Here at Experts Remodel, we’ve been searching for ways to help you refresh your home.
Interior doors are probably one of the least considered elements in your home. However, they can make a huge impact. We say a fresh coat of paint can change that drastically. Just think about your space transforming, your rooms coming to life!
Not long ago, we posted about the top interior door handles. But now, painting those doors is what we are focusing on.
It’s a cheap solution to add some flavor and character to your place. Choosing different hues and methods can give you staggering results. Check out this comprehensive guide to get started. First, we will discuss the preparations you need to make. After that, you will find a collection of ideas that will spark your creativity. So, come along and see how painting your interior doors can make them truly exceptional!
Table of Contents
1. Choosing the Right Paint
Choosing the right paint is a crucial step when you think of painting interior doors. How the door looks is influenced by the finish you select and also how well it can withstand over time. Here are some popular types of finishes explained:
- Matte Finish: It’s ideal if you want a very low-shine look that is almost unnoticeable. One of the advantages of matte finishes is they can easily mask faults, so they would be suitable for doors that are a bit aged. On the flip side, they can be less convenient to keep clean.
- Satin Finish: It falls right between, satin gives a polished appearance with only a slight shine. It is tougher than matte and cleaning it is easier as well. A door in areas of the house with heavy foot traffic or doors that are frequently used will not suffer from this type of paint.
- Gloss Finish: A glossy surface is striking and highly reflective, which can contribute to a contemporary feel. It’s also a breeze to clean, so it’s perfect for families with children or pets. On the other hand, it will show up any flaws so your door will need to be very well prepared.
Afterward, you should decide on the paint colors. Would you want your door to be the focus or to be part of the background?
For a splash of color, go for the powerful colors such as navy, black, or even a bright red. Meanwhile, the neutral colors like the calm gray or the dirty white will give a classic look to the door, functioning well in most places.
Besides, don’t overlook the door material. If it’s wooden doors that you are painting, oil-based or acrylic latex paints are excellent choices. Metal or composite doors require paint made just for those materials. It will provide better sticking and the finish will last longer.
When you have decided your paint colors, the next step is to prepare your doors for their brand new appearance!
2. Prepping Your Door for Painting
Before painting, thoroughly clean your door first. This will help the paint adhere better and ensure an even, flawless finish.
To begin, you must figure out whether you want to take the door off the hinges or not. It’s easier to do the job if you take the door off. You won’t have to worry about paint dripping or painting in an uncomfortable position. If you can put the door flat on the ground, taking it off will make your work much easier. But if you don’t want to go through all that, painting the door in place is also an option, especially if you are okay with having to be more patient and precise.
After that, you should clean and sand the surface. Doors are always getting covered in stuff like dirt, dust and grime. If the door gets wiped down with a damp cloth and a little bit of soap is used, it can be good enough. This will make sure that the debris won’t ruin your paint job. After that, it is time for sanding.
Just sand the door with very light pressure to get rid of the imperfections and give the paint a good surface to adhere to. If your door has been painted before, sanding is necessary, since it makes the old paint rough, so the new coat will stick better. Don’t neglect this step!
Well, we should also discuss how important it is to prime the door. Primer is your partner in crime, particularly if your door was previously painted a dark color. Besides leveling the surface, it permits your new shade to stand out. If your door is wooden or stained, primer will prevent staining from showing through. Also, even if you are painting over a light color, primer will increase the durability of the paint and make the finish smoother.
Once the door is completely done, it’s painting, which will be the most enjoyable part!
3. Color Ideas for Interior Doors
The most fun part is here – picking the best color for your interior doors! In case you want to be really daring or just a little bit fancy, there are lots of options.
Fancy Stand-Out Doors
If you want your doors to be a powerful show-piece, a good idea is to paint them with some striking colors. A few colors that can totally glam up a room instantly are navy, black or dark red. Giving a door the black treatment, for example, is like adding a hint of black decoration and dark wood extravagance. It is surprising that the same door can fit both a very modern and a fairly old-style setting. A navy color is a pretty good option if you want your place to look fashionable and calm, at the same time. And what about deep red? It is great for dining room or home office door that want to say something! Doors in bright colors attract the attention and can be the main attraction of a room, however, they don’t necessarily overshadow the other elements.
Conventional Neutral Shades
Neutral shades are perfect if you want a clean and timeless look. White, beige, and gray tones are nothing but elegant and simple. Those hues go well with any of your home styles and make it feel light and fresh. White doors are the way to go if you wish for classic style and a roomy feeling. Yet, grayish or beige doors are more about giving that cozy warmth to a room without snatching the limelight away from other decorating items.
Two-Tone or Color-Blocking
Feeling artistic? Why not try two-tone or color-blocked doors? This involves painting one side of the door a different color than the other, or dividing the door into sections with contrasting colours. This cheerful idea is perfect if you want to add a little modern touch to your home. For instance, you could paint the inside of a bedroom door with a soothing pastel and the outside with a loud, contrasting color. Or, paint the top and bottom halves of the door in shades that harmonize with each other for a playful, geometric appearance.
