Saying goodbye to outdated orange oak doors is simpler and more budget-friendly than you might think. My recent project involved painting an interior door and transforming it from worn-out to stylish with just a few tools and some paint.
Step-by-Step Guide to Painting Interior Doors
I was not sad to see this outdated orange oak door go. If you have similar doors, the process of painting them is simpler and more budget-friendly than you might think. I will be doing a full laundry room makeover, starting with the doors as I wait for some of my other supplies to arrive.
The door transformation has inspired me, and I’m excited to get working on the entire laundry room makeover. Plans do include painting the door trim to match and possibly updating or reusing the existing trim after some necessary renovations in the room.
Supplies Needed:
- Drill
- Orbital Sander
- Primer
- Foam Roller
- Miter Shears
- Trim (you can use any trim; this is the exact one I used)
- Liquid Nails Fuze It (my favorite adhesive)
- Pin Nailer
- Spackle
- Caulk (my favorite brand)
- Paint brush
- Door Paint
- Rub n Buff
- Door knob
Prepare Your Workspace and Door
- Remove the door from its hinges and lay it flat in a well-ventilated area.
- Take off all hardware, placing pieces in a labeled bag for safekeeping.
- Lightly sand the door with an orbital sander to remove the glossy finish, ensuring better paint adhesion.
Apply Primer Before Painting Interior Door
- Clean the door thoroughly to remove dust.
- Apply a shellac-based primer to block stains and prevent tannins from bleeding through. Do this in two coats, sanding lightly with fine-grit sandpaper after each coat to smooth the surface.
Add Decorative Trim
- Plan and mark where the trim will go on the door for added visual interest.
- Cut the trim to size, mitering corners at 45 degrees.
- Attach the trim using Liquid Nails Fuze It adhesive and secure it further with a pin nailer.
- Fill any gaps at the corners with spackle and caulk around the edges for a seamless finish.
Paint the Door
- Choose a high-quality door and trim paint; I used a Sherwin Williams Door and Trim Paint in the color Sandbar.
- Start painting the backside of the door first. Apply a thin coat of paint, allow it to dry completely, then lightly sand it with a fine grit for smoothness. The goal is not to remove paint, just to smooth any texture the dried paint might have added. Repeat this for a total of three coats, wiping down after sanding to remove dust.
- Flip the door and repeat the painting process on the front.
Refinish Hardware and Reinstall Door
- If reusing old hinges, refresh them with your color choice of Rub n Buff to match the new hardware. I used the color Gold Leaf.
- Once the paint is fully dried, reattach the hardware and hang the door back in place.
- Install a new doorknob to complement the freshly painted door.
Final Touches To Painting Interior Doors
- Plan to paint the door trim to match the new door color as part of a larger room makeover.
This project not only refreshed the look of an old door but also demonstrated how a simple change can make a significant impact on your home’s aesthetic. Whether you’re an experienced DIYer or a beginner, painting your interior doors is a rewarding project that can bring new life to your space.
Stay tuned; I’ll be working on the rest of this laundry room soon! If you want to follow along behind the scenes on my projects, be sure to follow me on my Instagram stories!
