How to paint a door: Step-by-step guide

Painting a door is a quick and easy way to give your home a new appearance. Whether it's fixing a flaky surface, adding some character with an accent colour or simply refreshing the existing colour, this painting project is relatively simple to do and worth your time doing. From selecting the right products, to achieving the perfect finish: here is your ultimate tutorial to painting an interior door in a few easy steps.

Watch our guided video or read on to learn more.

What you'll need

Eco-Union - Eco Friendly Paint Brush

Eco-friendly, handmade paint brush manufactured in the UK. Bamboo handles and recycled steel ferrules. Size range between 1" and 4".
From £5.18 £4.32
Helmi 10
Matt

Hard-wearing, water-based, acrylic paint for interior wood and furniture in a matt finish (10% )
From £7.10 £5.92
Helmi 30
Semi Matt

Hard-wearing, water-based, acrylic paint for interior wood and furniture in a semi-matt finish (30%)
From £7.10 £5.92
Helmi 80
Gloss

Hard-wearing, water-based, acrylic paint for interior wood and furniture in a gloss finish (80%)
From £7.10 £5.92
Helmi Primer
Matt

Hard-wearing, durable primer for interior wood and furniture. Water-based formula.
£74.57 £62.14
Everal Aqua Primer
Matt

Quick-drying primer for wood and metal surfaces. Non-yellowing, durable formula
From £20.38 £16.98
Festool Abrasive sponge 69x98x26

Granat sanding block
From £3.72 £3.10
Cleaning Agent (Maalipesu)

Alkaline, multi-surface cleaning agent for interior and exterior surfaces. Removes dirt, oil and wax.
From £14.57 £12.14
Eco Union - Dust sheet (single)

Single dust sheet from Eco-Union. 12ft x 12ft. Oxo-biodegradable. Ensures protection from paint, water, dirt and dust.
£3.02 £2.52 From £2.87
Pensselipesu - Tool Cleaner

Solvent-free cleaning agent for removing paint from brushes and other painting equipment.
From £16.21 £13.51

Get prepared

As they say 'fail to plan is the plan to fail'. The success of any paint job always starts with good prep work.

Gathering your tools and setting up will set you off to a good start. We've included all your must-have products above, so once you have them all handy, it's time to set up your working space. Use a protective sheet to protect your floor from dirt, dust and splashes. The easiest way to paint your door is to keep it on its hinges. That way you can paint both sides of the door at once, so no need to wait for one side to dry.

To prime or not to prime?

Here is when you need to prime your door before painting:

You have a new bare wood door
Your door was previously painted in a light colour and you are painting it in a darker colour (or vice versa)
The door paint is flaking and chipping - you have to sand down the old coat and then apply a primer

For previously painted doors we recommend using our Helmi Primer - a water-based, high opacity acrylic primer. For a brand new wooden door treat it with our Everal Aqua Primer - a water-based primer undercoat that will help the topcoat adhere to the wood. Both can be tinted to any colour to match the colour of your paint.

Choosing your paint

When choosing your paint, think about what sheen level you need. Our Helmi paint range has a corresponding sheen level number in the title, with 10 being matt and 80 being glossy. Read more about sheen levels here.

Open your door to colour

Who said that doors have to be neutral? We love bold colours that make interiors 'pop'. Whether you love vibrant shades or prefer something more subtle, we have thousands of shades to choose from.

Explore our Feel the Colour palette of 216 colours with complementary colour chips. Simply attach your chosen chips to the door and check how the colours work with the surrounding walls and furniture.

Our sample pots can be tinted to any of the thousands of shades that we offer, or if you have a specific colour in mind, we also colour-match.

If you are playing with colours and looking for the best combinations, we recommend our colour cards. Available in all of our core colour collections.

Request your complimentary materials today.

How to paint a door

MASK

You can remove the door handle or mask it. Next, mask the door hinges and door frame. Top tip: Use a putty knife to firmly seal your tape, so that the paint won't transfer underneath it.

CLEAN

It's important to clean the door's surface from any dirt and dust before painting. Use a sponge to clean the door with our Maalipesu cleaning agent. Remove any residue with a dry cloth and leave it to dry thoroughly. Top tip: Take your time - your freshly painted door will blister if you apply your primer or paint to a surface that's still damp.

SAND

Sanding is essential for a smooth finish. This step is especially important if you are painting a previously painted door. Use a sanding block to sand down the door removing any sheen, blemishes and flakes, and go with the grain of the wood. Then use a damp sponge or cloth to remove any dust.

PRIME

Now it's time to apply one coat of your chosen primer with a paintbrush. Remember to tint your primer to the same or similar colour as your top coat, especially if you have chosen a bold shade or if the wood is bare. Leave to dry for 2 hours before applying your topcoat and keep the room well-ventilated to speed up the drying time.

PAINT

Now it's time to paint! Stir your paint before you start painting to avoid any separation of ingredients. Use a brush to apply the paint to the panel edges first. Next, paint inside the panels going with the grain of the wood. Move onto the horizontal sections following by the vertical sections of the door. Top tip: Our paints are self-levelling, so make sure to apply the paint liberally and don't over brush. Leave to dry thoroughly and once the surface is dry, repeat the same steps with a second coat. Open the windows ventilate the room. It will help keep the drying time to a minimum.

FINAL STEPS

Remove the masking tape from the edges and hinges and reattach the door handle. Clean your brush with our tool cleaner as soon as you finish painting to preserve it for future use. Lastly, remove the protective sheet from the floor when all paint splatters are dry.