The Painting Technique That Gives Any Front Door A Totally Unique Look

When it comes to sprucing up your home's curb appeal and boosting resale value, freshening up your front door is an easy, inexpensive fix. And while there are some unconventional colors to paint your front door, nothing will catch your neighbors' eye on their morning stroll like a unique ombre look. Ombre, a technique that melds one color to another, is popular on interior accent walls, but TikTok user @mandacreatespretty used it to design a sunrise-inspired front door that had people asking her how she did it. The secret? A dry paint roller. This allowed her to blend the paint colors together to create a seamless transition from one shade to the next. You can easily recreate this look with your favorite shades and tailor the design to your home.

To make your own ombre front door, you need at least three exterior paint colors. Look for a paint that's compatible with your front door's material and has a semi-gloss finish for long-lasting color and easy cleaning. Oil-based paints are best for wood doors, latex paint for fiberglass doors, and latex or acrylic paint for metal ones. You may want to try front door paint colors that can boost resale value, too. You'll also need an exterior primer, painter's tape, rollers, brushes, and trays. The number of trays needed depends on how many paint colors you're using. You'll need a tray for each hue and a few extras to blend each transition shade. For example, if you're using three paint colors to create your ombre door, have five trays (three for each color and two for the in-between shades).

First, prep your front door for the paint. Take the door off the hinges and place it on a flat surface to avoid any drip marks. Then, remove the doorknob and locks or cover them with painter's tape. Next, clean, sand, and apply the exterior primer. Once the door is dry, it's time to paint.

To create the ombre effect, evenly divide your door into thirds with painter's tape. Apply the lightest color in the top third, the medium shade in the middle, and the darkest hue in the bottom. Then, mix the top and middle colors in a spare tray. Remove the tape, apply this blended shade to where the two colors meet, and use your dry roller to blend the transition line. It may take some time, but keep blending and adding more mixed paint as needed. Work quickly before the paint dries to create a cohesive look. If it dries before you can finish, don't worry. Use your original paint colors to wet the area and blend it with a dry roller. Repeat these steps with the medium and dark colors to finish the design.

The wonderful thing about this painting technique is it can be customized to suit your preferences. If a bright ombre effect isn't your style, try colors in the same family or similar shades for a minimal look. This will create a subtle transition between hues that's equally as stunning and fits your home's vibe. If you need some inspiration, consider your home's architectural elements to select the outdoor paint colors.