How To DIY An Old World Look To Create A Swedish Farmhouse-Style Door

The front door is often considered to be one of the most notable features of a home, and is an excellent chance for individuals to showcase their personal styles through curb appeal. All doors, whether interior or exterior, come in different shapes, sizes, and varieties, with one of the more unique options being a Swedish farmhouse-style door with a rustic Old World finish. However, instead of saving your pennies to buy one of these beautiful statement pieces for your home, why not DIY a farmhouse-style door with paint and petroleum jelly as a way to save money and upcycle old materials? This allows you to have complete control over the final appearance to make sure your front door design is inviting.

Before diving into this DIY, it may be helpful to understand the design fundamentals of both an Old World look and a Swedish farmhouse style. First, an Old World style is essentially referring to a painting technique that creates an aged, distressed appearance to furniture. Approaches to this style can vary, but one common approach is to use a petroleum jelly skin protectant directly on the door before painting to create texture and weathered areas. When it comes to Swedish-inspired designs, it's all about clean lines, a minimal appearance, and a Scandinavian color palette of bare wood with natural tones.

The steps for this project will depend on whether your door already has a farmhouse-style pattern or if you're starting from scratch. Considering the latter, you'll need to start by measuring your door and cutting thin planks to size. Attach them using strong wood glue like Gorilla Waterproof Glue to make sure they are secure. To create the signature farmhouse "X" design, dry-fit the angled pieces before cutting with a jigsaw. Once assembled, fill the nail holes and apply a primer. Once dry, apply a light stain before painting, using Vaseline on select areas for the distressed Old World finish. Once the paint dries, wipe away the Vaseline to reveal the final look. Complete the DIY with vintage-style hardware and rehang the door for a rustic upgrade.

While some may believe this type of door is outdated, there are alternatives to the Scandinavian design style. For example, if you like the clean lines of Swedish-style doors but want to make yours stand out, consider using a bold paint color or outside-the-box hardware as a way to add your own personal touch to the DIY. Incorporating Scandinavian style into your home is also a great way to boost resale value, making this a great hack for any homeowner looking to change up their doors.