Welcome to the first Lifestyle of Love hop in 2026. If you’re new here, this blog hop is a group of friends who love all things vintage, antiques, thrifted, found, and repurposed. It’s bimonthly and a great source for inspiration. Each time we post, there’s a prechosen theme. I’ll begin by sharing how to use old windows and doors when decorating.
How To Use Old Windows And Doors When Decorating
If you’ve popped in from DIY Beautify, welcome! I’m glad you’re here and hope you find something you’d like to try or something you’ve not seen before.
I truly love repurposing pieces at our farmhouse in Navasota, TX. The house is 90 years old and needs a lot of tlc so I do my best to keep decorating costs way down.
An old door made into a floor lamp.
One of my favorite finds was an old chippy door for $25.00. The guy who sold it to me said he thought it was a laundry door because of the holes. I didn’t know. What do you think? Maybe a pantry door?
Just like with this house, old houses didn’t come with many light sources. In one of the guest rooms, I used a door and a clearance wall sconce ($5.00 on FMP) to create a floor lamp. I could have placed a lamp on the table, but that would have left little room for anything else. To make it, we mounted the sconce and ran the wire through one of the predrilled holes.
Hanging over the bed is an antique window frame found for $2. The mister glued a mirror onto the back, and voila, wall decor that can reflect more light from the windows.
The French door sitting behind the chair came from my parents’ home. It has a missing pane, but that has never bothered me. It’s part of its charm.
Bifold doors can be nice to look at and hide unsightly plugs as well.
Can you see the bifold doors in the back left corner of the porch? I have a few sets of them. They aren’t only for decor. It is hiding a large switch that the Mister says has to be there. Gotta love technology (insert rolling eyes).
If you need a large piece of wall decor, consider an old screen door.
No matter what I placed above the skinny table in the above photo, it looked dinky. Dinky doesn’t work for me, so I scoured the house looking for something to fill the open space on the wall. I’d forgotten about the 1950’s screen door I purchased at a garage sale in the early 90’s for $15. Now it works perfectly behind the table, and everything I hang on it looks doubly good.
Using an old window makes a lovely backdrop.
Most items in both houses get moved around quite a bit. For me, it’s a seasonal thing or when I’m bored. The last time the Mister helped me hang something on that wall, he was flabbergasted and said, “This wall looks like Swiss cheese!” :/ That’s when I decided that adding the vintage window would mean using fewer plates, create less holes, and not cause an argument.
Well, that’s 5 ideas on how to use old windows and doors when decorating. Do you have any old doors or windows? If so, tell me in the comments how you’ve used them.
Next up is Lora Bloomquist. I know you’ll love her charming ideas! She’s super clever!
What a great post Cindy, love your fun vintage window ideas.
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Thank you Wendy. Each one is a treasure to me. I can’t believe I forgot to share some of them! Makes me realize I need to take more photos.
I love how you used your old windows and doors. I have a window from my grandmother’s house I turned into a mirror and an old door I put on my bedroom, it was an old french door. They’re all so wonderful to have and use. Thanks for more ideas and have a blessed day.
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I bet you think of your grandmother often when you see the mirror. I think that is super special. I never thought to use a French door for a bedroom but it sounds amazing! Did you cover it with a curtain or anything? I guess you don’t really need to. We want to add a bedroom on to the farmhouse. We kept some of the doors they took off years ago to create pathways. My hope is to use one of those for the new bathroom and one on the bedroom! Or maybe I’ll find another French door! Thanks Marlene for a wonderful idea!
All your ideas are so good! You’ve found some real treasures! That for lamp will forever be a fave, and I love the vintage screen door (that green!) Oh, and the one from your parents! Such a fun post. Pinned xx
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I agree – real treasures! Thanks bunches friend.
I love these ideas Cindy!! Great photos too!
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Aww, thank you so much Anna. After all the inspo from our friends, I’ve decided I need to find more doors and windows! 😉
Windows and doors throughout the house(s)- yay! They make such a wonderful backdrop, and yes-less holes in the walls makes husbands happy;) And I can usually switch things up myself.
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I added a couple of new holes in the wall today and he didn’t say anything. He must be getting used to it. 🙂 Thanks Lora!
Cindy, I hear you about the arguments with decor. It’s a rbig eason why we now have all of my Christmas decor boxes down in two wall storage systems now; better than hauling them down from the attic or from the overhead storage. Now Hubby doesn’t grouse. 😉
I would love to have an old window to decorate with! When were still in So Cal, one day my son and I saw someone taking off a front door. We hauled it home. It’s out in the shed and is a lovely soft green.
Enjoy your windows,
Barb 🙂
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Yes, minimizing the bins for Christmas is my new goal. Hoping to get it done before next Christmas! lol. Hope you get to use your door as decor soon. I’m sure you have a space for it somewhere!