From unfinished bifold doors you can easily create a reversible folding screen. (The doors are about $70 a pair at a home-improvement store.) To make the screen more versatile, finish one side with a colorful paint treatment, and cover the other in a textured fabric such as burlap or linen.

Because the screen is made of wood, consider using a semigloss or high-gloss paint. Select a palette of three colors. This one is trimmed in white to blend with the wood trim in the room. Other shades highlight the panels.

For the reverse side of the doors, choose solid fabrics in two coordinating colors. You'll also need both small and large upholstery tacks. With these simple materials, you're all set to create a handsome and functional addition to your room.

Step 1: Sand all surfaces of the four doors, and then wipe with the tack cloth. Apply a coat of primer to all surfaces. (Sand lightly, and wipe clean with tack cloth after applying primer as well as after applying all other coats of paint.) Apply two coats of paint in your base color to all surfaces except the raised panels, and let doors dry thoroughly.

Step 2: Use painter's tape to outline the center section of each raised panel. Apply two coats of paint chosen for center sections, remove tape, and let paint dry thoroughly. With more painter's tape, outline inside and outside edges of borders surrounding center sections. Apply two coats of a third contrasting paint, remove tape, and let paint dry thoroughly.

Step 3: Measure length and width of a door, and add 4 inches to each dimension. Cut two pieces of each fabric to these dimensions. Center a piece of fabric on one door. At one edge, turn the extra 2 inches of fabric to the underside, and attach to the edge of door using upholstery tacks and a tack hammer. (Use large tacks at the corners and at regular intervals along length of doors. Fill in with smaller tacks. Space all tacks approximately 3 inches apart.) On opposite edge of panel, attach fabric as previously explained. Repeat on remaining edges of door.

Step 4: Use extra hinges, wood screws, and a screwdriver to attach wooden doors together following manufacturer's instructions. (You will need to position the hinges so that the screen will fold up accordion style.) Arrange panels so that fabric colors alternate.

MATERIALS sandpaper four wooden bifold doors with raised panels tack cloth paintbrushes primer paint (three colors) painter's tape tape measure scissors fabric (two colors) large and small upholstery tacks tack hammer three extra hinges wood screws screwdriver