How to Add Nostalgic Charm to Your Home with Old Doors and Windows

Repurposed old doors and windows add architectural, nostalgic charm to home decor. Here are 12 ideas to use antique doors and windows throughout the house in creative ways.

When your home lacks natural historic charm, old doors and windows can be a great way to instill architectural interest. Whether you build them in as a permanent feature or hang them as art, old doors and windows have earned character that will beautify your home. Enjoy these tips on How to Add Nostalgic Charm to Your Home with Old Doors and Windows.

How to Add Nostalgic Charm to Your Home with Old Doors and Windows

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Build Nostalgic Charm Into Your House With Old Doors

If you live in an old house that has beautiful, solid old doors and antique hardware, consider yourself lucky! Our first home was built by the small town hardware store owner and still had all the original woodwork, doors and hardware intact.

Our current home had been stripped of most of it’s original 1900’s character. But we loved the high ceilings and the beautiful 2 1/2 acre yard. 1960’s remodels had left it with skinny orange trim boards and hollow core doors, along with harvest gold appliances and linoleum. We’ve been working to build back the old house character for 20+ years. Much of it has been accomplished with salvaged old doors and windows.

Every interior door in our home is an antique door that has been custom installed by Mr. Fix-it. We’ve also put new farmhouse trim throughout the house. Each vintage door is a different style, coming from a different old home. They each have their own antique hardware also. I like to think our house reflects our love for old houses. But Mr. Fix-it has complained plenty about installing “non-pre-hung doors”.

Our doors are a variety of different paneled versions; some are painted, some are stained, one is half-stripped. Some are light stained and some are dark. It’s not something you’d notice when you visit, but the old doors built into our home give it time-worn, nostalgic character. None of them are perfect and they reflect 100 years of different styled homes.

Install an Old Door as a Slider

If you’re space challenged, install an old door on a slider mechanism. This is a great idea for smaller rooms like bathrooms, where every inch counts. “We” put a five paneled old door on our upstairs bathroom. I refinished it and Mr. Fix-it did the mechanicals; that’s how we roll. I’m in design and finishing, he does the engineering.

Just realized both of our bathrooms have old 5 paneled doors on them;) They’re my favorite type.

“Barn Door/Sliding Door Installation with a Vintage Door and Low Ceilings”

Make a Unique Old Door a Feature

Unique old doors can be used as a special feature in your home. Walk in pantries are a great place to install a special door that will add character to your kitchen. Because our pantry door was a small opening, I shopped a salvage store for the perfect details and size. Both sides of this door feature perfectly chippy paint that I sealed with poly. I might strip it someday; I am falling more in love with natural wood these days.

In our back entry, I hung a red painted antique screen door. I love it’s spindles and details. It’s the perfect decorative backdrop for all the red-themed holidays.

Build In Old Cupboard Doors

Old cupboard doors can also be built into your home to add architectural, nostalgic style. These old glass doors came off a cupboard from my grandma’s basement. We had someone build the cupboard around these doors and built them into our kitchen. A mix of antique hardware adds to the nostalgic charm and gives our kitchen the classic “unfitted” style I wanted.

“Best Tips for Using Vintage (and vintage inspired) Hardware”

Upcycle Old Doors

If installing old doors in your home isn’t your thing, how about upcycling old doors into unique decor? Because I find many old doors curbside for free, we upcycled a couple of them into eclectic door trees I use at Christmas. Vintage hardware adds the cherry on top for a little old style bling.

“Repurposed Old Door Tree DIY”

Use Antique Leaded Glass Windows as Art

Antique stained and leaded glass windows can be used as beautiful architectural art anywhere in your home. They can be enjoyed as is, or layered with seasonal foliage or a garland. Over the years, I’ve hung several in our home. I love their classic nostalgic charm.

Use Old Windows as Decor Foundation

Plain old windows can be used as a decor backdrop. You can hang art on each window pane or square. Or you can hang art or decor on them for a 3D effect.

I have two old schoolhouse windows hanging in our living room that are a backdrop for revolving seasonal decor.

A set of arched windows are the back drop for a church themed collection in an awkward bottom of the stairs location.

“Vintage Style Home Decor Ideas: A Church Themed Collection”

Upcycle an Old Window Into a Chalkboard

Place a chalkboard painted board on the back of an old window frame to create a fun decor accent that can be used for pretty or organization. I picked up a huge window frame from the curb and created an oversized chalkboard that I used inside and on the porch.

“Fun Chalkboard Decor Ideas for Your Home”

Build Old Windows Into a Garden House

Salvaged old windows are a great way to add vintage charm to an outside garden house. Some have created whole buildings using old windows (I wish!). A couple years ago I picked up three tall old windows with vintage latches. Last summer we finally got them installed in our screen porch. My goal is to make this ugly little building look cute from my kitchen window. These windows are just the start. Hopefully next summer we can add more old windows on the other sides for cute garden house style (trying to be patient;)

Where Do You Find Old Doors and Windows?

I’ve found most of our old doors and windows in curbside piles. But they can also be found on FB marketplace, Habitat for Humanity resale stores and vintage, antique, and salvage stores. Online auctions may have them also. There’s a wide variety out there. Once you keep your eyes open, they’ll find you!

Hopefully you’re convinced that old doors and windows can be a great way to add nostalgic architectural style to your home. There are so many ways to enjoy them!

A few of my friends from our Lifestyle of Love series have joined me today, to send more old door and window ideas your way! Be sure to visit them below!

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