How to Paint Interior Doors and Trim: Easy DIY Ideas
Want to learn how to paint interior doors for a custom look? Over the last few months I have been repainting the doors on our mail level of our house, including our pantry doors, closet doors, and the door to our basement. I still have more to do–but wow, what a huge difference.
Painting interior doors is an easy DIY that is great for beginners! I’ll be sharing the perfect greige paint color, the products I used, and tips for painting doors. Let’s get started!
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Why Paint Interior Doors?
There are many reasons why you might want to paint the doors in your home.
First, paint is an affordable way to makeover an old door. New doors can be expensive, but with a little time and a fresh coat of paint, you can give your existing interior doors a whole new look!
Secondly, doors can receive a lot of wear during the move-in process, a home renovation, or honestly just daily life. As someone who enjoys rearranging furniture–and doesn’t like waiting for help–I definitely caused some damage to our interior doors. (I could have touched the marks and scratches, but instead decided to go all-in with a new color.)
Finally, painting doors a color other than pure white is a great way to make a builder grade home look custom. White doors and trim are a classic choice, but custom homes often incorporate different colors for the doors and trim that add to the designer look.
Whatever your reason for wanting to paint your interior doors, keep reading for a list of supplies and step by step instructions!
What Color to Paint Interior Doors
The first thing you will need to decide is what color to paint your doors.
It is generally best to choose a neutral color for interior doors. A neutral color will provide contrast and visual interest to your home, without competing with decor and furniture. Beige, gray, or “greige” are popular choices because they add just enough warmth without being overpowering. Black interior doors are a bolder choice, but they can look stunning in a traditional home.
If you would like to choose another color for interior doors, consider a muted green or blue that coordinates with your decor.
Pro tip: Always test the color in different areas of your home to see how it looks depending on the lighting and time of day! Colors tend to look much brighter and more saturated on the wall, compared to the paint chip.
What I Chose: The Perfect Greige to Paint Interior Doors
The door color I chose is Revere Pewter by Benjamin Moore. It is a beautiful greige paint color that is not too gray or too beige!
I actually had the color matched at Home Depot because I always use the Behr Marquee line. My local Home Depot has Ben Moore formulas on file–not sure if this is true of every store, but it makes the process very simple. Just ask at the paint counter!
If you would like to compare a similar color, I have also heard good things about Agreeable Gray by Sherwin Williams. The colors appear very close online, with Revere Pewter being the cooler tone and Accessible Beige being a bit warmer.
Supplies Needed for Painting Interior Doors
These are the products I used to paint our interior doors. For additional tips, check out the section beneath this list!
- Paint: Revere Pewter by Benjamin Moore color matched in Behr Marquee paint (satin finish). Since it is not a Marquee color, it is not guaranteed to be one coat, but it still covers very well and the durability is great. I needed 1.5 coats with my roller, and 2 coats with my paint brush.
- Paint can necessities: Make sure you have a stir stick and the appropriate opener so you aren’t stuck when you get home! These are provided for free at the paint counter.
- Dish sponge or soft microfiber cloth and a little dish soap to clean door.
- 220 sandpaper block
- Tack cloth
- Painter’s tape
- 1-1/2 in paint brush
- Mini paint roller frame and mini paint roller (see note below)
- Metal paint tray and plastic liners
- Plastic drop cloth or canvas drop cloth
Choosing the Right Paint and Roller for Doors
Don’t miss these tips to help you achieve the best results!
What I Used
I wanted to note that I used this 3/8″ nap knit paint roller because it pairs well with premium one coat paints such as Behr Marquee (what I used). The medium nap and knitted texture of the roller has a higher capacity, meaning it holds more paint. This makes painting faster and allows you to apply a thicker coat, which is the goal with one coat paints.
Other Options
However, many people use a high-density foam roller (1/4″ or 3/8″ nap) for interior doors. If you use a thinner paint than Behr Marquee, applying thin coats of paint with a foam roller can give a smoother finish.
The best thing to do is to consult the professional at the paint counter and ask which roller is best. Be sure to mention the type of paint and the surface you are working with. This is how I chose the paint roller that I used when I was new to DIY door painting!
One more option: To achieve a professionally painted look, a paint sprayer will give you the best finish. However, many people do not own a sprayer or would prefer to use a brush and roller because it seems easier to them. I fell into this camp, but wanted to mention this final option for painting interior doors in case you are interested.
Painted Door Update, 4 Years Later
Personally, I am very happy with the way our doors turned out. The paint finish is not totally smooth, but the Marquee paint covered so well and saved me a lot of time, since I only did one full coat and then a quick second pass. The slight texture doesn’t bother me.
