Paint doors: DIY instructions and pro tip

8 min reading time

Do you perhaps have those unloved wooden doors in your home that destroy any colour concept in the room? Or do your painted interior doors show more traces of "lived life" after a long time than you can still find beautiful? Then there's only one thing to do: paint the doors with our water-based varnishes. Because it's surprisingly easy, usually without any sanding at all.

1. Before & After: Door Painting Inspiration

2. Your Step-by-Step Guide to Painting Doors

3. Painting Doors: Choosing Your Colours & Materials

4. Your Door Painting FAQs Answered

5. Essential Tools & Products for Painting Doors

Project Helper Doors

Find your perfect shade in 4 steps

Before/After sample photos for painting doors

Why should you paint your bedroom door? Every room starts with the door, which is why we should give it the attention it deserves. Old doors in particular benefit from being painted, as they are often made of real wood and customised. Take a look at how easily you can transform an old door into an eye-catcher with a little colour and let yourself be inspired!

Step-by-step guide to painting doors

Step 1: Choose your paint

To paint your doors, we particularly recommend our satin-matt Easy Eggshell! paint. You can use it to paint real wood as well as veneered or foiled doors. It provides an easy-care surface that is highly impact-resistant and durable. When choosing your shade, simply use our colour cards to see how the tones look in your own lighting conditions first.

Step 2: Prepare the surface

If the old paint is still intact, you can simply paint your door without sanding it first. However, if there are any damaged areas or flaking paint, you should sand them smooth first using a very fine-grit sandpaper. You can easily patch up any nicks or holes with To Fill – MissPompadour filler. Be sure to remove any fittings and anything else that can be detached.

Step 3: Clean the door and frame

It's best to degrease the door and door frame using To Clean – MissPompadour cleaner and lukewarm water, then wipe it down well with clean water. It is important that the surface is free of dust and grease. There's no need for sugar soap or other harsh chemicals, though.

Do you need to mask off?

If you want to protect door handles, hinges, locks, and adjacent areas like floors or walls, you can mask them off with tape.

pro tip #1: Always peel off the masking tape immediately after each coat while the paint is still wet. This prevents you from pulling off any paint from the door or frame when removing it. Reapply fresh tape for the next coat.

pro tip #2: If you want to apply masking tape to a newly painted door (for example, to paint the adjacent wall), the paint must be fully cured first. Depending on the humidity and temperature, you should wait at least 14 days. In some cases, it can take even longer. Simply test the paint in an inconspicuous area before you start taping.

Step 4: Prime the surfaces

For real wood, such as pine or spruce, as well as real wood veneer, play it safe with MissPompadour To Bond & Block to ensure that substances in the wood do not cause stains in your new paint. This discolouration is known as "bleeding". After applying a generous coat of primer, wait for 8 hours or overnight.

On foiled doors and laminate veneer, To Bond & Block also ensures an excellent surface for painting. Apply a thorough, solid coat of the primer and let it dry completely. When applying the primer, make sure your tools are thoroughly clean, and use different brushes and rollers for your coat of paint.

Step 5: Paint the door

Now apply your coats of paint. Apply as many as you need until you are happy with the result. Often, 2 coats are enough for perfect coverage. Let each coat dry thoroughly. This usually takes 4 to 5 hours, but depending on the ambient conditions, it can sometimes take longer. Ensure good ventilation and moderate temperatures so that the paint can cure properly. The surfaces will become more robust day by day, reaching excellent durability after 10 to 14 days.

Step 6: Seal your paint

If you expect heavy wear and tear, you can play it safe with To Seal – MissPompadour topcoat.

Painting doors: Colours and materials - what you need to consider

Which colours are suitable for painting doors?

Our Easy Eggshell is the most suitable! It is very hard-wearing and is therefore particularly recommended for painting doors.

Which colours are suitable for wooden doors - what else do I need?

Easy Eggshell!
MissPompadour To Bond & Block to prepare surfaces for painting
To Seal - MissPompadour Topcoat

Which paints are suitable for plastic doors, and what else do I need?

