How to update your home with an upholstered door you can make yourself

Many homeowners are looking for easy ways to add interesting architectural accents to their decor. A fun way to dress up a bland hollow core door is to upholster it — an easy project and a great way to add colour, style and texture to any room or hallway.

• First, pick your fabric. Fabric is available in unlimited designs and textures and in a rainbow of colours.
• You could use vinyl for the look of a piece of leather furniture or choose a sunny print to brighten a dull space.
• Purchase about 2.5 meters each of your fabric and some felt. You also need fabric glue, spray adhesive, paint, nail-head trim, a hammer, a box cutter and some painter's tape.

Take the door off its frame by removing the hinge pins. Lay it flat on the floor or across a set of sawhorses.

• Next, apply two layers of felt to the door to give it a padded, dimensional look.
• Measure the length and width of the door, and cut two pieces of felt that are about three centimetres shorter and narrower than the door.
• Spray the door face with spray adhesive and attach the first piece of felt, leaving about 1.5 centimetres of the door uncovered around all four sides.
• Then, spray it and gently place the second piece on top to create a double layer.

• Cut your fabric so that it's about five centimetres longer and wider than the door. Apply a line of fabric glue on the exposed border of the door around the felt on all four sides.
• Lay your fabric face-up on the door and press it into the glue.
• Allow the glue to dry, and then run the blade of a box cutter along the sides of the door to clip the excess fabric and make it flush with the edges of the door.

• Decide the pattern in which you want to lay the trim and mark it with painter's tape.
• Painter's tape works well for this because it's easily removable and can be reattached if you want to adjust the placement.
• Be sure to avoid any moulding or hardware on your door.
• Once you've settled on your design, cut the nail-head trim to length and tap it in with a hammer. Secure the ends of the trim with a single nail.

• Paint the edges of the door in a coordinating or complementary colour.
• Once everything is dry, you can hang it back up by reattaching the hinge pins. Step back and admire your handiwork.