FREE HOME PLANNER
SAMPLE!
Itching for a front door refresh? Here's how to paint your front door without removing it – a quick and painless process that will have your entrance feeling fresh and welcoming!
How To Paint A Front Door (Without Removing It!)
Ever got an urge to paint your worn out front door and give it a facelift? Team member, Laura, did just that this past week and it looks AMAZING! Here's her tips for how to paint your front door without removing it.
I’ve got Spring on the brain this week… I’ve been busy cleaning, decorating, and getting our home ready to start a new (and warmer) season!
This weekend I went to put my spring wreath on the front door when I decided the whole door needed a facelift to go along with my other seasonal transformations.
You’ll be surprised how quick and easy (and cheap!) it is to paint your front door (without removing it!) and how drastically it changes the look of your home.
Read on for my door painting hacks and tips…
Supplies:
- Paint (one quart exterior paint in your chosen color & sheen)
- Large paintbrush
- Small roller & paint tray (like this one that has quick shipping!)
- Spray paint to match hardware (I used this Oil Rubbed Bronze and love it)
- Baby Wipes or Lysol Wipes
- Painter’s Tape *optional*
- Old linen or drop cloth
Step 1. Pick Up Paint & Supplies
I started with a quick trip to Lowe’s for supplies. For paint, I chose Valspar Blue Mystery Latex Paint in a Satin sheen. You can do semi-gloss for a shinier look, but I was going for a more matte effect. I am so happy with the color – it is just the pop that our front porch was needing!
I also grabbed asmall paint roller & tray and a large paintbrush.
Finally, I knew I needed to paint the kick plate (hello 90’s gold) to match the bronze door handle we installed when we moved in, so I grabbed a can of spray paint. I love the Oil Rubbed Bronze from Rustoleum!
Total cost for supplies was $38 – not bad for a makeover!
Exterior painting tip: If you’re in an HOA community, make sure to check which colors are approved for your door beforehand to avoid a re-paint later.
Step 2. Prep your door
Give your door a quick wash before painting. I sprayed with white vinegar first and then used a rag with Dawn dish soap and warm water. Make sure to get off all the grime and dirt, especially in the framed areas. Give a final rinse with your hose or a wet rag.
Cleaning hack: The white vinegar is especially helpful if you live in a humid climate and get mildew build up.
Unless you are changing out your door handle, you can leave the handle on. Just use painter’s tape on the metal to avoid getting paint on them. I opted to skip the tape and instead kept baby wipes handy and just wiped off any paint that got on them as I went along.
(Now that the project is done, I think it would have taken about the same amount of time to tape everything off as it did to clean with the wipes – so it’s a toss up!)
Remove your metal kick plate if you have one. I set mine on cardboard for spray painting. If you have a small box or piece of styrofoam, you can push your screws in slightly so they stand upright for easy painting! Spray paint these pieces before you start your door so they have ample time to dry.
Step 3. Start Painting!
Start with the recessed areas of the door with your brush (the frame parts of each little square/rectangle). Use your brush around the door handles and peep hole, making sure to smooth out the paint so you don’t have any thick lines.
Then, use your roller for the smooth parts of the door. I did two coats total since I didn't use a primer.
Painting hack: I like toline my paint tray with Glad Press n’ Seal for easy clean up.
Once your door and kick plate are totally dry, you can put everything back together and start decorating!
Dry Time: My wood door took about 30 minutes to dry on a pretty day – but drying time may vary depending on your weather. I did leave the door open the whole time to avoid any accidents.
Now the Fun Part…. Accessorize!
I love my buffalo plaid rug for layering but it had gotten pretty yucky through the winter so I gave it a quick wash with Oxi Clean and added a fresh welcome mat on top.
I also hung my favorite wreath (aren’t hydrangeas the prettiest?!)
Wreath hack: Prevent your wreath hanger from scratching up your newly painted front door by attaching felt stickers to the back.
This makeover took a total of two hours including prep time.  It took about 30 minutes to dry.
So easy to do, and has made such an insane difference in the curb appeal of our home! Happy spring!
Here are some links to items I used!
- Buffalo Plaid Rug
- Welcome Mat
- Wreath Hanger
- Similar Hydrangea Wreath and Another One on Amazon!
- Oxi Clean
You might also like these posts:
Things I Love In Our Home (Paint Colors, Furniture & More)
Typo, wreath hanger, darn autocorrect
I think you should paint the weather hanger the same color as the door. Beautiful job.
That’s a good idea!