Have you considered painting your interior doors to either freshen them up or give them a whole new look?
Painting an interior door is a beginner level home improvement project that most people can complete in just a few hours.
If your interior doors are showing their age or you would like to get creative and paint them a new color, follow the steps below to paint a door.
Clean
Your door should be cleaned with soap and water or a mild detergent before painting to ensure good adhesion of the paint.
If your door has any grease or grime on it, a degreaser works even better than soap and water. This is especially important for doors near the kitchen.
Make sure the door is completely dry before proceeding.
Spray or Brush?
You need to decide whether you want to spray paint your interior door or paint it using a brush or brush and roller.
If you decide to spray paint your door, you will need to have spray painting equipment and you must remove the door to move it to a well ventilated area.
The good part about spray painting a door is that you will not have brush marks and you will get an even finish.
If you decide to apply the paint using a brush or brush and roller, you will most likely see the brush marks and you will have to mask off areas that will not be painted, but you can paint the door while it is still hanging.
A small foam roller is a great option if you want a smoother finish without having to use spray equipment. It leaves fewer brush marks than a regular brush and is much easier to control than a sprayer.
Tape Off
If you are painting your door in place, tape off the areas that you do not want painted, including your door hinges.
You should remove your door knob, but make sure to remember how to put it back together.
Painting your hinges with rubber cement is another way to avoid getting paint on them. You just use a knife to cut around the edges and peel off the rubber cement after you are finished painting.
Sand
Your door will need to be lightly sanded in order for the new paint to stick using 120 grit sandpaper.
If the door is older and has been beaten up over the years, you may need to use some wood filler and do a little more sanding than a newer door.
Use a tack cloth or slightly damp rag to remove all sanding dust before proceeding.
Make sure to be extra diligent with sanding if you are painting water based paint over oil based paint.
Pay extra attention to any drips or bumps from previous paint jobs. The smoother your door is before you start painting, the better your final result will be.
Prime
Use one light coat of primer on your door. If you are using a paint and primer in one, you can skip this step.
If you are spray painting, test paint on a scrap piece of wood before painting directly on your door to practice getting an even coat without drips.
If you are painting with a brush or brush and roller, start by rolling or brushing the raised panels of your doors and follow by brushing in the grooves around the panels.
To reduce the appearance of brush marks, consider using a paint additive #ad that is made to level out the paint.
Always paint with the direction of the wood grain, not across the grain, for the most authentic look.
After that, paint the horizontal pieces (called rails) and then the vertical pieces (called stiles).
Finish by painting the outside edges of the door.
If you are painting your door a very dark or bold color, ask the paint store to tint your primer to a similar color. This will help you get better coverage and may save you from needing a third coat of paint.
Paint
Once the primer has dried according to the manufacturer's instructions, paint the door the same way you applied the primer.
You will most likely need two coats of an eggshell or semigloss latex paint.
Make sure to let each coat of paint dry properly before applying an additional coat.
If you are painting your door a dark color like black or navy, you may need three coats instead of two to get full even coverage. This is completely normal so don't get discouraged.
Leave Door Open
If you painted your door in place, make sure not to touch or close the door and disturb the paint on the edges of the door until it is fully dry.
Reassemble
Once the paint is dry, you can remove the tape or glue from the hinges and reassemble the door hardware.
Pro Designer Tips & Tricks.....
Color Selection
White and off white are the most common colors for interior doors, but don't be afraid to get creative.
Painting your interior doors a bold color like black, navy, forest green, or deep gray is a very popular trend right now and can add a lot of character to your home.
If you are nervous about going too bold, try painting just one door first to see how you like it before committing to all of the doors in your home.
Paint Finish
For interior doors, eggshell or semigloss are typically the best choices.
Semigloss is the most popular option for doors because it is durable and easy to clean.
It also gives the door a nice subtle shine that looks polished and finished.
Flat or matte paint is not a good choice for doors since it is harder to clean and scuffs easily.
Doors with Panels
If your door has raised panels, it is important to paint them in the right order to avoid drips and lap marks.
Start with the recessed panels first, then move to the horizontal rails, and finish with the vertical stiles on the outside edges.
Always paint in the direction of the wood grain for the best looking finish.
Working in this order ensures that any drips from the upper sections get caught and blended as you work your way down and out.
