When I bought my current home, it came with standard, builder-grade doors on the front of the house and going into the backyard. Readily available at a big box home improvement store, there was nothing unique or special about them, and they were just old enough that the white interior side was beginning to look dingy. Needless to say, I did not love them and I wanted to give them an updated look.
For this project, I was only concerned with painting the interior side of the doors. I wanted to elevate the look of the rooms where the doors were located. The front door opens into the entryway foyer of my house, and the back doors are in a focal point of my living room, next to the fireplace.
I had a few challenges facing me; first, I didn’t want to spend the amount of money it would cost to replace the existing doors with new ones. New doors can be pricey and often require some help with installation. The doors functioned well and were not in disrepair; plus, this project needed to be budget-friendly. Second, there are limitations on the changes I am able to make to the exterior of my home due to HOA regulations. Therefore, replacing my existing doors for a new, different look was not an option.
I began exploring ideas through online searches to find some inspiration for a project that would work within my budget and allow me to keep the existing doors. After scrolling several images, I kept coming back to photos of black doors. So, I finally came to the conclusion that they were the right choice for my home. I find black doors to be classic and simple, while providing depth to a room. In addition, they blend well with a number of color palettes.
How I Painted My Doors Black
Painting can be a low-cost alternative to many otherwise expensive home projects. Whether you are updating cabinets, wood paneling, or tile floors, painting rather than replacing can often be a big design win and a win for your wallet. Doors are no different. However, I often find DIY-ers are led to believe painting is as simple as grabbing a roller and a drop cloth and getting right to work. There is a little bit of prep work that goes into almost every paint project, and while not difficult to do, is a really important step for getting results that look great and stand the test of time.
Getting all the supplies for prep work and testing paints for the best option for doors really helped make this project a success. Doors can have a smooth texture and can be made of a variety of materials, from wood to metal, so the right paint really matters. Choose a high-quality enamel paint with a satin finish, which will withstand traffic better than a non-enamel or matte finish.
The Supplies
- Painter’s tape (or liquid masking tape)
- 220-grit sanding block
- Paint brush
- Smaller paint brush (for tiny crevices)
- Spackling (to fill holes, if removing blinds)
- 2-inch foam roller
- 1 quart Zinsser Water Based Primer
- 1 quart Behr Premium Cabinet & Trim Enamel in SW Tricorn Black
The Process
Both my front and back doors are paned with glass and had blinds mounted to them for privacy. I realized that even without the blinds, the glass creates just enough of a reflection from the outside to provide a level of privacy I was comfortable with. Therefore, my first step was removing the blinds. I used a battery-charged screwdriver to take them off of the doors.
Next, I cleaned everything really well. I used a microfiber cloth and some mild cleaner and glass cleaner to remove dust, dirt, fingerprints, and anything else that might prevent paint from sticking. The spackling came in handy for the holes in the top and bottom of the doors where the blinds were mounted. I filled in the holes and let the spackling dry. I prefer to use the type of spackling that applies pink and dries white. This will help you know when it’s ready to be sanded.
Once the spackling was dry, I used a 220 grit sanding block to lightly sand the entire surface of the doors and smooth out the spackling. I have metal doors and sanding helped rough up the surface a little so the paint would stick. Then, I used a damp microfiber cloth to lightly wipe the doors again to remove any dust particles from the sanding.
Next, I used painters tape around each window pane and edges of the door to avoid getting black paint on the white door frame or on the glass windows. I also covered the hardware with tape. Since completing this project, I have learned that a paint scraper can be helpful to remove paint from the glass, making taping the windows not as important. You can also use a liquid masking tape on the windows before you paint the doors, which dries to the glass, acting as a protectant and peels off easily. I have never used liquid masking tape, but I have seen it online and plan to use it in a future project.
Once the tape was on the doors, I painted a coat of primer and let it dry completely. I followed that step with a light sanding to smooth any rough texture left from the primer. Next, I painted a coat of the SW Tricorn Black paint and let it dry completely, followed by another light sanding. I used a brush on the window panes and a 2-inch roller on the edges of the doors surrounding the windows. I continued with a second coat of the SW Tricorn Black paint. Overall, it took 2-3 coats of black paint before it was fully opaque and no longer splotchy. I peeled off the painter’s tape and used the smaller brushes to fill in any missed spots and crevices, which were the final finishing touches. And voila! The door painting project was complete!
Lessons Learned
The type of paint you use on doors is really important. Choose a trusted, high-performing brand for best results. I purchased two different types of paint; the first did not work, but the Behr produced great results. Using an enamel paint with a satin, semi-gloss, or gloss finish will make the door easy to wipe clean and resist fingerprints and other stains.
Don’t worry too much about getting paint on the windows. I was fearful of making a mess with black paint and spent too much time taping windows, when I could have easily used a liquid masking tape beforehand or used a paint scraper to remove paint after it dried. The blue painter’s tape ultimately created more prep work and clean up.
