Ever wondered how to paint a front door? We have a super fun project to share with you guys today! One that applies to basically everyone, no matter your style, taste or even skill level! Today we’re sharing how to paint a front door (or repaint).
Painting a front door is one of my favorite ways to spruce up the exterior of my home. This is one of the easiest, but most impactful projects you can do! I love to do a bold color for my front door because I know I can always repaint it when I am ready for something new. Even if you don’t want to switch out the color, repainting the same color will still give it a fresh look!
Can You Paint a Front Door In A Rental?
This is something I’ve done in every home I’ve lived in – even our rentals! If you’re in a rental, be sure to check with your landlord first before painting a door!
Supplies To Paint Front Door:
- All-purpose cleaner
- Cleaning cloth
- ScotchBlue PLATINUM Painter’s Tape
- Putty knife
- Exterior door paint
- Paintbrush
- Lint-free paint roller
- Paint tray
- OPTIONAL: Paint Sprayer
How to Paint a Front Door
- Clean and Prep the Door
Make sure your door is clear of any dust, lint, dirt, wax etc. using an all purpose cleaner and a cleaning cloth to scrub any dirt off of your door. Allow it to dry before the next step.
- Tape the Door.
Once your door is completely clean use painters tape on windows, glass, door knobs, deadbolt locks, etc. Make sure to apply it straight and use a putty knife to smooth and add pressure to the tape to ensure a tight seal.
- Paint the Door.
Start painting your door by painting the details of the door first. When painting a door we paint the decorative areas in the window casing first then paint the rest of the door.
- Remove Painters Tape and Let Dry.
Carefully remove the painters tape at a 45Ā° angle while paint is still tacky, then allow it to dry.
How to paint a door with a sprayer
I have painted several doors with a paint brush but Kyle and I recently upgraded our paint sprayer to the TC Pro Cordless Airless Paint Sprayer which made the process of painting all of the doors in our home super quick! We love this sprayer and highly recommend it if you’re in the market for one!
Painting Your Front Door in 4 Steps:
Step 1 – Clean & Prep Your Door
Make sure your door is clear of any dust, lint, dirt, wax etc. Using an all-purpose cleaner and a cleaning cloth to scrub any dirt off of your door. Allow to dry before the next step. Cleaning your door well will ensure the most crisp paint lines and a smooth and durable finish on your front door.
Step 2 – Tape The Door
Once your surface is completely clean, apply ScotchBlue Painter’s Tape on windows, glass, door knobs, deadbolt locks, etc. Basically over anything you do not want painted. Take care to apply it straight and use a putty knife to smooth and add pressure to the tape to ensure a tight seal for the paint. For tricky angles, ScotchBlue PLATINUM Painter’s Tape tears at perfect 90 degree angles. This was especially helpful around the window.
Step 3 – Painting Your Front Door
Start painting your door by painting the details of the door first. When painting a door, we paint the decorative areas and the window casing first.
Paint the rest of the door. We used both a paintbrush and a roller and did 2-3 coats of paint. Allow each coat to dry completely before doing the next coat. The brush gave a bit better coverage but the roller helped provide a really smooth looking finish without brush strokes.
Step 4 – Remove Painters Tape + Let Dry
Carefully remove the Painter’s Tape at a 45 degree angle while paint is still tacky.
Allow to dry. While the door dried, we also painted the door casing and the step beneath the door.
The faux boxwood wreath was hung with a command hook directly on the glass and we love the color and freshness it adds. The shutters, window box, plants and flowers are all new and totally change the look and add to the curb appeal of the house! We love how it turned out!
For more painted front doors, check out:
For more outdoor projects, check out:
15 Comments
Handyman Hackney
June 14, 2016 at 5:47 amCongratulations, you did a professional work here! The color you’ve chosen is also outstanding!
Lois Black
June 15, 2016 at 5:35 amGreat job! Make a huge difference!!!
Whitney Shortt
June 18, 2016 at 3:29 pmLove the blue with the black! We just painted our front door a vibrant blue recently and I’m hoping to paint the trim and storm door black if I can convince the hubs!
http://www.whitneydonae.com/home/how-we-picked-the-perfect-shade-of-blue-for-our-front-door2016
Sandy Lasey
July 5, 2016 at 8:29 amWhat color and brand of paint is this door?
Ria
July 13, 2016 at 7:35 amLove the updated look!!! Could you please share the paint brand/color that was used? It’s exactly the shade of blue I’m looking for!
Gildy
July 18, 2016 at 5:57 pmI love this update, can you share the door color ? Thanks !!!
Hildy
July 18, 2016 at 7:55 pmBeautiful, can you share the color you used for the door ? Thanks !!!
Chanda
July 19, 2016 at 9:14 amAny suggestions for a front door with an oval window.
Lydia
July 19, 2016 at 9:57 amWhat color blue did you use for your door? Thanks!
JM
July 25, 2016 at 1:52 pmWhat happens if your front door is in direct light most of the day? How long did you let it dry between coats?
Mallory & Savannah
August 23, 2016 at 6:30 pmHi! You’ll want to read your paint can for instructions on dry time. We waited about an hour using Modern Master’s front door paint. š
ali
July 23, 2017 at 2:31 amNice design. Ä° like the blue door . Ä° should paint my door š
Cheap Assignment Service | BuyAssignmentService
March 11, 2019 at 4:50 amOh great ! i can also make so many designs with this tape technique. Thanks a lot.
Sheila
April 30, 2019 at 1:12 pmThis is my favorite set of instructions! Will be doing it in the next two weeks. My door is completely flat and Iād like to use just a roller.
Should I start from the top and plan to just blend in any drips?
Alyssa Lehn
May 20, 2019 at 2:08 pmI’ve been wanting to paint my front door. My door right now is black and I want to paint it green. Do you think I should paint the door white first and then green or do you think the paint will cover it enough?