Easy Eggshell!
MissPompadour To Bond & Block, to prepare surfaces for painting
To Seal – MissPompadour topcoat

We've explained exactly how to apply each of the individual primers, paints, and topcoats in our step-by-step guide.

pro tip: Easily transform the style of your doors by adding decorative mouldings, such as wooden ones. This is best done after sanding (if necessary). Then simply paint them in your chosen shade at the same time!

Frequently asked questions about painting doors

1. Can doors simply be painted over?

Can all doors be painted?

Yes, you can paint real wood as well as plastic and metal doors, veneered or foiled doors and door frames.

Do I need a primer?

If you want to paint with light colours, it's worth applying a primer to real wood doors using MissPompadour To Bond & Block to stop the wood from bleeding. Otherwise, oak, tropical wood or softwoods can release tannins and discolour your fresh coat of paint. Old wood dyes and stains can also bleed through new paint.

For bare metal doors and frames, you should apply a stain block to provide corrosion protection and prevent rust. If you want to paint plastic doors, use MissPompadour To Bond & Block to ensure the paint adheres perfectly. This white undercoat also makes it easier to achieve full coverage with light white shades.

Can you paint doors without taking them off?

If you have space and the possibility, then hang the doors out and store them on trestles to paint. If this is not possible, or the effort is too great, then simply paint them hanging. It is then a little more tedious to paint the side on the hinges.

Can you paint doors without sanding them?

If the old varnish on your doors does not peel off, you can simply apply a new layer of varnish. You should only remove layers of paint that are not durable. It is best to start with slightly coarser sandpaper (grit <100) and then sand with finer sandpaper (grit >200).

2. How do I deal with other materials in my door?

Can I also paint the glass inserts of my door?

Yes! As a first step, prime here with MissPompadour To Bond & Block.

Can I also paint silicone joints on glass inserts?

If your door has silicone joints, for example in glass inserts, you can paint over them with MissPompadour To Seal Silicone and then simply varnish them.

Can I also paint the rubber seals?

Yes, you can simply paint over the seals. To prevent them from sticking to the painted door afterwards, you can rub them with baby powder after the varnish has dried for 4 hours. Or you can take the opportunity to simply replace your door rubbers with ones in a matching colour.

Can I also paint door handles?

Yes, you can also paint door handles. It is important what material they are made of. In our guide, we explain how you can paint metals or finish plastic surfaces, for example. However, please note that door handles are subject to a lot of wear and tear.

3. What else do I need to consider when painting doors?

Which coating tool do I need?

It is best to pour the varnish into a small paint tray and work with a varnish roller for water-based varnishes. Then paint, or rather roll, the paint thinly and evenly onto the door leaf. The easiest way to paint the edges is with our To Paint - Fine MissPompadour Brush. Our brushes are also perfect for the corners and recesses of panelled doors.

How much varnish do I need for a door?

For a normal door, approx. 90 cm wide, approx. 2 m high, without glass insert and with frame, we reckon with an area of around 5 square metres. If the door is painted, you will need about 0.5 litres of Easy Eggshell! for two coats of paint.

For light white tones or large colour differences, two coats may not be enough. In this case, it is better to order a little more.

How do I paint my front door?

Basically, the procedure for a front door is very similar to that for an interior door. There are just a few little things to bear in mind. Take a look at our article on painting the front door!

Can you paint a fire door?

Fire doors are subject to special regulations and classifications. Therefore, find out in advance whether painting is permitted and, if in doubt, do not paint.

Tools required and recommended products for painting doors

Trestles for storing the unhinged door: You can of course also paint your door while it is hanging. Trestles make it a little easier for you to get to hard-to-reach places.
Screwdriver for removing fittings: This is the cleanest way to work and saves you a lot of tedious masking.
Sandpaper or sanding pad: For all areas where old varnish has flaked off. These should be sanded smooth first.
Cleaning cloth and bucket to thoroughly clean the door first: The surface must be free of dust and grease for your paint to hold well.
Masking tape for masking the door frame: It is best to always remove the masking tape when the paint is not yet dry so that you get a clean edge.
plastic drop cloth or newspaper: To protect your floor under the frame.
Brush, varnish roller and paint tray: It is best to pour the varnish into the paint tray. Paint the corners and edges with the brush and the surfaces with the varnish roller.

Pro tip: When you turn the door, it is best to place soft cloths over the frames so as not to damage the new coat of paint.