How to Paint Interior Doors

When it comes to sprucing up a room, we don’t often think about the doors - even though they’re the first thing anyone sees. Painting your interior doors gives you the chance to add splashes of personality and colour throughout your home. Plus, it’s a lot easier than painting all four walls!

WHAT YOU WILL NEED:

Newspaper/floor covering
Screwdriver
Paint primer
Interior wood paint
Sandpaper
Masking tape
Sugar soap solution/mild detergent & sponge
Paint brush

1.) PREPARE THE AREA BEFORE PAINTING

Before you get to painting your interior door, use your screwdriver to remove the handles, doorknobs and locks. Then, lay down some old newspaper or a dust sheet underneath the door. You don’t have to worry about actually taking the door off its hinges in order to get painting.

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2.) SAND AND CLEAN THE SURFACE

Sand down the door to make sure there are no splinters or loose paint. Doing this also provides the door with texture which will help paint adhere to it. Once you’re done, wash the door with a mild detergent to lift away any remaining grime and dust.

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3.) APPLY MASKING TAPE TO THE DOOR

Although you will have removed locks and handles, the door hinges will still be visible. We recommend covering them with masking tape so that you don’t get any paint on them.

4.) APPLY A PAINT PRIMER

To ensure an even and long-lasting finish, it’s always best to start a paint job with an undercoat or primer. All our

paint primers are suitable for multiple surfaces, including wood, making them perfect for your interior doors. Choose a primer that closely matches the colour of your top coat and apply in broad strokes, working with a wet edge.

5.) APPLY A TOP COAT OF INTERIOR WOOD PAINT

When it comes to applying your top coat, there are a couple of methods you can use depending on the style of door. In this guide we’ll cover how to paint a flat door and how to paint a panelled door.

Method 1: Painting a flat door

When painting a door, flat or not, it’s always best to start with the edges. Use a paintbrush and work your way around, starting on the side with the hinges. Once this is done, load a paint roller and paint the door from bottom to top, using even strokes. Try to keep a wet edge throughout. Afterwards, wait for the paint to completely dry and then apply a second coat.

Method 2: Painting a panelled door

6.) REATTACH THE DOOR’S HARDWARE

Once your door has dried, remove the masking tape from the hinges and reattach the locks and handles.

And that’s really all there is to it! With our interior wood paint you’re sure to get a lasting finish, so you know that it’s a job well done.

Looking for other ways to spruce up a room without repainting the walls? Check out our guide to painting kitchen cabinets.