Clever Tips And Tricks You Need When Painting Your Doors

There's no denying that paint has the power to transform a space. While particular attention is often paid to choosing specific paint colors for the walls of your home, there is no hard and fast rule that says your interior doors should be the same color as your walls. In fact, painting your doors a different color can have a dramatic impact on the look of your space. Though it does require a few different steps than painting a wall, there are fortunately a few tips and tricks you can follow to tackle this DIY project with ease.

It all starts with picking the right paint. Your best bet is to choose a satin or semi-gloss paint finish, which is more durable than flat or eggshell finishes and much easier to wipe clean. Next, you'll need the right supplies for the job. To ensure the smoothest finish, use a mini foam roller and an angled brush. As for the order in which to apply paint, once you've properly prepped the door's surface, use an angled brush to paint the recessed portions of the door first. Then immediately paint the flat portions of the door with a foam roller. The roller will help smooth out any brush marks. 

Another hack to cut down on brush strokes? Mix a bit of paint additive like Floetrol (available at The Home Depot for $10.98) into your latex paint. This will help improve the paint's leveling abilities and give you professionally-smooth results. 

Knowing how to paint a door is one thing, but knowing how to get the job done in the quickest amount of time possible is even better. One time-saving tip is to leave your door in place instead of removing it from the frame. This allows you to paint both sides at the same time without having to wait for one side to dry. However, unless you have a very steady hand, you will need to remove the doorknob or cover it with painter's tape. And don't worry if you accidentally get paint on the hinges — you can easily wipe it off with a baby wipe or wet paper towel.

Another great hack? Instead of tediously taping off the wall areas around the door or laying drop cloths, simply slip a piece of scrap cardboard or a file folder under the door or between the door and the wall and drag it along with you as you paint. It will catch any potential paint drips from falling onto the floor (you can also use newspaper here) and prevent you from accidentally brushing paint onto the wall. Another great tip is to cover your paint tray with a garbage bag. This will minimize the amount of time needed for clean-up later, as you can simply throw away the bag and your paint tray will be clean. Now that you're armed with a few tips and tricks, all that's left to do is pick the best color to paint your door and get painting!