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A Hunker report describes a TikTok DIY project that turns one secondhand wood board into several doors for open bathroom shelves. The approach can create a coordinated wood grain across separate panels, but the board dimensions, hinge support and installation must fit the specific shelving.
A DIY project featured by Hunker shows how a single piece of secondhand lumber can be turned into multiple doors to cover open bathroom shelving. The method, shared by TikTok user johndolechek, uses hinges and a cut sequence planned around the full board to keep the grain aligned across the finished panels.
The board shown in the report appears to be roughly a 1-by-16-inch board about 6 feet long, although that is an estimate from the image, not a specified requirement. The right size depends on the shelving opening. Hunker advises measuring its overall width and height and checking the lumber’s actual dimensions: a board sold as a 1-by-16 is typically about 0.75 inches thick and 15.25 inches wide.
The project can use one door for the full opening or separate panels for individual shelf sections. For a stained finish, the report recommends laying out the doors and hinge locations on the uncut board, then installing the hinges and temporarily mounting it before marking where to cut. That sequence helps preserve the continuous grain pattern across the panels. Painting the doors instead can make grain alignment less central to the process.
Hunker describes using a pair of European soft-close hinges per panel, with a third hinge for a taller door that needs added support. Hinge cup holes can be drilled with a 35-millimeter Forstner bit or a concealed-hinge jig. After cutting, the panels are sanded and fitted with iron-on edge banding before painting or staining. Salvage shops, Habitat for Humanity retail stores, Facebook Marketplace or leftover project lumber are listed as possible sources for a board.
A Low-Cost Route to Closed Storage
Covering open shelves can hide toiletries and other everyday items without replacing the shelving itself. Reusing a suitable board may also avoid buying several new door fronts, while cutting panels from one board gives them a shared grain and finish. The report does not provide project costs, a measured time estimate or evidence that the method will be cheaper than other options in every bathroom.
The design is not universal. Door width and height, the condition of the wood and the strength of the shelf frame all affect whether the result will fit and operate well. The suggested hinges need a sound mounting point, and a board with uneven dimensions or damage could require additional work. The project is best understood as a custom DIY approach, not a ready-made solution for every niche.
European soft-close hinges for cabinets
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Planning the Board and Hinge Layout
The source report frames the project as an alternative to leaving bathroom cubbies open or commissioning a custom cabinet door. Open shelves can make stored items visible; adding a door changes the appearance while retaining the existing storage space. The featured creator’s method relies on using one larger board as a temporary single panel, then dividing it after the hinge positions and opening have been worked out.
That order matters most when the wood will be stained, since the grain runs continuously along the board. Hunker says to install the hinges and mount the full board before marking the horizontal cuts, then remove it for cutting and finishing. The article also notes that nominal lumber sizes do not match actual dimensions, so measuring the opening and checking the board itself are both necessary. For an opening without an inner frame, it advises locating the vertical stud used to frame the niche before attaching hinges.
“The board appears to be roughly a 1-by-16 board and about 6-feet long.”
— Hunker, describing the TikTok project
Fit, Cost and Installation Details
The source does not give the board’s exact dimensions, wood species, total project cost or time required. It also does not document how the doors performed after installation or provide a complete measurement plan for a particular bathroom. The dimensions and method therefore need to be adapted to the opening, available framing and chosen hinges.
Hunker says a stud finder should be used to locate framing when the niche lacks an inner frame, but the report does not establish that every shelf structure can support this type of door. Readers should check the condition and construction of their own shelving before drilling or mounting hardware; a cabinet professional can advise if the frame or wall support is uncertain.
Measure Before Cutting Panels
The next step for anyone attempting the project is to measure the opening and compare those dimensions with the actual board size. They should decide whether to make one tall door or several smaller panels, then confirm that the hinges and mounting surface are suitable before cutting. For a stained finish, the reported method calls for laying out the hardware and temporarily mounting the full board first, then marking and cutting the panels so the grain can align.
After cutting, the panels still need sanding, edge banding and a chosen finish, followed by final installation and adjustment. Hunker does not report a follow-up on the featured bathroom, so the finished doors’ long-term performance and any later changes to the project remain unreported.
Key Questions
Can one board cover any bathroom shelving niche?
No. The board must be wide and long enough for the specific opening, and its actual dimensions can differ from its nominal size. Measure the opening and the lumber before committing to cuts.
How does the method keep the wood grain aligned?
For a stained finish, Hunker describes mounting the full board and marking the panel cuts before separating the doors. The panels are then cut from the same board, preserving the opportunity to line up the grain when they are closed.
What hinges does the project use?
The report recommends European soft-close hinges, generally a pair for each panel and a third for a taller door that needs more support. The correct hinge and mounting arrangement depend on the door and shelving frame.
Where can someone look for reclaimed wood?
Hunker lists architectural salvage stores, Habitat for Humanity retail stores, Facebook Marketplace and leftover lumber from another project as possible sources. The board still needs to be suitable in size and condition for the doors.
Source: rss
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