We originally planned this to be the final chapter of our basement makeover, but since we completed two separate DIY projects—a custom screen to hide our unattractive water heater and a window-frosting solution for full privacy while still letting light in—we decided to split the content into two posts. This one covers the simple, inexpensive screen we built from three secondhand bi-fold doors and a quart of bold paint. The window-frosting tutorial will follow.
To set the scene, here’s what our water heater looked like before we concealed it. It was functional but unattractive and dominated that corner of the basement. Over the course of the renovation we updated the space in many ways—adding a rug, installing bike storage, improving lighting, papering armoire interiors, hanging art, adding storage, and organizing paint—yet the water heater kept drawing the eye. Replacing it with a tankless system was an option, but because it was working fine and we prefer to reuse what we have, we chose to conceal it instead. The screen also hides a small trap door in the wall that leads to the crawl space under the house. If we ever do upgrade the heater, the screen can still conceal that trap door.
Store-bought room dividers and privacy screens can be expensive or too short for our needs, so we brainstormed affordable materials that could achieve a tall, sturdy screen. In the end we hinged three bi-fold doors together and painted them for a colorful, functional solution that cost a fraction of retail alternatives.
Step 1: Find three sturdy, tall bi-fold doors that will cover your water heater. We considered hanging curtain panels or using bookcases on wheels, but those options either required extra framing or were cumbersome to move when access to the heater was necessary. Bi-fold doors are essentially pre-cut, narrow panels with their own hinges, so when combined they make an instant folding screen that stands on its own. They’re easy to move, easy to find at thrift stores or salvage outlets, and ready for paint or refinishing.
We found three compatible bi-fold doors at our local Habitat for Humanity ReStore for just $18 during a door sale. They already came with enough hinges to join the panels into a single wide screen, so the purchase was a clear win.
At checkout the staff remarked that the set was missing a fourth door, since some bi-fold sets come in fours. We explained that a trio would suit our needs perfectly and planned to fit the panels into our sedan for the trip home. If you don’t have a large vehicle, renting a small pickup for a few hours or borrowing a larger car works well. When transporting long flat items, reclining the front seat and using a seat belt to secure the load can help keep everything stable during the drive.
Tip: Recline the front seat and secure large, flat items with the passenger seat belt to prevent shifting while driving.
Step 2: Paint preparation and assembly. Once we brought the doors home, we laid them out on cardboard for painting and hinged them together in the room where the screen would live. Assembling the screen in place avoids the frustration of building it in one room and then struggling to move it. We used the existing hinges from the doors to connect the panels, filled any small dents or recesses with putty, and sanded smooth. For $18 in used doors, they needed only minor cosmetic work to be paint-ready.
Step 3: Paint and finish. We used one quart of semi-gloss latex paint color-matched to a deep green. Two coats provided solid coverage and a finished look. Because we already had the paint cost partially on hand and the doors cost $18, the entire project came in under $35—an exceptional value for a custom, movable screen that’s both decorative and functional.
The finished screen brings a lively burst of emerald into the space and ties visually to other green accents in the basement, including storage bins and subtle rug stripes. Functionally, it fully hides the water heater and the crawl-space trap door while still allowing easy access when needed. The screen left more than 35 inches of clearance to move around the basement comfortably, roll bikes out, and use the space without obstruction.
This project is a good example of giving something pre-owned a useful second life with minimal cost and effort. We’ll follow up with a window-frosting tutorial and a complete basement wrap-up that includes before-and-after photos and a budget breakdown. In the meantime, if you’ve repurposed doors or windows in your own DIY projects, we’d love to hear how you’ve transformed everyday items into practical, attractive solutions.
Psst—If you want to revisit the steps of our basement makeover from the beginning, we documented the process from start to nearly finished in a series of posts available on our project archive.