My secret linen closet is finally complete! I can’t believe how well this custom mirror hides the secret door!
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As with all best-laid plans, this project didn’t actually start as a secret linen closet — it was meant to be a laundry closet. It wasn’t until we began framing out the second floor during our home renovation that we realized the footprint required for laundry was quite a bit larger than expected. When it started to compromise the size and shape of the second bedroom, we knew we had to pivot. By scaling back to a storage closet (or linen closet), we suddenly had a smaller footprint but a much bigger opportunity—and that’s when my creative juices really started to flow.
Following the completion of our home renovation, the linen closet sat as an unfinished cavity for nearly a year. It wasn't until the final stages of my pregnancy that the "nesting" instinct finally took hold, driving me to transform that dead space into something functional. Using leftover shoe mould from the renovation as supports, I installed some basic white melamine shelves and gave it a quick paint job.
Soon after, life and a new baby took priority, and progress on this project once again came to a screeching halt. It wasn’t until almost a year later, when we started finishing the basement, that I felt the spark to pick up where I left off and finish the closet for good.
Hidden Door DIY
Since the doorway edges were still unfinished, my first task was installing J-bead to give the opening a clean, presentable look. To hang the door, we chose invisible hinges to ensure our new hollow-core slab door sat completely flush with the wall. These hinges are essential for a seamless 'hidden door' effect because they are mortised directly into the door jambs, disappearing entirely when closed. Unlike traditional hardware, these modern hinges feature a 3D adjustment system, which allows you to fine-tune the height, depth, and side-to-side clearance with a simple hex key. A total lifesaver for achieving those perfectly even gaps around the door edge and give you a true flush finish.
While my carpenter was hanging the door, he also installed a 'push-to-open' magnetic latch. This mechanism helped draw the door securely shut, ensuring the hidden door would function seamlessly once the DIY mirror was attached. To reveal the secret linen closet, all I had to do was give the mirror a gentle push, and open it would pop.
With the door now installed, I primed and painted everything before shifting my focus to the DIY mirror.
DIY Mirror for Secret Door
With mirror measurement in hand I grabbed a roll of gridded craft paper to map out a full scale template. Since the closet door was actually off center, I designed the mirror to be slightly wider to trick the eye and balance the proportions of the wall. With all my pieces mapped out, I hung my design on the door and started to get excited!
Over the next week I managed to thrift a bunch of cheap mirror before heading to Louis’ studio to share my design and ideas with her.
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Louis cut, polished and laid out all my pieces for my approval. I love the distressed edges of each piece!
You may remember my friend Louis from my home renovation series; she’s the incredibly talented stained glass artist who created the custom piece for my powder room. She recently moved into a beautiful new studio, and it was such a treat to step back into her creative world. We spent time going over every detail, specifically discussing how I wanted the edges of each glass piece to look. A week later, she gave me the call I was waiting for — everything was cut, polished, and ready for pickup. With the pieces in hand, it was finally time to move on to assembly.
While waiting for Louis, I headed to the hardware store for a sheet of DuroSpan. I needed a base for the mirror that was lightweight yet sturdy enough to hold the design without weighing down the door. After cutting the insulation board to size, I peeled back the silver film to expose the foam and began arranging the mirror pieces according to my template. There was something so satisfying about finally seeing the vision come to life as I glued each piece into place with construction adhesive.
Feeling proud of my progress, I left the mirror out to show the boys when they got home. In hindsight, I should have anticipated that my toddler would find a large, shiny object on the floor irresistible — which is exactly how he ended up stepping right on it. Thankfully, I was able to carefully remove the broken section with an X-Acto knife. Once Louis cut me a replacement, it tucked perfectly into place, and you’d never even know there was a mishap!
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One piece done. One more to go. My first time staining anything!.
While the glue cured on the mirror, I shifted my focus to the frame. I couldn't find the exact moulding I had in mind, so I improvised by staining larger stock pieces and having my carpenter rip them down to the perfect dimensions. This was actually my first time ever staining wood, and looking back, I’m not sure why I was so intimidated! The process was surprisingly straightforward, and the finish turned out exactly how I’d hoped.
Once dry my fine carpenter ripped those pieces down for me and mitered the edges so we could glue and staple them together and into place.
The next week after everything had dried we were ready for install! We added a cleat to the bottom of the door for support and used three different glues to bond the mirror to the door! That sucker is going nowhere! Once the mirror was in position we clamped the mirror to the door to help hold it in place while the glue firmed up.
24 hours later, the clamps could came off and my hidden linen closet would finally be complete!!
My secret linen closet is complete.
Although it took me a long time, I really love how this project turned out. The mirror is so gorgeous and I love how you can see the raw edges of each piece. The mirror’s I had thrifted were all different thicknesses and you can see the depth that gives the mirror when they are scattered throughout. The different green glass hues add further interest and the push-open mechanism worked out perfectly. We did tune up the hidden door hinges after the mirror was attached (told you those 3D adjustment were handy) but I could not be happier or prouder of this DIY!
Thank you so much for joining me today and for checking out my new YouTube series Soh At Home! If you have any questions or comments about this hidden door and custom mirror DIY, please feel free to leave them below.
Until next time,
- Soheila