And four years later, our doors still look like new! No nicks or peeling whatsoever, even on high traffic doors such as our pantry. The Marquee paint is easy to wipe down if you need to remove fingerprints or dust.
How to Paint Interior Doors (Step By Step)
Now I will share the method I used to paint our interior doors! I am not a professional painter, just a DIY enthusiast figuring things out along the way. If I can do it, you can too!
1. Determine the Existing Paint Type
The first step is to determine whether your doors are painted with oil or latex based paint. Here’s how to find out.
Use a cotton ball or cloth and a little rubbing alcohol and rub it on the door. If the paint rubs off, that means you are dealing with latex paint, which makes things easier. If the paint does not come off, that means it is oil-based and you will need to follow additional steps.
Our home is only a few years old and the existing paint is latex.
Paint Interior Doors Safely
If your interior doors were painted before the 80s, the existing paint may contain lead. If this is a possibility, be sure to contact a professional to ensure your safety.
2. Prep Interior Doors
Secondly, use a clean dish sponge or microfiber cloth with a little dish soap to wash the door, then wipe down again with water. This will remove dirt and oils and help the new paint adhere.
After cleaning, the next step is to lightly sand the door. (I skipped this step with my front door, and it hasn’t held up as well as the pantry doors despite the fact that we rarely use it. So, I highly recommend sanding!) I used a 220 sandpaper block.
Finally, use the tack cloth to remove all dust from the door, and use a damp cloth to wipe off the floor if necessary.
3. Tape Around Door Hardware and Trim
Next, use painter’s tape to protect your door hinges and door knobs. If you are also painting the door frame / trim, you will want to tape around it to protect your walls as well.
The photos above show how I covered the door hinges with painter’s tape. The easiest way to do this is by applying a strip of tape, and then carefully trimming it around the hinge with a utility knife.
I also taped around the doorknob, but you can remove it using a screwdriver if you prefer.
Finally, I taped around the door frame since I planned to paint the trim the same color as the door. If you are not painting the door frame, you can skip this step.
Pro tip: If you are only painting one side of the door, you should tape off the piece of trim that stops the door when it closes. This is where you want the new color to stop.
4. Prep the Paint and Floor
The best way to protect your floor during a painting project is by using drop cloths. As mentioned in the supply list, you can use disposable plastic, or a canvas drop cloth.
Next up, use a stir stick to mix the paint. If your paint is older (mine was from a few months prior) you will need to mix very well, being sure the scrape the bottom of the can. Then, place one of the plastic liners into the metal paint tray, and pour in some paint.
5. Paint Interior Doors
As with most DIY painting projects, the prep work is half the battle! But now we have reached the main event: painting the first coat.
If you are painting the door frame, begin there with the paintbrush. Carefully paint around the door hinges, taking care not to let paint drip while doing this detail work. We will do a second coat later if necessary.
Next, use the paintbrush on the recessed grooves, if you are dealing with a paneled door. Also paint the sides of the door.
Finally, use the small roller on the raised panels and the rest of the door (rails, stiles, and mullions). Basically you are using the roller on all of the raised, flat parts of the door!
6. Lightly Sand and Repeat
After allowing the paint to dry, lightly sand with a fine grit sanding block (I used 220). Sanding between coats helps achieve a smooth finish, and also helps the paint adhere. It can feel like an extra step, but it’s worth it!
After sanding, wipe down the door again with the tack cloth, and then paint a second coat. If you are using Behr’s Marquee line like me, you probably won’t need a full second coat since the paint covers so well. I only did a light second coat, without fully loading the paint roller.
7. Final Steps
Finally, remove tape while the paint is still damp to prevent peeling. And enjoy your transformed space!
bathroom door before- bathroom door after
- basement door before
- basement door after
You may be able to tell that I need to do a few touch ups! It was a challenge to tape and paint the trim right next to the wall, and I wasn’t as careful as I should have been. Another day I will get out my wall paint (Polar Bear by Behr) and fix it up. That is the beauty of painting DIYs–mistakes are usually easy to fix.
DIY Interior Door Painting: Conclusion
I am so happy with our beautiful greige doors! This DIY project was an easy way to warm up our space and elevate the look of our home. We still have a lot of doors to go, and I’m not sure if I will tack the doors upstairs anytime soon. But just painting the doors in our main living space (kitchen, living room, and dining room) made such a difference!
