DIY Traditional Rice Paper Doors

Replace a wooden interior door with a rice paper door to give your decor an Asian-inspired twist.

Rice paper doors are a unique addition to any room's decor. Sliding rice paper doors can hide an unsightly closet or an entertainment center. Rice paper doors can also be installed on interior door hinges to modernize their use. Wherever you choose to install them, house guests will be in awe of these Asian inspired doors.

Things You'll Need

• Tape measure
• Ruler
• T-square
• 4-by-8 foot sheet of birch plywood
• Jig saw
• Wood stain
• Paintbrush
• Scissors
• Rice paper
• Oak trim (optional)
• Hammer
• Nails
• Sliding door track and hardware
• Hinges (optional)
• Drill

Instructions

1. Use a tape measure to measure the area where you plan to install your doors. Note the length and width measurements.

2. Cut the plywood to fit the measurements taken in Step 1.

3. Use a ruler and a T-square to mark the openings for the rice paper panes. Mark the openings lightly with pencil so that you can erase any incorrect marks. The number and size of the panes is up to you, but 3 panes by 4 panes works well. The size of the panes will depend on the size of your door, but there should be no more than 2 inches between each pane.

4. Cut out the panes using a jig saw.

5. Apply wood stain to the plywood with a paintbrush according to manufacturer's directions. Allow the stain to dry thoroughly.

6. Use scissors to cut the rice paper so that it fits over each pane with a 1/2-inch border. This border is where you will apply doubled-sided tape. Affix the rice paper panes to the plywood with double-sided tape. Apply the tape to the plywood first. Roll the paper flat onto the tape. The taped side of your door will be the back or hidden side. Using double-sided tape is a substitute for the traditional homemade rice adhesive used to make Japanese rice paper doors or "shoji."

7. Use 1/2-inch pieces of oak to create an oak trim around each pane if your door will be a hinged door that will not have a hidden side. Cut the trim pieces down to the size of each pane, and nail the trim to the door so that hides the taped edge of the rice paper.

8. Install a sliding door track to turn your rice paper doors into sliding doors. Affix the sliding door hardware to the top of your rice paper door and you're ready to install a finished product.

9. Use a drill to remove an interior door from its hinges, if you want to replace an interior door with your rice paper door. Have a friend assist you as you install the rice paper door into an interior door frame. Use a drill to screw the hinges into the door frame first. Have a friend hold the door in line with the hinges while you use the drill to screw the hinges to the door. Start with the top hinge and work your way down to the bottom of the door.

10. Maintain your rice paper door annually. Because of their fragile construction, rice paper doors often require careful maintenance. Replace torn rice paper or broken pieces of trim as needed.

Tips & Warnings

• When purchasing the plywood, ask the store attendant to cut the panes out for you.

• Find rice paper at craft and art supply stores.

References

• HGTV: Sliding Shoji Screen Doors
• Sukiya Living Magazine: Shoji Screens
• Shoji Styles: Making Shoji Screens