home. This works especially if you have doors with paneling (new or antique!). 8Textured-Glass Closet DoorsNicole FranzenA sophisticated way to elevate closet doors is with textured glass, like in this Husband Wife–designed Manhattan apartment. In this case, the primary dressing room is a point of interest due to the light play from the reflective glass that serves a functional purpose too; the dark-hued panels conceal any messiness behind them. For a more approachable way to mimic this upscale look, think about using baking soda to make textured paint. Dress up even basic glass closet doors with this clever textural element. 9Monochrome Room Closet DoorsTrevor TondroFor an extra dose of chic, consider matching your closet doors to your curtains, like in this posh Parisian pied-à-terre by fashion industry insider Marc Valeanu. The sunny yellow color makes this an especially inviting space, made more fun with an unexpected shade. Not into this creative hue? Try echoing the tone-on-tone approach to decor with one of the top color trends of 2024. Then, find coordinating paint and curtains to mimic this matchy-matchy dressing area.10Upcycled Closet DoorsDouglas FriedmanThis stand-alone San Antonio house, a collaboration with client Stacey Hill and architect Vicki Yuan of Lake | Flato, makes an antique shine as a closet door stand-in. “These were Chinese folding screens that our client already owned (she found it at an estate sale), and it was her idea to turn them into closet doors in her new home,” shares the architect. “It was a great moment when we realized they would fit perfectly in the space, and we were excited to make them a highlight of her dressing room.” Snag something inventive, like these screens, at an estate sale to try the look in your own space. Advertisement - Continue Reading Below11Hand-Stenciled Closet DoorsMiguel Flores-ViannaDesigner Anna Sui’s Greenwich Village pad combines two apartments into one glorious, maximalist home. One especially interesting design choice was the closet doors; Sui made them a key feature instead of throwaway space with the addition of Venetian mirrors and a hand-stenciled design. Read our guide to decorating with mirrors to create your own dreamy, whimsical closet door with glam, shiny touches.12Curtain Closet DoorsSimon WatsonChannel traditional curtained kitchen cabinets for a whimsical twist on closet doors, just like Veere Grenney did in this London townhouse project. The fabric adds textural interest in a fresh, unexpected way and makes a built-in more interesting—not to mention conceals your stuff. Want more inspo? Read about inspiring fabric trends we’ve got our eye on. Advertisement - Continue Reading Below13Timber Closet DoorsWilliam AbranowiczA cool closet helps this cozy, contemporary abode stand out from the crowd. Cliff Fong, principal at Matt Blacke, went for a sleek timber closet door look for his midcentury home in Central Los Angeles. Custom cabinetry and millwork take the design ante up a notch, and these bespoke doors hide potential clutter in case you’re not sure how to organize your closet. You can achieve a similar look with a set of facing midcentury wardrobes, or splash out for custom millwork. 14Floor-Length Satin Curtain Closet Doors Andrea FerrariThis over-the-top closet door solution helped liven up a pandemic-era decorating project for Dimorestudio’s Emiliano Salci. His renovated Milan apartment is bold and colorful, like the purple floor-length satin that encloses his famed designer clothing collection. The dose of theatricality is unexpected and takes this closet (well, entire room) to the next level. Want to try this at home? Think beyond satin, and get some inspo for your own curtain closet with our guide to the best online curtain stores. Advertisement - Continue Reading Below15Smoked-Glass Closet DoorsStephan JuillardArtisan smoked glass, created using smoke residue during the glass-making process, makes for one-of-a-kind closet doors in this Parisian apartment. Designed by Pierre Gonalons, the 1,900-square foot residence is a study in elegant eccentricity. The glass closet doors offer an unexpectedly lovely way to stay organized. If a custom look is outside your budget, channel the sultry feel of smoked glass with accessories in the same vein, or simply paint your closet door panels in a matte gray chalk paint for a similar effect. 16Wallpaper-Covered Closet DoorsFrancesco LagneseThese lovely blooming blossom doors are an exquisite choice for a dressing area. Founder and designer Emily Todhunter of Todhunter Earle Interiors collaborated with New York architect John B. Murray for this Manhattan apartment project. “The doors are covered with de Gournay Plum Blossom wallpaper, a design inspired by a painted silk Kimono—very fitting for a dressing room and beautifully tranquil,” shares Todhunter. “This was a very multifunctional dressing room, so we wanted the closets to not just be practical but to create a beautifully romantic space where the client could both dress and work.”Channel some flower power for your interiors with this nasturtium pick, or choose from some bloomy beauties in our DIY wallpaper guide. Advertisement - Continue Reading Below17Upper and Lower White Closet DoorsProduced by Cynthia Frank; photography by William WaldronThe chic Madrid pad of Carolina Herrera de Baez offers a well-curated mix of high-low design, combining flea market finds with designer offerings. Her 19th-century family home in the heart of the city features original touches, like these lovely white upper and lower doors. Consider some of the white paint colors designers actually use to brighten up your closet door game. 18Black Closet DoorsKelly MarshallIn a home with no white walls, these inky black closet doors and built-in dresser offer a striking way to stand out. This New York townhouse, designed by ELLE DECOR A-Lister Danielle Colding, features bold design from top to bottom, from a custom bar to a blue primary bedroom. But amid the colorful medley, the black closet doors are an unexpected, elegant touch. Take a look at our fave black room ideas to inspire your own journey to the dark side!Advertisement - Continue Reading Below19Red Closet DoorsWilliam WaldronELLE DECOR A-List legend Martyn Lawrence Bullard pulled out all the stops on this Los Angeles project, his own Whitley Heights residence. The designer to the stars leaned into rich red hues for his custom walk-in closet. (Just peep at that dreamy Schumacher wallpaper!) Looking for DIY inspiration to give your dressing room the same treatment? Check out our favorite red color combinations and designer approved red paint colors to get started! 20Seamless Built-In Closet DoorsBillal TarightA more contemporary take on closet door design can be found in this modern Paris home. Architect and designer Elliott Barnes, an ELLE DECOR A-Lister, designed the whole apartment to showcase and enhance the client’s vast art collection. Sleek, built-in closet doors help maximize space and keep the focus on the rest of the primary bedroom. Get the serene sanctuary vibe with a look at our collection of cozy contemporary bedrooms.