How to Paint Interior Doors

This guide is based on the assumption that you have wooden doors installed in your home. 

Whether you’re replacing old internal doors, installing new doors, or you simply want to spruce the place up a bit, painting your internal doors is a great choice.

External doors need a lot of maintenance compared to internal doors; however, internal doors take a look of abuse from foot traffic – maybe even more so than external doors! For this reason alone, it’s a good idea to give your interiors a refresh every so often to prevent your internal doors from looking drab.

The Prep Checklist

Before you start, you’ll want to make sure you have the following items prepared:

• Cloth or plastic sheet to lay down
• Sawhorse or two sturdy chairs to lay the door on
• Sandpaper
• Warm water or sugarsoap
• Cloth for cleaning
• Paintbrush
• Paint
• Paint conditioner (if using a glossy paint)

Having trouble choosing your colour? Lick is our go-to for finding the perfect shade!

Step 1: Removing the Door and Hardware

Skip this step if your door is brand new and hasn’t been hung yet.

Lay down a canvas cloth or plastic sheet. Take off handles, locks, and hinges (Painting around them always looks messy and leads to “paint-clogged” locks) and place the door on sawhorses or two sturdy chairs.

Step 2: Prep The Door

Use a paint stripper to remove the old paint. Once the paint is removed, use a sander to smooth the wood and give the primer something to ‘grab’ on to.

You’ll want to use a vacuum cleaner to suck up any dust leftover by the sander, then a damp cloth to wipe down the door.

Step 3: Prime the Door

The first step is priming your doors; this protects the wood from the chemicals in the paint and gives you a better surface to paint on.

Once dried, start by painting the door’s edges with a paintbrush first. Then proceed to paint the grooves and panels of the door with the same brush. You’ll want to be less generous with the paint with the grooves and panels than with the flat surfaces. Using a lot of paint for the grooves can result in dripping. If this does occur, make sure to blend them into the door with your paintbrush or roller before the paint begins to dry.

If you have a flat door, then you don’t need to follow this painting guide.

After your first coat, proceed to paint the rest of the door with either a paintbrush or roller. If you use a generous amount of paint, there shouldn’t be the need for a second coat; if there is, make sure the first coat is dry before you start painting again.

By being generous with your paint, you’re more likely to achieve an overall smoother finish.

Avoiding Common Mistakes

• Drips and Runs

If your door has dried and you notice drips or runs have dried in the paint. go back to your sander or a sharpened razor or blade and gently smooth out the door. Touch up the paint and bob’s your uncle!

• Sticking Door Edges

This is usually caused by paint being layered on too thick or adding a second layer too soon. This can be fixed the same was as drips and runs. But if you’re looking for quick fix solutions, use candle wax, vaseline, or a dry lubricant on the side of the door to keep it from sticking.

• Brush Strokes

This is more common with glossy paints. In this case, you’ll want to use a paint conditioner. This will smooth out the paint, but will also make drying time longer.

Choosing the Right Paint Type

Our go-to is always satin paint. This is a great combo between matte and gloss and gives you the best margin for error.