Next, I’m working on a new gallery wall around the Nest thermostat to share soon. Update: How to Decorate Around a Thermostat
Have you ever painted your interior doors? If this is your first time, or if you have any questions, please leave a comment below!
More DIY projects you may enjoy:
I’m Caitlin.
A creative homebody on a mission! Since 2017, I’ve been dreaming up ways to make our builder grade house feel like home. Blogging every step of the way, my goal is to help you create a space that is cozy and functional. I write about decorating, organizing ideas, and DIY projects, plus occasional gift guides. Grab a cup of tea and let’s make home cozy!
What color did you use on the walls , Both colors look incredible together
Thank you Annette! The walls are Polar Bear by Behr Paint, in eggshell.
Did you paint any of the other trim in the house revere pewter or just the trim around the doors? If not, what color is your trim?
Hi Jaime! I did not paint the rest of our trim Revere Pewter. It is still the white from the builder; not sure what it is, but probably just a pure white. However, I LOVE the look of contrasting trim and have considered it! I like both looks 🙂
Hello!
Love the color you chose. I am considering painting my white doors the same color. Curious! Did you paint the interior side of your front entry door?
Thanks!
Thanks so much Meg! I’m really happy with the color! I did not paint the interior of my front door because I already painted that one black! Hope that helps.
Hi! Did you paint both sides of the door or just the one side facing out? I’m having our doors painted pale oak by BM but just can decide if I do both sides or just one?
Hi Cara! I painted both sides of the door. But if you feel the new door color will clash with one of your rooms, you could definitely leave one side white, or paint it a different color!
Loving the painted doors. Our walls are Agreeable Grey- would a darker color still look as good as your doors look against the lighter walls? Any suggestion on color, if so?
Hi Kathryn! Thanks for the comment. Agreeable Gray is such a pretty color! I do think it is too close to Revere Pewter to use both in the same room, but you could check out this page for coordinating darker colors to use for your doors. Hope that helps!
Hi! Did you also paint the trim on the inside of the door frame too? Or just the outside trim that is showing when the door is closed?
Hi Karol! Thanks for the question. If it is a closet, you do not need to paint the trim on the inside of the door frame if you don’t want to! If it is a pass through door, I would paint the trim the same color as that side of the door. So if you are painting both sides of the door then yes, I would paint all of the trim. Hope that helps!
You answered all my questions! I love your post because it’s the first time I’ve seen only painting the trim around the door instead of all the house trim and I feel that is more reasonable for me to do and the hubby to like. I will still try it out on a few basement doors first though. I also have Agreeable Gray on my main floor as my main neutral but am thinking of going a smidge lighter with BM Classic Gray. Thanks for all the tips!
Thanks so much for the comment Michele! Yes, I also felt that it was more manageable to only paint the door trim. I still have a few doors to do myself! Happy painting 🙂
Hi Caitlin!
My floors are builder grade Everleigh Oak laminate so the color is a warm blond to brown. I’m afraid the beautiful door color you chose would blend too much with the floors. Do you have any recommendations ?
My walls and doors are all white.
Hi Erin! Thanks so much for the comment. If your flooring is too similar to Revere Pewter, I would recommend choosing a door color that leans a little more gray (instead of brown) in order to get some contrast. But I wouldn’t go too cool, you still want the tones to work together! It’s always a good idea to go to your local paint store and bring a bunch of paint chips home to compare in your own lighting. Once you narrow it down to a few choices, you can buy the small sample cans of paint and test them on the door to find the best fit! I wish I could give you an exact color, but it depends so much on your flooring and the lighting. Hope that helps!
Hi, is the ceiling painted grey as well? Having a hard time seeing if it’s the same grey or if that’s just the lighting in the photo.
Hi Rachel! The ceiling is not painted grey, it is actually just a very flat white so it does look darker than the walls in these photos! Hope that helps 🙂
If you can see interior doors from your kitchen, would you suggest kitchen cabinets match? I think white kitchen cabinets would be fine, but what if your kitchen cabinets are similar to Revere Pewter. Example, would it look odd to have Revere Pewter doors and kitchen cabinets Accessible Beige by SW if they are in within eye sight? Thanks!
Hi Lee! Sorry for the delay here. I do think that Revere Pewter and Accessible Beige may be too similar to use very close together. It is hard to say without seeing the space and the lighting, though. If the interior door is in the next room, pretty far away, it might be fine. I recommend swatching the colors (you can use poster board to avoid actually painting your door and cabinets) and see how they look. Hope that helps!
This looks so good! I had no idea that I could paint my doors without taking them off their hinges. This is going to completely change things for me! Thanks so much for sharing!