Bring vibrancy to any room by painting your interior doors, offering a fresh and colorful touch to your home.

Never thought about painting your interior doors? You might want to reconsider. Painted interior doors—just like painted front doors—offer a bold and fun way to infuse color into your home. They allow for creativity without the long-term commitment of accent walls or fully painted rooms. Continue reading to discover more and get expert advice on incorporating them into your space.

Advantages of Painted Interior Doors

Nokes notes a growing trend of people painting the insides of their front doors. Meanwhile, accent walls are beginning to lose their popularity. It's easy to see why, as the bold look of a painted door—especially when contrasted with lighter trim and wall paint—is visually striking. Plus, painting your interior doors comes with several benefits.

• Saves money: While painting can be expensive, applying color to just one door (as opposed to a full wall or room) can help cut down on your interior house painting costs.
• Enhances the decor: A fresh coat of paint is a simple and effective way to revitalize a space. Painting your interior doors adds a distinct and stylish touch to any room.
• Prolongs the door's lifespan: Before painting, it’s common to sand down the door and fix any imperfections. This helps maintain the door’s condition and extend its life.

Which Interior Doors Should You Paint?

Don’t restrict yourself to just painting the back of the front door. There are plenty of other doors to consider, such as the kitchen pantry, bedroom, or bathroom doors. Even a sliding barn door is a great candidate for a fresh coat of paint, and an unexpected color will add even more character.

"We've had a few clients who painted multiple interior doors," Nokes shares. "They’ll paint them black on the main floor and keep the door frame white." The contrast creates a stunning visual effect.

Color Suggestions for Painted Interior Doors

When choosing paint colors for your interior doors, think about the mood you want to create in the room. A vibrant hue will energize the space, while soft, neutral tones can bring a calm and serene feel. Here are some popular colors for painted doors:

• Shades of blue: From deep navy to soft powder blue, blue hues can bring a stunning burst of color to any room. Depending on the shade and the room's theme, blue is a versatile choice for doors.
• Yellow tones: A yellow door can bring warmth and brightness to your space. This lively color is perfect for a bathroom, kitchen, or entryway.
• Vivid red: A red door can make a bold statement in your home. Darker reds are ideal for entryways, while bright reds add a playful touch to kids' rooms or playrooms.
• Soft pink: A gentle pastel pink can offer a delicate, subtle touch of color. Try pink doors in children's bedrooms or bohemian-style entries.
• Subtle gray: If you prefer a color that’s not too loud, gray is a fantastic option. Like blue, gray complements almost any room and works well on interior doors.
• Earthy neutrals: If neutrality is key, warm, earthy shades like brown or beige will complement any room. These colors are ideal for bedroom doors, entryways, and more.
• Timeless black: Black, the color Nokes notes as a popular choice, is both bold and understated. If you’re just starting out with painting interior doors, black is an easy and striking option. Brillantes also loves this look and encourages clients to paint their front door black.

Will Painted Interior Doors Replace Accent Walls?

Brillantes believes accent walls aren't disappearing completely, but their usage may shift. The future of accent walls could involve more subtle tones or textured designs instead of contrasting paint colors, Brillantes suggests. Alternatively, painted interior doors might become the new solution for adding color to a space. Time will reveal how these trends unfold.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Should all interior doors be painted in the same color?

  It’s not necessary to paint every interior door the same color. While painting all doors the same color creates a cohesive look, you can also choose to mix things up with different colors for each space.

• What type of paint should be used for interior doors?

  For interior doors, use indoor acrylic-latex paint. You have the option of satin, eggshell, or semi-gloss finishes, but it's best to avoid matte or flat paint finishes.

• Should doors be lighter or darker than walls?

  If you want your doors to blend with the walls, paint them in the same or a similar color. However, if you wish the doors to stand out, consider painting them darker than the walls for a more dramatic effect.

• Do interior doors and trim need to match?

  No, your interior doors don’t have to match the trim color. This is entirely up to your personal preference. You could also experiment with contrasting or complementary colors for the door and trim.