The main thing is to choose the color that fits your room’s style and your personal taste, but the possibilities are endless!
4. Hardware Considerations
Don’t forget about the door hardware once you’ve painted your door! Match your door handles to the new paint color for that unified look. As a matter of illustration, matte black hardware fits really well with bold, dark doors, whereas, brushed nickel or brass can make the neutral colors stand out more.
In case your hardware feels old-fashioned and out of place, you can always replace it after painting. Changing your door knobs, hinges, or handles can definitely help emphasize the whole transformation and add that elegant finish to your remodeled doors. It is a simple change that will give you big results!
8 Creative Interior Door Painting Ideas
How about elevating your doors? Check these 10 creative and at the same time detailed ways of painting your inside doors. Each one is easy as pie, but they’ll totally change the vibe and look of your place. Here’s how to pull them off!
1. Solid Color That Stands Out
If you want a fast and strong change, pick a bold shade like emerald green, navy, or deep plum. First of all, prepare the door by cleaning, sanding, and priming it. Then give two coats of your paint color, waiting each time for the paint to dry completely. A bright door contrasts especially well with neutral walls, signs of which the color can pop up and take the lead of the room.
2. Half-Painted Doors
This fashionable, two-tone effect is a good-looking and playful idea. In order to get this look, first figure out your color break spot — most commonly at the mid-point or the lower third of the door. Use painter’s tape for a neat line. Paint one half of the door with a strong color and the other half with a compromising or neutral color. Once they are dry, remove the tape slowly and fix any problems. With this pattern you get a trendy, color-blocked look.
3. Geometric Patterns
Adding a playful and fresh vibe to your door can be done by painting geometric shapes such as triangles, stripes, or squares on your door. First, measure and mark your design with painter’s tape. Afterwards, paint the shapes with the colors of your choice-from eye-catching, contrasting colors to soft and neutral tones. When the paint has dried, carefully pull the tape off, and admire your neat and precise lines. For a well-coordinated appearance, you may do the same pattern on several doors.
4. Ombre Effect
Ombre doors can give a room a soft, artistic touch. The idea is to begin with a light color at the top of the door and gradually merge it into a dark color at the bottom. You will need two or three colors within the same color family (for instance, light blue to dark blue). Work from the top by painting the area with the lightest color. Next, paint the middle color underneath and blend the colors where they meet. Lastly, paint the bottom area with the darkest color and blend upwards into the middle color. A sponge or dry brush will be a big help for a smooth finish.
5. Chalkboard Paint
Wish your door could serve as a writable surface? Chalkboard paint is not only very practical but also quite enjoyable.
It can be used for pantry doors in the kitchen, children’s rooms, or home offices. First, you need to prepare the door, then apply one or two layers of chalkboard paint depending on the coverage. After the paint has been thoroughly dried, “season” the chalkboard by rubbing chalk all over it and scrubbing it off. Now you have a door that you can write on with chalk – leave notes, reminders, or simply draw!
6. Distressed Finish
A distressed door lends a farmhouse, vintage charm to the space. To give your door this look, first paint it with a base coat – usually white, cream or another light shade. After the paint has dried, add a second coat of a darker color such as blue, green or brown. When both layers have dried, use fine sandpaper to lightly rub the areas that would naturally show wear (edges, near the handle, etc.) to uncover the base coat. With this method the door looks like it has aged naturally over time.
7. Metallic Accents
If you want a deluxe, super shiny look, why not go for metallic paint? A door painted in gold, silver or copper will instantly become a fantastic and modern element of your home. First get the door ready, then use a primer that is suitable for metallic paints. Choose a good quality brush or roller to spread the metallic paint smoothly. Besides, be ready to deliver several layers as full coverage will be possible only after a few coats. Each coat should be thoroughly dried before applying the next one.
A metallic door is a perfect idea for an entrance or a highlight in a very simple room.
8. Stencil Designs
If you want your door to reflect your own style and creativity, stencils can be a great way to make beautiful patterns without a lot of work. First, pick a stencil pattern that appeals to you—flowers, vines, or various shapes are some good options. Secure the stencil to the door with tape or by holding it, then paint over it with a sponge or a small brush, lightly dabbing to prevent paint seeping through under the stencil. When the paint is dry, take off the stencil and do the rest of the door similarly to achieve a distinct and charming effect.
Conclusion
Painting your interior doors is a quick, affordable way to dramatically update the look of your home. You can use paint to create a strong feature or simply a relaxed, classic style. It is amazing how few things can change the atmosphere of a room more than the color, or the combination of colors and finishes, of the doors.
Once you get the idea of painting interior doors, it is only a matter of mood and inspiration when you will actually do it! Give your doors the new look they deserve and have fun with it.