Get the arched pocket door look with a regular square door! I’m excited to show you exactly how I converted a regular pocket door to an arched pocket door. An actual custom arched door can get quite pricey. By using a regular square door, you can get the same look as an arched door by placing it in an arched opening (and for a lot less $$$).
Supplies Needed:
- 1×2 Flexrim
- 1×4 Flatstock Flextrim Pre Curved
- 3/4″ plywood
- Construction Adhesive
- Stain/Finishing Supplies
Tools Needed:
Choosing a door
After searching Facebook Marketplace for an antique door to use for this project, I kept coming up empty handed. I decided to order a door from Simpson Door Company. They were super helpful and made the ordering process a breeze. Here are the exact specs from the door I ordered.
Once the door arrived, it was time to pick out some hardware and stain/finish the door. For the door hardware, I went with these simple Emtek Classic Rectangular Flush Pulls in unlacquered brass. I also added this Emtek Edge Door Pull in unlacquered brass to make it easier to pull the door out of the pocket hole. They were simple to notch out and install myself on the door compared to some other types of hardware.
Before installing the hardware, I stained and put a finish on the door. I used this Precolor Easy treatment in Vintage Brown color from Rubio Monocoat (diluted 50% Precolor Easy and 50% water) and then finished the door with three coats of General Finishes Flat Out Flat Topcoat.
Arching the Doorway
It’s important to keep in mind that every pocket door can vary slightly, so I’m sharing what worked best for our situation. Our pocket door was already existing to our home, so all I had to do was transfer the pocket door hardware from our old door to the new door and then hang it back on the track. Once the door is hung in place, it’s finally time to work on arching the doorway.
To get my arched shape, I made a template of the window arch (on the door) and just expanded the template until I reached the door jam (minus ¾” for the 1×2 flexible trim). The arched corner pieces needed to be about 1 ½” thick to work with our pocket door frame and the 1×2 flexible trim, so I glued and clamped together two ¾” pieces of plywood. I traced the template onto the 1 1/2″ thick plywood and cut it out with my jig saw. You’ll need 4 total arched corner pieces, a pair for the front side of the doorway and a pair for the backside of the doorway. To install the arched corner pieces, you can just use some construction adhesive and brad nails. Don’t forget to repeat on both sides of the doorway.
Next up, adding some 1×2 flextrim to cover the edges of the plywood. This is the first time I’ve worked with flexible trim and it’s such a great product to use for so many reasons. You basically just curve the 1×2 flextrim around the plywood arched pieces. You can secure it in place with construction adhesive and brad nails. I did need to feather out the ends to get it to fade into our door jam. The flextrim cuts very easily with a jigsaw or even a utility knife.
*This is the only part I would do differently. I would not use the 1×2 flexible trim here and instead, I would just have cut the plywood to size and put some edge banding on the cover the edges of the plywood instead.*
Lastly, we need to add some door casing to finish off the look. We’ll be using flextrim again for the arched part, but this time it’s a 1×4 flatstock flextrim that is pre-curved. Be sure to look at the exact diameter measurements you need for your door opening when ordering. I found it easiest to install the arched piece first and cut it off right where the straight casing will start.
The Reveal
Some filling, sanding, caulking, painting and we’ve got ourselves an arched doorway. And once that pocket door is shut, it creates the ultimate illusion that the door itself is arched!
Project sources:
Door (from Simpson Door Company) | 1×2 Flexrim | 1×4 Flatstock Flextrim Pre Curved | 3/4″ plywood | Construction Adhesive | Precolor Easy treatment in Vintage Brown | General Finishes Flat Out Flat Topcoat | Emtek Classic Rectangular Flush Pulls in unlacquered brass | Emtek Edge Door Pull in unlacquered brass
Room Sources:
*This post contains affiliate links*
2 Responses
When I use the link for the door supplier, I can’t find an arched window treatement on the 682 Traditional Sash. How did you get the arched version instead of the square windows?
I believe you have to go through the quote process to add the arch in the window. The person that put my quote together was able to add that for me. Hope that helps!