How to Make Doors for a Recessed Opening

Measure the length and height of your recessed opening with a measuring tape to determine the necessary dimensions for the doors.

Cut two pieces of 1-by-8-inch hardwood to the length of the recessed opening using a circular saw. Cut two more pieces to its height, minus 2 inches, to account for the thickness of the first two boards. You will use these boards to frame the wall opening if a frame is not already in place.

Insert the first two boards you cut horizontally into the wall space between the end studs. Position the boards so the bottom edge of the upper board is flush with the top edge of the wall space. The top edge of the lower board should be flush with the bottom edge of the wall space.

Drive nails from a nail gun at an angle through the edges of the two boards you just installed into the back of the wall and the end studs.

Sandwich the remaining two 1-by-8-inch boards vertically between the ends of the horizontal boards on either side of the recessed opening. The inside edge of the vertical boards should be aligned with the edge of the opening. If the edges of the wall opening are aligned with a pair of wall studs, you may skip this step.

Drive nails from a nail gun at an angle through the ends of the vertical boards into the horizontal boards to secure them.

Cut a sheet of 1/2-inch plywood to the length and height dimensions of the recessed opening using a circular saw. This board will serve as the basic structure for your door.

Install two metal hinges along the left edge of the plywood door. Position the hinges about 2 inches from the top and bottom corners and screw them into the back side of the plywood using 1/2-inch wood screws.

Hold the plywood door against the edge of the framed wall opening. Position the door so the narrow edge where you attached the hinges is flush with the wall.

Screw the other side of both hinges to the inside edge of the framed recessed opening along the left side. Open and close the door to test the hinges.